Books for You and Your Littles

07 Jun Books for You and Your Littles

Over the years – and especially in light of recent events – I have received lots of messages and questions about what books and resources Brian and I recommend in the adoption world. At the same time – and also especially in light of recent events – we have worked hard to grow our library of books for Gideon to include characters of different cultures, skin colors, and abilities. It is important to us that he grows up seeing a world that is beautiful, not just in spite of our differences, but because of them.

I have tried to sort the resources below by topic, culture, or need. This is certainly not a comprehensive list, but these are the books and resources that have impacted us most dramatically. Most, if not all, of the children’s books below can be found on YouTube if you want to check them out before buying.

If there was one book I would implore you to read, not just as a parent, but as someone looking to better our world, Uniquely Human tops my list. If you love someone with special needs, work with someone with special needs, or just want to be a better human, 10 out of 10, we would recommend that book for you.

(And we should probably note the links below are all affiliate links. You pay the same price you would from any other link or search on Amazon, but Amazon gives us like 10 cents for sending you their way.)

BOOKS FOR THE PARENTS

For parents just starting the adoption journey, I recommend reading all of those listed in the first two sections.

Parenting and Trauma

• The Connected Child – Karyn Purvis https://amzn.to/2AQ3269
• Power of Showing Up – Dan Siegel https://amzn.to/3bTh3wL
• Whole Brain Child – Dan Siegel https://amzn.to/3e4ciSv
• No Drama Discipline – Dan Siegel https://amzn.to/36lpVtQ
• Wounded Children, Healing Homes – Jayne Schooler https://amzn.to/3bYGEo9

Prospective Families

• Before You Adopt: A Guide to The Questions You Should Be Asking workbook – Christa Jordan https://amzn.to/36kwKM9

Specific Needs + Special Needs

• Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism – Barry Prizant https://amzn.to/2TeAytg
• Love Me, Feed Me: The Adoptive Parent’s Guide to Ending the Worry About Weight, Picky Eating, Power Struggles and More – Katja Rowell https://amzn.to/313GedU
• Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs – Heather Avis https://amzn.to/31V1l1b
• Thinking in Pictures – Temple Grandin https://amzn.to/3eiofG0

Transracial Families + Racial Reconciliation

• Human(Kind): How Reclaiming Human Worth and Embracing Radical Kindness Will Bring Us Back Together – Ashlee Eiland https://amzn.to/2E35VC9

Lifebooks

• Before You Were Mine – Carissa R. Woodwyk https://amzn.to/36jueG1

Memoirs (Adoptive Families)

• Yes – Courtney Koctar https://amzn.to/2LXJHWy
• Through Adopted Hearts: A Collection of Memoirs from Birth and Adoptive Parents – Elena Hall https://amzn.to/3iPcJlM
• The Lucky Few – Heather Avis https://amzn.to/2WQDRcd
• Moving Mountains – Christa Jordan https://amzn.to/3bPvaTO

Memoirs (Adoptees)

• Through Adopted Eyes: A Collection of Memoirs from Adoptees – Elena Hall https://amzn.to/2CANsMY
• All You Can Ever Know – Nicole Chung https://amzn.to/2LJPNWS

Other Resources

• Yes I’m Adopted, Don’t Make It Weird (Facebook, YouTube, or http://yesimadopted.com)
• Therapy Redeemed (Facebook, Instagram, https://therapyredeemed.wordpress.com/)
• Christa Jordan at Spoonful of Jordan (Instagram, Blog, https://spoonfulofjordan.com/)
• Elena Hall at Through Adopted Eyes (Instagram, Facebook)

BOOKS FOR THE LITTLES

*Asterisks indicate favorites in our home

Children’s Books about Adoption

• *Star of the Week (China, International Adoption)- Darlene Friedman https://amzn.to/2LXoBri
• *You Weren’t With Me (Ambiguous book, but good to discuss complex bio family feelings) – Chandra Ghosh Ippen https://amzn.to/3dIyj9u
• *A Mother for Chaco (bird finds an adoptive family) – Keiko Kasza https://amzn.to/375Lw9Y
• Motherbridge of Love (ties between birth mother and adoptive mother) – Xinran https://amzn.to/2MfMQ3V
• Ten Days and Nine Nights (girl waits for parents to bring home little sibling from Korea) – Yumi Heo https://amzn.to/2KFNMhl

Children’s Books with Asian Culture/Characters

• *Bee-Bim Bop (Korean) – Linda Sue Park https://amzn.to/2AIXEl9
• *A Friend for Henry (Asian, autism) – Jenn Bailey https://amzn.to/2NvzwZL – This is one of my absolute favorite books EVER.
• *Round is a Mooncake (Chinese/Taiwanese) – Roseanne Thong https://amzn.to/2BzE1fK
• *My Day with Gong Gong (Chinese) – Sennah Yee https://amzn.to/3cbGAFj
• *Same Same But Different (Indian) – Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw https://amzn.to/2Mzdl0O
• Eyes that Kiss in the Corners (Chinese, but celebrates “Asian eyes”) – Joanna Ho https://amzn.to/39bAySV
• Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas (Chinese New Year) – Natasha Yim https://amzn.to/2Nv0lNI
• Bringing in the New Year (Chinese New Year) – Grace Lin https://amzn.to/3oaiSeL
• When Spring Comes to the DMZ (Korean) – Uk-Bae Lee https://amzn.to/39UuwFG
• Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao (Chinese) – Kat Zhang https://amzn.to/3sQCyId
• Mela and the Elephant – Dow Phumiruk (Thai) https://amzn.to/3cGMFWA 

Children’s Books about Inclusion + Celebrating Differences

• *Gary’s Gigantic Dream (main character/animal uses a wheelchair) – Dr. Nicole Julia https://amzn.to/3qChwM7
• *Lia’s Kind Mind (main character/animal has birthmark) – Dr. Nicole Julia https://amzn.to/33SzZud
• *The Day You Begin (main character is African American girl, includes Korean character/culture) – Jacqueline Woodson https://amzn.to/3eYMHLe
• *Same Same But Different – Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw https://amzn.to/2Mzdl0O
• *Daniel’s New Friend (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood; features secondary character with physical disability) – Becky Friedman https://amzn.to/2PUM36U
• We’re Different We’re the Same (shows many skin colors, facial features, etc) – Sesame Street – Bobbi Kates https://amzn.to/30fw6yp

Children’s Books about Characters with Disabilities

• *A Friend for Henry (autism) – Jenn Bailey https://amzn.to/2NvzwZL – This is one of my absolute favorite books EVER.
• *Why Johnny Doesn’t Flap (autism) – Clay and Gail Morton https://amzn.to/3ekjjQN
• *The Girl Who Thought in Pictures (autism) – Julia Finley Mosca https://amzn.to/2MyzhZZ
• *The Boy with Big Big Feelings (autism/SPD/big feelings) – Britney Winn Lee https://amzn.to/3v9YKgC

Children’s Books Featuring Characters of Different Colors, Cultures, or Abilities

• *When God Made You (African American girl, main character) – Matthew Paul Turner https://amzn.to/2XBZbCG
• *The Paperboy (African American boy, main character)- Dav Pilkey https://amzn.to/2YmFVbB
• *Ways to Welcome (lovely illustrations featuring a myriad of races, cultures, and disabilities) – Linda Ashman https://amzn.to/2KHuacR
• *Daniel’s New Friend (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood; girl with physical disability, secondary character) – Becky Friedman https://amzn.to/2PUM36U
• *Hair Love (African American family, main characters) – Matthew A Cherry https://amzn.to/39TvG5J
• The Colors of Us (many races and cultures, no main character) – Karen Katz https://amzn.to/3mUkNUO
• Be Kind (African American girl, main character) – Pat Ziehow Miller https://amzn.to/3h1LhBq