Beginnings: How Families Come to Be by Virginia Kroll. (ages 3-9) This book explore the different ways families are created including birth, adoption (open and closed, domestic and foreign), guardianship, and single parenthood and focuses on the broader all-inclusive non-judgmental definition of family. Culturally diverse kids ask their parents to tell the story of how they became a family. 

The Tummy Mummy by Michelle Madrid-Branch. (ages 3-6) A wise owl guides the Tummy Mummy in a book that shows the love of both birth moms and adoptive parents for their shared child. It is written to explain adoption to an adopted child, but its focus on the birth mother makes it appropriate.

Sam’s Sister by Juliet Bond (ages 3-7 year old). The only book I’ve found written specifically for birth siblings of adopted children. The story is told by 5-year-old Rosa, whose newborn brother is placed in an open adoption. Compassionate.

The Rainbow Egg by Linda Hendricks (ages 4-8). An unconventional chicken finds herself with egg, but no nest and unable to raise the chic. She is guided to a chicken house where she decides it is best to place her egg with a chicken family with a nest. There are parts of this story that are confusing, but it does focus on the birthmother and could be a good conversation starter.

In My Heart (ages 3-8) by Molly Bang. This picture book celebrates the bond between all types of parents and children.

We Belong Together: a Book about Adoption and Families by Todd Parr (ages 3-6). We Belong Together explores the ways that people can choose to come together to make a family.

How I Was Adopted by Joanna Cole (ages 4-8). Explains adoption in general.

Mr. Rogers-Let’s Talk About It: Adoption by Fred Rogers (ages 4-8). I love Mr. Rogers. He doesn’t focus on first families at all, but I just love his general philosophy and calming demeanor. He is a brother through adoption.

Motherbridge of Love by Xinran (4-10 year old). A picture book about the love between a child, a mother, and a birthmother. I think the age range is a bit ambitious since most 10 year olds could be bored, but it is a good conversation starter even at that age. It is written to explain adoption to an adopted child, but its focus on the birth mom makes it appropriate.

The Mulberry Bird by Anne Braff Brodzinsky (ages 6-12) Mother bird is doing her best to raise her baby alone until a storm destroys her nest and she must decide whether it is best for her child to continue to struggle on her own or should she place him with another family that has a strong safe nest. This is best as a read aloud book for the 6-8 age range, but I would suggest reading it out loud to even the older kids to allow time for discussion.

W.I.S.E. Up! Powerbook (ages 6-16) – Created by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE) in 2009, the W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook is designed to help adopted children and children in foster care learn how to confidently handle both personal and general questions about adoption. The book presents realistic situations that adopted and foster kids are likely to encounter, and guides parents and kids through different approaches to answering. Organized around the acrostic W.I.S.E., kids learn that they can Walk away, reply that It’s private, choose to Share something, or Educate others. Great resource for older adopted kids, and I would assume that much of the information would also be appropriate for older kids whose mother placed a child for adoption.

Beginnings: How Families Come to Be by Virginia Kroll. (ages 3-9) This book explore the different ways families are created including birth, adoption (open and closed, domestic and foreign), guardianship, and single parenthood and focuses on the broader all-inclusive non-judgmental definition of family. Culturally diverse kids ask their parents to tell the story of how they became a family. 

The Tummy Mummy by Michelle Madrid-Branch. (ages 3-6) A wise owl guides the Tummy Mummy in a book that shows the love of both birth moms and adoptive parents for their shared child. It is written to explain adoption to an adopted child, but its focus on the birth mother makes it appropriate.

Sam’s Sister by Juliet Bond (ages 3-7 year old). The only book I’ve found written specifically for birth siblings of adopted children. The story is told by 5-year-old Rosa, whose newborn brother is placed in an open adoption. Compassionate.

The Rainbow Egg by Linda Hendricks (ages 4-8). An unconventional chicken finds herself with egg, but no nest and unable to raise the chic. She is guided to a chicken house where she decides it is best to place her egg with a chicken family with a nest. There are parts of this story that are confusing, but it does focus on the birthmother and could be a good conversation starter.

In My Heart (ages 3-8) by Molly Bang. This picture book celebrates the bond between all types of parents and children.

We Belong Together: a Book about Adoption and Families by Todd Parr (ages 3-6). We Belong Together explores the ways that people can choose to come together to make a family.

How I Was Adopted by Joanna Cole (ages 4-8). Explains adoption in general.

Mr. Rogers-Let’s Talk About It: Adoption by Fred Rogers (ages 4-8). I love Mr. Rogers. He doesn’t focus on first families at all, but I just love his general philosophy and calming demeanor. He is a brother through adoption.

Motherbridge of Love by Xinran (4-10 year old). A picture book about the love between a child, a mother, and a birthmother. I think the age range is a bit ambitious since most 10 year olds could be bored, but it is a good conversation starter even at that age. It is written to explain adoption to an adopted child, but its focus on the birth mom makes it appropriate.

The Mulberry Bird by Anne Braff Brodzinsky (ages 6-12) Mother bird is doing her best to raise her baby alone until a storm destroys her nest and she must decide whether it is best for her child to continue to struggle on her own or should she place him with another family that has a strong safe nest. This is best as a read aloud book for the 6-8 age range, but I would suggest reading it out loud to even the older kids to allow time for discussion.

W.I.S.E. Up! Powerbook (ages 6-16) – Created by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE) in 2009, the W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook is designed to help adopted children and children in foster care learn how to confidently handle both personal and general questions about adoption. The book presents realistic situations that adopted and foster kids are likely to encounter, and guides parents and kids through different approaches to answering. Organized around the acrostic W.I.S.E., kids learn that they can Walk away, reply that It’s private, choose to Share something, or Educate others. Great resource for older adopted kids, and I would assume that much of the information would also be appropriate for older kids whose mother placed a child for adoption.

The Mulberry Bird by Anne Braff Brodzinsky (ages 6-12) Mother bird is doing her best to raise her baby alone until a storm destroys her nest and she must decide whether it is best for her child to continue to struggle on her own or should she place him with another family that has a strong safe nest. This is best as a read aloud book for the 6-8 age range, but I would suggest reading it out loud to even the older kids to allow time for discussion.

W.I.S.E. Up! Powerbook (ages 6-16) – Created by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE) in 2009, the W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook is designed to help adopted children and children in foster care learn how to confidently handle both personal and general questions about adoption. The book presents realistic situations that adopted and foster kids are likely to encounter, and guides parents and kids through different approaches to answering. Organized around the acrostic W.I.S.E., kids learn that they can Walk away, reply that It’s private, choose to Share something, or Educate others. Great resource for older adopted kids, and I would assume that much of the information would also be appropriate for older kids whose mother placed a child for adoption.