Reviews (5)

Wonderful book for adoptive families!
We purchased this book along with several other adoption-themed books for children. This one by far best explains adoption in a way our children can understand. As a family that has both biological and adopted children, it was important to us to find a book that presents ALL children- adopted or not- as special. Mr. Rogers does a fantastic job, as always, putting it into terms that all children can understand. This book is appropriate for children of all types of adoptions. It seems that too many other adoption books focus on children adopted from overseas or those adopted as infants. This one is flexible enough that it can be used in many different situations.

Thank you, Mr. Rogers!

As wonderful as his show
What can I say! Mr. Rogers couldn't fail at anything he did, even if he tried. This is a lovely book about adoption, beautifully telling in words and pictures what being a family is all about, adoptive or not. It tells just enough about adoption not to confuse the young child but to focus on feelings every child has and how to cope with them. Five stars for Mr. Rogers whom we sorely miss every day. Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

Wonderful book for young children
We have several children's books about adoption and this is by far my favorite. It focuses on what it means to be a family and how families formed by adoption are just like other families. It emphasizes the importance of talking about our feelings with one another. It discusses how the adopted child may have questions about his or her adoption and that questions are okay to ask. This book is filled with photographs of adoptive families interacting in every day ways. It is much easier for my son to relate to these photos than the cute animals in some of our other adoption books. I definitely recommend this book for adoptive families with young children.

Reality for kids
This terrific 27-page book features many photographs of adoptive families and their children, and discusses the feelings that kids have about being in their families.

"When you were born," it begins, "you were ready to live and be loved, just like every other child in the world.

"And you needed to be in a family, just like every other child in the world."

Being in a family, the book tells children, means feeling like you belong. And belonging can happen whether you are born to a family or adopted.

Photographs of several adoptive families show children who are happy, angry and sad. Their families comfort them, and love them, even when they are not at their best. "Your family is special," the reassuring message concludes, "because of all the ways you belong together."

This is a great book for even for very small children who were adopted. Alyssa A. Lappen

A Must Have
As an adoptive parent, I found this simple little book to provide very clear and positive explainations about adoption that are readable to a child of any age. It is a great book to begin introducing the concept of adoption to very young children. It is not very long and it is filled with photographs of many types of families. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Thanks to this book, we now have a place to start.
As prospective parents of a Chinese daughter, we have little experience with the "explanation" of our baby's birth conditions to her. This book has given us the beginnings of that future conversation. We appreciated the photos, and look forward to sharing it with our daughter when she expresses that curiousity. (We also have purchased and enjoyed "Our Baby From China: An Adoption Story," by Nancy D'Antonio.)

Positive presentation with a bit of fairy tale mixed in.
I found this book to be a positive story with many truths. I take exception to the presentation of the parents "loving" their daughter so much that they want the best for her.

As an adoptive parent of a beautiful Chinese daughter, I don't want her to think that her birthmother was a fairy godmother, or a movie star who will come get her some day.

The truth that China is a male dominated society and the mothers are sometimes forced to abandon the girls due to political & family presure is not presented.

I much prefer the book, "Why Was I Adopted".

Good Book For Parents To Read To Their Children
This book gives a general view on the 'whys' of your child's adoption, from the culture, rules in China to why you are her parents and what that means to her. It tackles some issues that well certainly spawn endless amount of questions. Be prepared to answer them honestly in a heart to heart conversation.

The book is simple, averaging one or two paragraphs per page, with many black and white pictures of China and the children. It's a nice book for children four or older as it takes comprehension of what is being said. You'll be able to tell when the right time to read this book is.

Aesthetically the book is beautiful and artistic, despite the fact that it's slender, it's not the best for small hands.

When You Were Born In China
We adopted our daughter from China in 2003 and this book is an excellent resource for us, our daughter as well as for family and friends who do not exactly understand the whole China Adoption process. We are thrilled with the content as it is factual but presented in a sensitive/caring manner. I cried from the first page on. This will be an excellent tool as we get ready for our second China adoption.

A risky approach to explaining adoption to a Chinese child
I am not Chinese but I felt, throughout reading this book, that the author may be treading on thin ice with some of her descriptions of China ("...houses and apartments are small and usually don't have hot running water. In the countryside, people often have no indoor plumbing at all...") and her in-depth explanation of the Chinese government's rule that only one child is allowed per couple, preferably a son. The author spends a great deal of time explaining to the young adoptee why it is a costly catastrophe for a Chinese couple to have a girl when they really wanted a son. . . and so "your birthparents couldn't find a way to keep a daughter in their family and still have a son to take care of them later in life..." I cannot imagine that a girl child (no matter what age) reading these pages will feel good about her adoption, or, indeed, feel good about being a girl even though, toward the end of the book, the caring adoptive parents arrived. There is also too much explaining of other reasons why the baby girl was given up, such as medical problems, unmarried birthmother...all this added to the reality that girls are not wanted. "They then carried you to a public place, like a park, or a busy street corner, or a police station- a place where they knew you would be found..." Frankly, I cannot imagine reading this book to an adoptee. These truths will be bitter enough when the adoptee is an adult and learns about Chinese history and culture, but are too brutal to be told at an early age. Just love the child, please, and reserve the unhappy details for much later. An enchanting book like that written by Rose Lewis, I love you like Crazy Cakes is all that is needed to soothe the little girl's soul and let her understand that she came from China.
Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice? ... Read more

School Library Journal

One of the best titles available about adoption for young children. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A great book for fostering love for the birthmother
This charming adoption book shows us loving and caring adoptive parents who know how to handle the difficult moment Cecilia first hears about her adoption and says "I want you and Mommy to be my ONLY mommy and daddy!" We had the same experience with our daughter whom we adopted at four days of age. She didn't want to hear about another mommy and throughout the years wished we had not brought up the subject. The author is sensitive about having a teacher understand Cecilia's questions about her birthmother and assure Cecilia that her birthmother loved her. This is a good book for adoptive parents whose children need to be reassured of their permanent place in the adoptive family and who should be encouraged to love their absent birthparents.

Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

md
I am currently in the process of adopting two four year olds and thought the book would be helpful. Although it may be helpful to older children, I found it a bit depressing. I would worry after reading it my younger children they would start having some of the thoughts or symptoms described in the book just from hearing them.

Wonderful book
I read this book with my 9 year old adopted son. Even though he didn't comment, I felt it helped him feel alone in his feelings and questions about his adoption. The story is very realistic and discusses many of the questions he has had recently. I highly recommend this book for any adopted family, especially for those children adopted at birth. I think it would be a bit above the heads of some younger children.

An outstanding book
We found this book a great way to introduce the idea of what being adopted really means to our almost-4-year-old daughter. Although some of the story line is above her level of understanding, she loves the book (as evidenced by its' dog-eared appearance). This is definitely her favorite for bedtime reading, and she will repeat phrases or concepts from the book at other times. We know she will have questions in the future that aren't addressed here, but this was a great place to start.

A great tool for helping a child understand adoption
This book is ideal for children who are trying to understand what it means to be adopted, with text geared toward those around four years of age or older. It doesn't avoid the tough issues of adoption: the child in this book voices the fear that her adoptive parents will "give her back", and in a fit of anger she tells her adoptive mother she wants her "real mommy" (birthmother). These are real emotions that adopted children experience, and as my daughter and I read the book together, we can talk about her similar feelings. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Not for kids adopted at older age
This book starts out talking about adoption and how the birthmom loves the baby so much and makes a plan for the adoptive parents. This is really only appropriate if the reader was adopted at birth. For so many of us this is not the story! I chose not to let my kids read this!

r is for redundant
while this book has some nice touches, it really does not have enough themes to take it through the alphabet and it a little more religious than the name implies.

WOW!!
What a BEAUTIFUL book!! I think it will be the perfect way to introduce the concept of adoption to our son. It starts with references to a special birthmom and tells how God had a special plan for a special baby. I cried the first time I read this book. I am so glad I bought it!!

A beautifully written tribute to an adopted child
What a lovely way to explain to a child how special adoption is. Every adopted child, whether small or grown, should have this book.

A gift for all
I have given this wonderful book as a gift to several of my friends. Some have adopted children, some are adopted children. I can't think of a better gift for children and adults alike to show what a special gift adoption is. Thanks to Mrs. Cosby for putting in words so beautifully what all adoptive parents feel!! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (10)

Beautiful, heart-warming book
This is a lovely adoption story, particularly for young children adopted from Central America or South America. The illustrations are beautiful, dynamic and colorful, and the story is gentle and joyous. The story captures the excitement and joy of traveling to bring home an adopted child without dwelling on details, so it is easy to add the specifics of your child's adoption as you read. The book emphasizes the permanence of adoption, and that the child was meant to be the child of the adoptive parents. My 2 year-old daughter, adopted from South America, loves the story, and requests it before nap-time and bed-time.

I love this book!
As the mother of a 3-year old adopted from China, I've bought quite a few adoption-related children's books, and I like many of them. But this one I love! Although it's not directly tied to Chinese adoptions, the story is similar to ours (we're a 2-parent family; we adopted a baby; we traveled to get her). The illustrations are lovely and the story captures the happy anticipation we felt as we waited for our child. Most importantly, the author gave me words to use in explaining my daughter's birth to her: "You grew like a flower in another lady's tummy until you were born. The lady couldn't take care of you so Mommy and Daddy came to adopt you and bring you home." I just love those 2 sentences and feel grateful to have them. And my daughter asks me to read this book just about every day!

A fun adoption book just right for youngsters
I like the magical urgency expressed in the words of one adoptive family flying 'over the moon and through the night' to pick up their baby and love her 'forever and always.'It is a simple story that can be understood by small children. The illustrations are charming and stress the importance of the family unit.
Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

Love this Book
This is about the best book we have that deals with how we became a family - hands down! Our daughter was born in China as is our Number #2 daughter who we are expecting any day now. I found alot of the "classics" in the "how we became a family" to be not my cup of tea or piece of crazy cake, as it were."Over the Moon" approaches the "how you were born" subject so beautifully that we felt comfortable reading it to our 3 year old (over and over and over........) and would have felt comfortable reading it to her 2 years ago! A very gentle, happy, gorgeous book!

A Beautiful Story...It could be mine!
As we await the finalization of the adoption of our daughter from Guatemala, I read this book over and over again! I feel as though it tells our story. The illustrations are bright and appealing. I cannot wait to share it with my daughter. A must have for any adoptive family. ... Read more

Book Description

Sam has a joyful story to tell, one completely her own, yet common to millions of families -- the story of how she was adopted. Most of all, it's a story about love. And in the end, Sam's story comes full circle, inviting young readers to share stories of how they were adopted.

Reviews (7)

Great for young children
I was very pleased with this book as a way to introduce the topic of birthmothers and adoption in general to young children. It was "generic" enough to work for most domestic and international adoption scenarios, perhaps with a little editorial by the parent reading it. I also liked the way it asked questions of the child being read to as I think this might be a good stimulus for further conversation between parent and child. Overall it had a gentle, upbeat message while touching on subjects that parents sometimes have difficulty introducing to their children.

A bit of a tour de force
It is always nice to see a book on adoption written in the child's voice even if the child is perhaps unrealistically mature and talkative, like Samantha. I am an adoptive mother and our daughter was not like Samantha, nor were any of the other adopted children in our neighborhood. It was surprising to me how few questions the children asked as they grew up and how little interest they showed in finding their birthmothers. One reads about this phenomenon in literature. For that reason it's perhaps good to have books like this that may stimulate young adoptees into becoming more conscious of their adoption. Yet, I feel that this book, like many other books about adoption, focuses too intensely on the issue, neglecting the more general aspects of family life and caring for others.

Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

a good book, with one small quibble
I am an adoptive mom of an 11 month old son, who I adopted at birth. This is the first adoption book for children that I've bought -- in others that I've looked at, the story was too different from our family's story. However, this book makes it clear that Samantha is telling the story of her adoption, and that the stories of other adopted kids may be different -- in fact Samantha invites her "listeners" to talk about their own adoptions. This way of writing the story makes me comfortable about reading it to my son, even though the book features a 2-parent family, and I'm a single mom. I also give the book points for using the word "uterus" rather than "tummy". I think the latter creates confusion in young children -- they imagine the unborn baby swimming in a sea of half-digested food. Since we need to explain to children that babies grow in a "special place" anyway, why not use the correct term for it? (if you think your child can't handle a 3-syllable word, then how about "womb"?). I also disagree with the reviewer who thought the illustrations of a baby growing in a uterus, and the descriptions of birth, were inappropriate for young children -- by the time children are 3 or 4, they start noticing pregnant women, and if you tell them "there's a baby in there", the natural next question for them to ask is "how does it get out?" -- I think this book does a really good job of explaining this in simple, not-too-graphic, language that a young child can understand.

I also like the fact that the birth mother is at least mentioned (though that term is not introduced) -- an awful lot of adoption books feature a magical phone call from an adoption agency that has "found" a baby for the would-be adoptive parents, without any mention of where the baby came from. However, my small quibble is that I would have liked to see even a little more discussion of the birth mother -- she appears in this book as not much more than a uterus -- I'd like a book where the adoptive parent(s) actually meet the birthparent(s) -- but then, maybe I'm still looking for a book that exactly mirrors my family's story, since ours is an open adoption with visitation.

Anyway, I think this book can be a good start point for discussions with your adopted child, even if your child's adoption story is somewhat different from Samantha's.

Waiting to adopt
My husband and I are currenly awaiting a referal to adopt a child. We have been looking for books that can assist us in talking to our child about his or her adoption. We purchased this book thinking it would foster discussions about our child's own adoption story. Although the book is layed out very well, and is written in a very simple language, we are returning it. It actually breaks our heart to do so because it us such an excellent book, but one page depeticts the birth of a child. It discussed a woman's uterus squeezing and pushing a baby out. There are drawings on the page of an actual birth. We do plan to discuss the facts of life with our children, but do not feel that it is neccessary for a pre school age child to see drawings of a baby actually being born. I have no problem using the proper words with a child and telling him that a child grows in a birth mother's uterus, not her tummy. But sharing with a child what the actual process of birth is like needs to be saved for when he (or she) is older.

A straighforward and cheerful introduction to adoption
While my sons are not adopted, they have friends and extended family that are. This book was a good introduction to them to the concept. It's very straightforward and written in such a way that it could apply to a lot of different adoption situation---details are not that specific just to Samantha. It is very upbeat and cheerful. Just a note---the book does assume the kids that are hearing it are adopted, and it has questions like "Do you know how old you were when you were adopted?" which confused my sons a little! So be aware of this if you are reading it just for general awareness! The pictures are cute, bright and with neat details. ... Read more

Book Description

The adventures of Zachary the kitten, who is taken from his mother's house when his mother is unable to take care of him. Eventually he is adopted by a family of geese. Zachary experiences the true-to-life feelings of shame, rebelliousness, and hurt, and his adoptive parents struggle with their own feelings during Zachary's tougher times, until Zachary finally finds a place he can call home. The poignant story is brought to life by the detailed, evocative drawings. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Story, Not So Great Book
Read all the other reviews for the story context. It is a good story HOWEVER it is all black and white. This book could of been so much better with a little imagination and color. I was extremely disappointed to find the pictures gray, dull and lifeless. This book would be so much better with colorful pictures and text.

Difficult subject, well dealt with
The story of the little kitten, who's daddy disappears, and Mummy is bad to him, is well written and non judgemental. The kitten is taken away from his birth mother and fostered, then adopted into a family of Swans, who love him. The book tells about the kitten's confusion and feelings of loss, and has a happy ending when the adoptive parents re-state their love for him.

This book is relevant for children who have been removed from a birth parent's home, not for children adopted after being orphaned or abandoned, and the picture of the scary Mum will probably introduce the wrong message about their birth parents.

Fabulous for adopting a child through the foster care system
This book clearly explains the child coming into foster care and then being adopted. Great for children who were adopted though the foster care system.

THOUGHTFUL CHILDREN'S BOOK ABOUT A TOUGH TOPIC
As a foster mother and author of books for foster children, it is wonderful to see good quality books available for foster children! The writing is easy to understand and deals with some being in foster care and then being adopted. The illustrations are charming--I like how animals are used because they are appropriate for the whimsy of children, plus they do not peg the reader into thinking about whether the book's subjects are "black" or "white," etc. Children will be able to relate to this book, and they will find comfort in its story. -Cynthia Miller Lovell, author of The Star: A story to help young children understand foster care, and Questions & Activities for The Star: A handbook for foster parents

Great tool to help these kiddos...
I am a social worker with Child Protective Services and I use this book all the time. It helps me to explain to a child what is happening in their life as well as frame their situation in a perspective they can understand. I have used this book both at the time I am removing a child from a birth home and at the times that I place a child in an adoptive home. They often ask me to read the story again. I recommend this book for anyone with a foster child in their home or a child adopted from the Child Welfare System. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

I LOVE this book!
I received this book from my adopted parents when I was in Grade School and really enjoyed the illustrations and the way it explained adoption. I lost by first version - so I just ordered it again and still absolutley love it almost 15 years later! I like how it mentions the different types of adoption. They go through single parent adoption and also traditional adoption. I highly recommend this book for children and parents.

Broad-based Adoption Information for Children
Many children's adoption books have a particular slant i.e. single parent adoption, or international, or domestic, newborn, older child... This book covers all aspects. It's detailed, informative, and humorous. The question and answer format appeals to both parents and children. It's a book you should have on your child's bookshelf and re-read as your child grows and develops new awarness about their sometimes complicated lives.

Susan M. Ward, mama to Hannah, adopted at age 6

Wonderful!
I'm almost 23 years old and since I can remember my parents have been reading this book to me. Every year on my adoption day they'd pull the book out and read it to me and then answer any questions about my adoption I had. It wreally helps for those times that you just don't know what to say. I would recommend it to anyone!

Too dense and tense about adoption
I was trying to understand at what age an adoptee could understand this book, or have the patience to listen to the very intricate explanations as to what it means to be adopted. The child will even have to know who the former presidents Herbert Hoover and Gerald Ford were. I think the authors are trying way too hard to convince the child that adoption is okay. It was hard for me, as an adult, to finish reading the book. Look at Rose Lewis's book, I Love You Like Crazy Cakes, and you see how little needs to be said to enchant the adopted child.
Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

A bit wordy, but good
I very much like the concepts covered in this book. It is an excellent tool for letting your children express their feelings, such as feelings of grief over the loss of the birthparent relationship, etc. It is a little wordy, especially for younger children, but you can skip over some of the longer sections and read the main points on each page and still give the younger ones quite a bit of meaningful content. It is a great tool for starting conversations with your children about their feelings on being adopted. ... Read more

Book Description

Thousands of readers enjoyed the original story! This revised edition combines the original children's book with an eight page guide for adults, including adoptive parents, birth parents, and the general public.Written by an adoptive parent, this true story lovingly connects birth mom and child while stressing the importance of the adoptive parents. "...Wherever you are Annie's Child, she loved you before you were born. She loves you now. Never, never, never will she stop loving you."

Illustrations for the text are a combination of drawings by adopted children and photographs.Both text and illustrations are a chocolate colored ink on cream paper. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

We need more books like this one honoring birthmothers
The title of the book beautifully reflects the love the author instills in the reader, young and old, for birthmothers. The idea to have the name of the birthmother written in the paragraphs is a wonderful way to tell her story to the child. The author not only honors birthmothers but emphasizes what a caring and unselfish decision they had made, and that they love their absent children every day of their lives. We have met our birthmother after 29 years (she found us) and know that all this applies to her. She never stopped loving her child. We too always loved our birthmother during all these years and now that we've met, we have a loving relationship.

Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

For the wonderful Birthmothers
Dear readers,
I highly recommend this book if you placed your baby for adoption. It is one of the most diffacult things to endure, but this book shows and tells how amazing we birthmothers are. I am a birthmother of a little boy named Alexander. I was having a diffacult time in the beginning, then my mother gave me this book. In the book, your name (birthmother's) is placed in the paragraphs, so it's telling the story to your child about you. I love this book because it's written with all regards to the birthmother. It helps with reminding what a caring and unselfish decision we have made. It's a perfect gift to give to a birthmother. She will love and appreciate it! It is something that I will treasure forever.

This birthmother never stopped loving her for 32 years
Several months ago a dear friend gave me this book as a gift. As another birthmom I am sure that she knew the impact that this beautifully written book would have on me. I felt totally validated for a decision that I reluctantly made 32 years ago. I placed my first order for this book and sent it to my birthdaughter. Even though she was then 31 she stated that she loved the book and it had been the best gift that she had ever received. One of the last illustrations in the books shows Annie sitting in a rocking chair with a contemplative look on her face...the next and last page of the book shows the rocking chair empty. This empty chair represented the emptiness that I felt after placement, but also the hope that I had done what was best for my child. Yes, it is very true....I never,never,never stopped loving my baby. Since that time I have obtained many copies of this lovely book and have shared it with other birthmothers, adult adoptees and adoptive parents. All have been touched by this book. Jolene has touched the heart and souls of many of us touched by adoption. I recommend this book to all involved in adoption.

Adoption is a Wonderful thing!
I work for a crisis pregnancy center and am also a birth mother myself. I feel that your book truly portrays what a birth mother's reasoning is for placing, but in a wonderful simple way for kids to understand. It also shows what a wonderful alternative adoption is to abortion! I almost aborted my son and am so thankful that I chose the opposite for him and your book helps show the happiness adoption can bring. I have an open adoption so I plan to send my son a copy. Even though he is only one I hope that the book will help him understand that it was hard and I still love him and will never stop!

Much needed approach . . .
I am a clinical counselor with 27 years experience and I recommend this book pretty consistently in my work with both birth mothers and adoptive children. The spirit and tone of both the drawings and wording seems to impact them in just the right way to bring about some new clarification and healing. I believe that the book gives a message that goodness can be found in almost all situations/people if that is what we are tuned to look for. The basic principle of reframing (looking for the noble intention in a behavior)is espoused in the message of the book, and that is something that is often very helpful and healing. I know that some local adoption agencies and adoption specialists are using the book and are very pleased with the impact on their clients. A gem of a book. . . lots of heart in this one. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

didn't care for it
I didn't care for this book at all. We have purchased several children's adoption books including Jamie Lee Curtis's book and "Why was I adopted" and were very pleased. But this one I was just not comfortable with. Can't really put my finger on the exact reason, but we returned it immediately.

Reality for little kids
This book was a birthday gift for our small naturally born daughter on the eve of our adoption of an older child from a foreign land.

Unlike most other readily available adoption titles for little kids (with the exception of Let's Talk About Adoption), this book shows real photos of real babies, kids, birthparents and adoptive parents.

It explains in very simple terms why some parents cannot care for their children, and would choose to place them for adoption. It also shows photographs of real adoptive parents who cannot bear children of their own, who desperately want children.

And it introduces the idea that adults have often been adopted too. One child in this book tells his teacher that he was adopted, and the teacher confides that she too was adopted as a child.

Altogether this book provides a great introduction to the beauty of adoption as a way to build a family. Being a family means loving one another no matter what. Alyssa A. Lappen

Adoption Stories for Young Children
This book was a excellent example to adoption. Children of any age are able to understand. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Lovely Book About A True Family
Times change and this book clearly shows that a family is made up of people who love you. A great lesson is shared with all types of families from the message in this book!

FANTASTIC BOOK!!!
What a great book for everyone!! Gay or straight this book should be read by all. It truly is a great story about family!
The story is wonderful....I can't wait to share it with my family!!!
The illustrations are amazing!!!

A Loving Family Tale
With "How My Family Came to Be: Daddy, Papa and Me" Andrew Aldrich has given us a loving, and FUN, story (with great illustrations by Mike Motz) of how two men and a baby came together to make a family, that ultimately, is like every other family. Kids will enjoy this story. It is a good tool for those who want to show their children the rich variety of family life. I know my child loved it, and it opened up discussion as to what makes a family. I echo Betty DeGeneres - "Lucky baby, lucky dads."

A Heart-Warming Story
A refreshing story of how a beautiful child becomes part of a family with two Dads. More needs to be written about how so many of children find loving homes by being adopted by gay men.

Written from the child's point of view, the book is void of bias and preconceived ideas of the type of love and true bonding of family that two men can provide to a child.

Easy to read, with great colorful illustrations, the book is appropriate for children and adults, gay or straight... anyone who enjoys feeling warmth in their hearts and teaching love and acceptance of those around them.

2 THUMBS UP!!
EXCELLENT AND WONDERFUL! WAS WAITING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE WRITTEN FOR A WHILE. THE BOOK SHOWS THE LOVE BETWEEN A GAY/INTERRACIAL FAMILY THROUGH ADOPTION. THE PICTURES ARE COLORFUL/HUMOROUS. THE BOOK TEACHES CARING FOR A CHILD TO CHILDREN, LOVE, KINDNESS , HAPPINESS, ALOT OF POSITIVE ! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS. IT IS ALSO EASY/SIMPLE READING FOR CHILDREN WITH DECENT SIZE LETTERING. THERE AREN'T MANY BOOKS OUT THERE I CAN THINK OF ABOUT THIS TOPIC, I'M GLAD THE AUTHOR WAS BOLD ENOUGH TO WRITE ABOUT THIS TOPIC/HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL IN THE FUTURE. ... Read more

Book Description

My mom and I love to tell the story of how we became a family. Before I was born, my mom lived alone in our house. She loved her work and her friends, but something was missing--me! She wanted to share her life with a child who needed a family. My mom traveled the world--across the ocean and over the mountains--to meet me. We love to work and play together. Sometimes I wish we had a dad in our family, but my grandpa takes me special places, and my friend Nicky's dad is teaching us to play soccer. I'm glad my mom adopted me. She's the best mom in the whole wide world! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

thank you ms. zisk
I am a single mom of an adopted child. I had not really told my daughter the story of how we became a family. I happened on this book by accident, and it has become our before bed story. My daughter loves the story of how Anna and her Mom became a family. Although our story is not exactly the same it has gotten us to tell our story after we read the book. Jamie loves to look at the vibrant pictures and imagine they are pictures of us.

So thank you Ms. Zisk for your wonderful story.

A solid, although not wholly satisfying, book
"The Best Single Mom in the World: How I Was Adopted" is a children's book written and illustrated by Mary Zisk. As the title indicates, it is about a single woman who adopts a child. This is a straightforward story that celebrates the adoptive mother/child bond.

There are a lot of good points about this book. But reading it made me ponder many questions that go unaddressed. What does the mom do for a living? Who shares in the co-parenting duties when the mom is at work? The picture seems a bit too idealized and "politically correct."

Still, there is much to admire here. I like how the author shows that a single mom can provide her child with male figures in an extended circle of family and friends. And the artwork is truly beautiful: bursting with color and skillfully rendered detail. Scenes such as a soccer game and a trip to the zoo are wonderfully brought to life. Overall, a commendable effort.

My daughter loves this book!
My daughter loves this book even though she is not adopted. I am a single mom. We read this book and talk about how parents really want to have children and how there are different types of families.

But Something Was Missing-Me!
This colorful picture book is about the need a woman has for a child and the child's need for a parent. Both are united in love and through adoption. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like their child to understand the love shared by adoption. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A missing piece of the puzzle for your adopted child.
As an adoptive parent of a Korean born child, I know firsthand that she had a life in Korea before ever becoming part of our family. Here is a way to fill in the missing pieces for her. Sooner or later your child will begin to ask questions. This book handles delicate issues in a gentle yet informative way. It's become our gift of choice to people we know who are new adoptive parents.

Excellent book for Korean-adoptive families!
My husband and I are parents to two wonderful children from Korea and this book is just absolutely top-notch. Although we were able to travel to Korea to receive both of our children and bring them home, still reading about much of what we experienced will enable us to better picture this for our children when they're old enough. The in-Korea agency our children came home through is the one featured in the book but I know the experience is much the same for any family adopting from Korea, re. of which in-Korea agency was used. You will be doing yourself, and more importantly your child, a favor by getting this!!

An excellent book on the experience of Korean adoption
As parents-to-be and new parents of a little boy from Korea, my wife and I found this book to be absolutely exceptional. It shows the whole process of an adoptee's early life, from the prenatal care of the birth mother through foster care and the journey to America.

Not only is it great for us, we've also given it to Alex's grandparents to help them better understand where their grandson came from and what his life was like before he came here.

I can't recommend this book too highly. I really can't. If you're even considering adopting from Korea, you need this book. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very touching story
This is one of the better adoption books we've found. The story is quite touching. Our 4 year olds like to hear me read it. It is well written (no bad rhymes or childish language), which is far too unusual in adoption books for children. My only criticism is that it could have used better editing--tends to go on at times and this is suppose to be a children's book. Sensitive-types, be warned: I can't read this book without crying. Luckily, my children are use to it.

Heart warming and clever
This is a gentle way to introduce the young adoptee to the love of the human birthmother, and there is no need for the child fully to conceptualize yet the concepts of birth and adoption. Brodzinsky very cleverly introduces the fact to very young children that there was no father bird to help, that he had flown away long before the mother built her nest and laid her pale blue egg. The images of the mother bird and her struggles will instill love in the children for the little mother bird and at the same time love for the birthmother is sown and admiration for how hard she tried to protect her baby through all the storms, but failed to do so. The adoptive parents of the little bird are also shown to be loving and understanding of the baby's occasional grief. A charming story.
Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

Wonderful Adoption story
We just recently adopted a sibling group of three boys ages 5,4,2. They are so young and had a hard time understanding why they were put up for adoption. This book has helped them to understand that their birth mom did this out of love. What a wonderful story to share with any adopted child!!!!! My oldest son wants me to read this book to him EVERYDAY!

Building a nest
This book is intended for older children who have begun asking why their birthmothers could not care for them. It provides a nice jumping off point for an important talk.

There are deficiencies, true enough. But no single adoption book can explain every situation to every child. Expecting that is expecting too much. After all, every adopted child came to his family differently. Other titles that one might consider to help an adopted child include Fred Rogers' Let's Talk About Adoption, Roslyn Banish's A Forever Family and Did My First Mommy Love Me. The last was written by an actual birthmother for her child.

Older children might also enjoy parts of Touched by Adoption, which includes 75 poets and writers who were themselves either birthparents, adopted or adoptive parents.

Whatever titles one uses, it is important to let an adopted child know that the family nest in which he landed was built to last forever. This book gets that message across. Alyssa A. Lappen

Missing Pieces
As a recent birthmother participating in an open adoption I ordered this story to read to my birthdaughter. Although parts of the story explain the adoption process quite well, I didn't like the allusion to the fact that the Mulberry Bird gave her baby up because of her own incompetence in caring for it. The only reference given to the birthfather was that "he had flown off before the baby was born". I don't like the idea of teaching adopted children that their birthfathers take off and their birthmothers are incompetent.

This book was also extemely wordy and appropriate for older children only. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Very nice book
We are adopting from China. This book is an excellent ice breaker. We put it on our coffee table and it has appealed to my 75 year old father in law and my 5 year old niece. Everybody falls in love with the cute little girl. It puts a face on the abstract and foreign (excuse the pun) concept of international adoption.

A STORY TO WARM HEARTS
Our Baby from China/An Adoption Story by Nancy D'Antonio will warm hearts.

Filled with full-color photographs, very much like a family album, this is the true story of a couple who traveled across the world to adopt a child they had learned to love in a photograph. It is also a reminder that love transcends race and nationality.

Not 'adoptee' friendly
I was anxiously awaiting this book only to open and find that the first page indicated the Chinese peoples'/birthparents inability to love these children...
When in fact it is culture and history thousands of years old which force Chinese parents to make a plan of adoption. A loving decision considering their difficult circumstances.
I want to share a loving story with my daughter, not one which implies that love only comes from the adoptive family.

A pretty good model
This book is actually a pretty good model of a scrap book or photo book you could put together for your own Chinese child (if you have adopted one) or a good way for other children to learn some basics about a China adoption.

Some of these reviews seem to take one line in the book out of context. Although I lead a charity whose mission is to help Chinese adoptees feel good about being Chinese and proud of their heritage, I don't think anything in the book could be construed as harmful. Its factual. Yes, most adoptees probably have birth parents who abandoned these children for very understandable reasons, the fact remains, that these children can no longer be loved by their birth parents in any way that is likely to benefit the child. Sure the birth parents might still love the child in a spiritual sense, but we don't know that and cannot know that and to tell your child otherwise is to tell your child something you don't know. Psychologists warn against doing that.

But to focus on one line in this book is to miss the point. This book tells a story that is positive and that I am sure most adoptees can relate to in a healthy way. In actual fact, I will borrow the idea and put together a book for our Chinese children.

For the love of a child
In a mere 25 pages, with simple text and beautiful pictures, the story of a China adoption unfolds. My own China girl loves looking through the pictures and seeing the country of her birth. She never tires of it. It is not only her story but hundred's of Chinese children's story. My favorite picture is of the two pairs of quilted children's pants, hanging from the clothes line. Thank you for sharing this story! A good addition for your personal library. ... Read more

Book Description

They were "throw away" kids, living in the streets or in orphanages and foster homes. Then Charles Loring Brace, a young minister working with the poor in New York City, started the Children"s Aid Society and devised a plan to give homeless children a chance to find families to call their own.
Thus began an extraordinary migration of American children. Between 1854 and 1929, an estimated 200,000 children, mostly from New York and other cities of the eastern United States, ventured forth to other states on a journey of hope.
Andrea Warren has shared the stories of some of these orphan train riders here, including those of Betty, who found a fairy tale life in a grand hotel; Nettie Evans and her twin, Nellie, who were rescued from their first abusive placement and taken in by a new, kindhearted family who gave them the love they had hoped for; brothers Howard and Fred, who remained close even though they were adopted into different families; and Edith, who longed to know the secrets of her past.
Listen to these and other child orphans as they share their memories of transition and adventure, disappointment and loneliness, but ultimately of the joy of belonging to their own new families. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (11)

Sensitive, Touching Adoption Story From Child's Viewpoint
In this sensitive, intelligent and witty account of a girl from China being adopted by U.S. parents, the author has successfully related both the emotional and factual elements of the adoption process. I especially liked the fact that the book has been written from the child's point of view. My wife and I adopted a girl from China several years ago, and this book has been a godsend to us. As we read the book to our daughter, Sarah, we realized that the author was saying all those things we had been feeling and wanting to say, yet couldn't find the words for.

I might also add that although the child in this book, Elizabeth, is from China, I feel the story is universal and applies equally well to kids from the United States or other countries.

I can not recommend this book highly enough for parents who have adopted or are considering adopting. You are truly undertaking a journey of love... a journey that is described accurately and poignantly by the author.

What a way to start a conversation!
Both my husband and I have read this book to our 6 year old adopted daughter and were amazed at her response. It is sensitive and gentle, yet hits on a tender point in any adoption story. How did I come to be available? The questions that she has asked after the book is closed and she is snuggled safely in my arms, reminds me how close to the surface are her memories of China and the question of why she is in the USA instead. Although I have [unsuccessfully] brought the subject up before, this story has given her the freedom to voice her own questions and fears. If Elizabeth can ask questions and get straight answers, maybe I can too. This book is beautiful. And creates an atmosphere of safety and love that gives the adopted child a chance to ask.

Charming! Compassionate!
The title of this charming book already tells us that the author includes the birthmother in the family's lives. This adoption story is told by the young child Elizabeth and shows her thought process as she looks at her adoption album and consoles her mother when she didn't have a baby yet, but now she does. The author also charmingly introduces Penny, the dog adopted from an animal shelter and young Elizabeth is happy for Penny to have a family too. It is fun to see the two little Chinese girls talk about their "far mommy and a near mommy" and fantasize talking to their far mommy on the toy telephone. The author cleverly weaves in the adoptive family's love for the two unknown Chinese birthmothers and throughout the pages lets us feel Elizabeth's joy and sorrow when she thinks of her unknown Chinese mommy. Our family has experienced this kind of love for our own birthmother during all the years that we did not know her, but now we have found one another and have a wonderful relationship.

Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

Mommy Far, Mommy Near -- Best Bet
As an adoptive parent of two daughters, I've read many adoption books and this one is exceptional! Mommy Far introduces themes for readers aged pre-school and up in a gentle and compelling way. Brownell's wonderful illustrations heighten the loveliness of this book. The message that adoption is warm and good and loving is inescapable and very powerful.

What I really loved is the fact that the story is told by a child to other children- the book's readers. 'This is my story,' she seems to be saying,'And this is how I came to understand it.'

With the daughter Elizabeth as narrator, it is the story of a little girl, adopted from China, coming to the realization of what adoption really means for herself, her family, her sister
and both sets of parents. More importantly it is the journey Elizabeth takes to understanding her journey into adoption and the vital role both mothers play in her life.

It contains loving adoption games created by mother and daughter.
Elizabeth's continued child's play using pretend phone calls from Mommy Far illustrates her growing understanding of two mommies. Elizabeth's birthmother is portrayed in very sensitive and undertsnding terms, both in text and illustrations. The young heroine ultimately concludes that both mothers have their time and place and both can fit into her life.

While this would be a wonderful addition to any library, it is especially significant for those touched by international and transracial adoptions.

Read this before you share it with your child
I am astonished that these reviewers have said they read this book to their five year old daughters. I do not believe that this book is appropriate for any child under the age of eight. While I strongly believe it is a very good book about Chinese adoption, I caution anyone purchasing it as a gift for their children against simply sitting down to read it with them without thoroughly reading it first themselves. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Better for domestic
I think this book is more appropriate for domestic adoption. There were a few things that bothered me such as that "usually" adoptive parents know something about birth parents. Most people I know through adoption groups(international) know pretty close to nothing about the birth parents. ... Read more