Explaining Adoption to Siblings
Featured Books
Wolfie the Bunny
Wolfie the Bunny tells the story of the Bunny family adopting a wolf, much to daughter Dot’s alarm—after all, wolves eat bunnies! While her parents are smitten, Dot worries until she discovers that having a new sibling can be pretty great. With humor and heart, this picture book offers a playful look at adoption from an older sibling’s perspective and is a perfect way to spark conversations about welcoming a new family member.
You’re All My Favorites
You’re All My Favorites is the tender story of three bear cubs who worry whether their parents have enough love for them all. Each night, Mommy and Daddy Bear lovingly reassure them that every cub is the most special and cherished. This sweet book captures the worries siblings may feel when a new child joins the family and offers a gentle way for parents to reassure children—especially during adoption—that love only grows and there’s always enough to go around.
I’m a Big Sister or I’m a Big Brother
Told from the perspective of a new older sibling, this simple story highlights the joys and excitement of welcoming a new family member. While not adoption-specific, it avoids pregnancy or hospital themes, making it a great fit for adoptive families. A helpful section for parents is also included.
More Great Books
A Most Unusual Day
Nothing seems to go right for Caroline—she oversleeps, forgets her socks, and makes a mess at school. But the unusual day turns extraordinary when she meets her new baby sister, freshly arrived from far away. Told from a big sister’s perspective, this heartwarming story captures the excitement and love of welcoming an adopted sibling.
The New Baby
Little Critter is excited about his new baby sister, but quickly grows frustrated when she doesn’t pay attention to him. While not adoption-specific, this sweet story is perfect for helping toddlers and preschoolers prepare for the arrival of a new sibling by adoption. It gently captures both the excitement and challenges of welcoming a baby into the family.
So You’ve Adopted a Sibling
This book focuses on the post-adoption experience of resident children as they adjust to welcoming a new sibling. It explores both the joys and challenges of change, helping kids normalize their feelings during the transition. The companion title, Adopting a Little Brother or Sister, is told from a 5-year-old’s perspective, covering visits with social workers, meeting a new foster sibling, waiting, and the fun of having a sibling to play with. A thoughtful resource for preparing children already in the home.
A Blessing from Above
In this faith-based picture book, Mama Kangaroo prays for a baby to love and is surprised when a baby bird tumbles into her pouch. While Mama Blue Bird has a nestful of chicks, she lovingly entrusts her littlest one to Mama Kangaroo. Though not explicitly about birth siblings, this gentle story introduces adoption in a way young children can understand. A sweet, faith-centered resource for families wanting to talk about adoption and the love that surrounds it.
We Belong Together: A Book About Adoption and Families
Todd Parr brings his signature colorful style to this warm and accessible book about adoption. With simple, kid-friendly language, it celebrates the many ways families are formed and highlights how adoption is one special way people come together to create a family. Parr acknowledges that each adoption story is unique while focusing on the love that binds families together. A joyful introduction to adoption for young children.
Let’s Talk About It: Adoption
This classic by Mr. Rogers, who had an adopted brother, offers a gentle, reassuring way to talk about adoption. With his trademark sensitivity, he helps children and parents explore both the happy and hard feelings that can come with adoption, while emphasizing belonging and love. Though somewhat dated and harder to find, it remains a supportive and timeless resource for families of all types of adoption.
Featured Books
I’m a Big Sister or I’m a Big Brother
Told from the perspective of a new older sibling, this simple story highlights the joys and excitement of welcoming a new family member. While not adoption-specific, it avoids pregnancy or hospital themes, making it a great fit for adoptive families. A helpful section for parents is also included.
Emma’s Yucky Brother
Emma is thrilled to be getting a little brother through adoption, but Max isn’t so sure—he thinks sisters are yucky, especially Emma! This story gently explores the ups and downs of adoption transitions, highlighting the emotions of everyone involved. With mentions of social worker visits, foster families, and transitional visits, it’s a realistic and reassuring resource for families adopting from foster care or internationally. A great way to help older siblings prepare for welcoming a toddler or older child.
Sam’s Sister
Sam’s Sister tells the story of five-year-old Rosa, whose mama is pregnant and planning an open adoption for the baby. Rosa must navigate her mother’s grief, meet her brother’s adoptive family, and cope with her own feelings of loss. This tender book validates the often-overlooked perspective of birth siblings, offering hope and reassurance that family bonds remain. A valuable resource for children touched by adoption, praised by adoption counselors and loved by kids themselves.
The Rainbow Egg
Hope the chicken lays an egg, but has no nest to keep it safe. Searching for help, she finds the Rainbows, who long for a child but cannot have one. This gentle story introduces adoption from the birth parents’ perspective, showing the love and care behind a decision to place a child with another family. A thoughtful way to begin conversations with children about why birth parents may choose adoption.
More Great Books
The Mulberry Bird
In this classic adoption picture book, a storm scatters Mother Bird’s nest, leaving her unable to protect her baby. She makes the difficult decision to place him with another family who can provide safety and care. The Mulberry Bird addresses themes of birth parent love, post-adoption contact, and the nurturing of adopted children in their new families. Best used as a read-aloud for children around age 8, it can help spark meaningful conversations, even if kids don’t pick it up on their own.
Bad Kitty Meets the Baby
When Kitty’s owners bring home a surprise—a baby—Kitty isn’t sure what to think. The baby plays, drools, and stinks, so Kitty decides it must be a dog! This funny chapter book is a great way to help young readers explore the ups and downs of adding a new sibling. It also offers a lighthearted reminder that families, like pets and people, can be formed through adoption too.
W.I.S.E. Up! Powerbook Created by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE)
The W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook helps adopted and foster children learn to handle questions about their story with confidence. Using realistic scenarios, it guides kids and parents through four strategies: Walk away, say It’s private, Share something, or Educate others. A valuable tool for older children, tweens, and teens, it offers practical approaches to those inevitable adoption-related questions. Best of all, it’s designed for families to use together, building confidence and shared understanding.
Bringing Asha Home
Eight-year-old Arun dreams of a little sister to share the holidays with. When his parents travel to India to adopt baby Asha, Arun learns that the process takes time—but he still finds meaningful ways to connect with her from afar. This heartwarming story is ideal for young children awaiting a new sibling through adoption, offering a gentle look at how the process works. Featuring a bi-racial (Indian/white) family, it’s a wonderful resource for talking about sibling adoption journeys.
Real Sisters Pretend
Tayja and Mia may not look alike—one is Black and one is white—but they don’t have to pretend to be sisters. They are sisters, in every real sense. Inspired by a true conversation between the author’s daughters, this touching story affirms adoptive and blended families while showing kids that family is defined by love, not appearances. A gentle, affirming read for younger children navigating questions about their family.
So You’ve Adopted a Sibling
This book focuses on the post-adoption experience of resident children as they adjust to welcoming a new sibling. It explores both the joys and challenges of change, helping kids normalize their feelings during the transition. The companion title, Adopting a Little Brother or Sister, is told from a 5-year-old’s perspective, covering visits with social workers, meeting a new foster sibling, waiting, and the fun of having a sibling to play with. A thoughtful resource for preparing children already in the home.
Suddenly Siblings: Adventures in Fostering and Adoption
This workbook of 25 lessons helps prepare children for the impacts of adopting or fostering a new sibling. With practical tools and simple activities, it guides families through common challenges siblings face when welcoming a child from a traumatic background. Topics include preventing overwhelm, asking for help, reducing conflict, improving communication, and coping with stress or anxiety. Each mini-lesson includes an activity, making it easy to strengthen both sibling bonds and parent-child connections at your own pace.
Whistling for Angela
As Daniel prepares to meet his newly adopted baby sister, he longs to give her a special gift: a whistle like the songbirds he loves. But no matter how hard he tries, he just can’t master it—until his sister’s birth mom shows him the secret to making her smile. Inspired by the author’s own adoption experiences, this tender story introduces children to open adoption and celebrates the love that creates a new family.
The Day Lily Turned (un)Invisible
One of the biggest challenges in foster and adoptive placements is supporting children already in the family. This heartfelt story follows Lily, a biological child in a foster family, who feels forgotten when a new sibling arrives and fears she’s become invisible. With colorful characters and uplifting messages, the book reassures kids that they are seen, loved, and valuable simply for who they are. A great tool for families navigating foster care or adoption transitions.
A Gift Called Shane
Written by NFL running back, Super Bowl champion, adoptee, and adoptive father Ricky Watters, this rhyming picture book shares his family’s adoption story through the eyes of Big Brother Ricky. Both heartfelt and engaging, it highlights the joys and challenges of adoption in a way kids can relate to. A warm, inspiring read for families touched by adoption.
Featured Books
Don’t Call Me Marda
Sixth-grader Marsha is excited to gain a sister through adoption—but reality isn’t what she imagined. Wendy, age eight but developmentally delayed, throws tantrums, disrupts Marsha’s life, and embarrasses her in public. Even the family cat seems to prefer Wendy! As Marsha struggles with jealousy and frustration, she must decide whether she can embrace Wendy as her forever sister. A poignant, realistic story about the challenges and rewards of building a family through adoption.
My Flight Training Manual: Flying Above the Clouds in Sibling Relationships
This workbook helps tweens and teens understand how sibling relationships affect them, especially when a brother or sister has a history of trauma. It explains common challenges, offers practical tools to prevent overwhelm, and provides strategies to reduce conflict, strengthen relationships, and know when to ask for help. Designed for parents and kids to work through together, it also builds trust and communication while giving siblings a healthier way to navigate adoption or foster family dynamics.
Suddenly Siblings: Adventures in Fostering and Adoption
This workbook of 25 lessons helps prepare children for the changes that come with adopting or fostering a new sibling. Each mini-lesson includes a simple activity to guide families at their own pace. Topics cover preventing overwhelm, asking for help, reducing conflict, improving communication, and coping with stress or anxiety. With practical, easy-to-use tools, this resource supports siblings of children from traumatic backgrounds while strengthening parent-child connections and building a more resilient family.
More Great Books
W.I.S.E. Up! Powerbook Created by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE)
The W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook helps adopted and foster children learn to handle questions about their story with confidence. Using realistic scenarios, it guides kids and parents through four strategies: Walk away, say It’s private, Share something, or Educate others. A valuable tool for older children, tweens, and teens, it offers practical approaches to those inevitable adoption-related questions. Best of all, it’s designed for families to use together, building confidence and shared understanding.
Half A World Away
Twelve-year-old Jaden, adopted from Romania, believes he’s an “epic fail” and that his family is adopting a new baby in Kazakhstan to replace him. Struggling with anger, hoarding, and detachment, he expects nothing to change—until he bonds with Dimash, a special needs toddler. For the first time, Jaden feels something other than rage. This candid, Newbery Medal–winning novel offers a powerful, unflinching look at the challenges of international and older child adoption, while still affirming hope, healing, and second chances.
Emily’s Dragon
Emily’s Dragon is a short film that follows a young girl removed from her family and placed in foster care, supported through the experience by a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. The story captures the fear, loss, and uncertainty children face in foster care, while highlighting the hope and stability a CASA can provide. A powerful resource for helping families and older elementary-aged children better understand the complexities of foster care and foster adoption.
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