Foster Care Adoption
Featured Books
The Last Dog: A Tail of Adoption
In this touching story, a boy adopted from foster care brings home Buster, a rescue dog with a difficult past. Just as he found love and stability with his adoptive family, he’s determined to give Buster the same chance at a forever home. With patience and understanding, he shows that healing is possible through love. Written by an adoptive parent, this heartfelt tale beautifully mirrors the experiences and emotions of children in foster care and adoption.
The Love Tree
The Love Tree, by adoptive and foster mom Katie Biron, offers a creative alternative to traditional family trees, which can be challenging for adoptees and kids in foster care. When Little Mouse struggles with a school assignment, his adoptive mom helps him create a “Love Tree” instead—one that includes birth parents, adoptive parents, siblings, and all who love him. This charming story provides children with a joyful way to celebrate and proudly showcase their unique families.
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Stellaluna
In the beloved classic Stellaluna, a young fruit bat is separated from her mother and raised by a family of birds, learning to adapt to their ways. Later, a reunion with her bat family shows her that even though families may look different, love and connection remain the same. With beautiful illustrations and a tender message, this timeless story offers comfort to children in foster care, kinship care, or adoption, reminding them that family can take many forms.
Welcome Home, Forever Child: A Celebration of Children Adopted as Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Beyond
Written by adoptive mom Christine Mitchell, Welcome Home, Forever Child fills a long-overdue gap in children’s adoption literature by celebrating the adoption of children beyond infancy. Inspired by her own daughter’s adoption from foster care at age four, Mitchell created this heartfelt story to help parents reassure their children of their permanent place in the family and how deeply they are loved and wanted. With gentle, affirming language and whimsical illustrations, this beautiful book offers comfort and belonging to children ages two to eight who joined their forever families later in childhood—making it an ideal gift for adoption day or family anniversaries.
And That’s Why She’s My Mama
This sweet picture book celebrates the many ways moms and families can look. Highlighting diversity in both family appearance and size, it reassures children that moms are wonderful because they care for you—no matter who they are or what they look like. While not specifically about adoption, it warmly includes nontraditional families, such as those formed through foster care and adoption, making it a lovely read for children growing up in many different kinds of families.
Sun & Moon
A beautiful poem, with illustrations, to read with or to young children about adoption and foster care and the two mothers who love the child deeply. Mentions prayer and divine intervention, so it might not fit every family’s needs.
The Invisible String
The Invisible String is a tender, comforting story about the unbreakable bonds of love. When a mother tells her children that everyone is connected by an invisible string, they discover that even when people are far apart—or when we lose someone we love—the string still connects our hearts. Perfect for helping children cope with separation, anxiety, or grief, this timeless picture book reminds readers that love is always present, even when we can’t see it. Also available in Spanish and companion titles, including a therapeutic workbook and a version about pet loss.
Featured Books
Cindy R. Lee’s TBRI™ Collection
Cindy R. Lee’s six-book series (for ages 7–9) uses the trauma-informed TBRI™ model to help children manage emotions, celebrate differences, and understand what it means to be part of a family. Each story teaches practical lessons in a kid-friendly way while also including tips and guidance for parents. Designed to encourage healing and connection, these books are a valuable resource for families raising children with histories of trauma, foster care, or adoption.
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W.I.S.E. Up! Powerbook—Created by the Center for Adoption Support and Education
This empowering book helps adopted children and kids in foster care learn to confidently handle their stories and respond to questions on their own terms. Using realistic situations and guided approaches, it equips families with practical tools. Built around the W.I.S.E. acronym—Walk away, say It’s private, Share something, or Educate others—it gives children simple, effective choices for navigating conversations. A supportive resource for kids and parents alike, fostering confidence, privacy, and healthy communication.
A Different Home: A New Foster Child’s Story
A Different Home tells the story of Jessie, a young girl navigating the changes and emotions that come with entering foster care. Through gentle language and expressive illustrations, the book helps children understand what foster care means and reassures them that it’s okay to have questions and mixed feelings about their new home. Designed for children who are in—or are about to enter—foster care, it also includes notes and guidance for caregivers, social workers, and foster parents on how to use the story to support conversation and emotional understanding.
A Foster-Adoption Story: Angela and Michael’s Journey—A Therapeutic Workbook for Traumatized Children
A Foster-Adoption Story follows siblings Angela and Michael from their abusive birth home, through multiple foster placements and painful separations, to their eventual adoption. Honest and age-appropriate, it addresses abuse, neglect, sibling loss, and loyalty conflicts while offering space to process these difficult experiences. Designed as a therapeutic workbook, it helps children talk about foster care, grief, and healing, making it a valuable tool for families, social workers, and counselors supporting kids on their foster-to-adoption journey.
Families Change: A Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights
This compassionate book helps children understand that family changes—like foster care or adoption—are not their fault. It reassures kids that they can honor and remember their birth family while also loving and belonging in a new one. With supportive language and gentle reminders, it encourages healing and acceptance. The book also includes valuable resources and guidance for birth parents, foster parents, social workers, counselors, and teachers, making it a practical tool for both children and the adults who support them.
Kids Need to Be Safe: A Book for Children in Foster Care
This gentle picture book helps children understand foster care in clear, simple language. It explains why some kids move to foster homes, what foster parents do, and the many feelings children may experience during the transition. Importantly, it reassures kids that foster care is never their fault and not the result of bad behavior. With supportive words and illustrations, it offers comfort and clarity for children navigating foster care and a helpful tool for caregivers to start conversations.
A Family is a Family is a Family
This heartwarming story celebrates all kinds of families. When a kindergartener in foster care worries her family is “too different,” she’s reassured as classmates share their own—some with grandparents, two dads, step-siblings, or new babies. She discovers that every family is special when it’s filled with love and care. With whimsical storytelling and inclusive examples, this book is a wonderful way to introduce children to family diversity and reassure adopted and foster kids that their families belong too.
Elliot
Elliot’s life changes when a social worker arrives and he enters foster care. Though the families he stays with are kind, the changes feel overwhelming, and Elliot struggles with big emotions. When it’s clear he can’t return to his birth parents, his social worker helps him find a forever home where he’ll always be loved and cared for. Gentle and honest, this story is a wonderful way to explain foster care and the transition to adoption to children.
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.
Maybe Days: A Book for Children in Foster Care
Maybe Days offers a straightforward, child-friendly look at life in foster care, where so many answers feel uncertain. Using clear language and warm illustrations, it addresses the common questions children ask and the emotions they experience along the way. The book also explains, in simple terms, the roles and responsibilities of parents, social workers, lawyers, and judges. A helpful tool for children navigating the foster system and for caregivers seeking to provide clarity and reassurance.
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.
What Is Your Story?
This bright and engaging children’s book helps kids explore and celebrate their unique adoption or kinship story while reassuring them that it’s normal to have questions—and to ask them. Each chapter includes activity pages and can be read on its own, making it easy to focus on different parts of a child’s personal journey. Written by an adoptee and illustrated by her birth half-sister, the book beautifully reflects their shared understanding of adoption’s lifelong impact. A valuable resource for adoptive and kinship caregivers, as well as professionals supporting children in these family experiences.
From Foster to Forever
When ten-year-old Jack enters foster care, he’s overwhelmed by confusion, fear, and sadness as he tries to make sense of his new reality. With the patience and care of his foster family, therapist, and loyal therapy dog, Baxter, Jack begins to understand his emotions and adjust to the changes in his life. This heartwarming story helps children learn about coping with big feelings, adapting to new environments, and discovering the comfort and stability of a “found family.” A wonderful tool for caregivers and professionals to spark meaningful conversations with kids in foster care.
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. Also by this author: Adopting a Little Brother or Sister.
Room in the Nest
From the author of Delly Duck comes Room in the Nest, a warm and inclusive story that helps children understand foster care. Mr. and Mrs. Swan open their nest to those in need, gently exploring reunification, kinship care, adoption, and long-term fostering. With diverse families and a compassionate message, this book is a valuable tool for care-experienced children and a reassuring, educational read for all families.
Featured Books
Far From the Tree
Far From the Tree is a powerful young adult novel that follows three teen siblings separated by the foster care system who, through unexpected turns, find their way back to each other. The author’s deep understanding of foster care shines through in her authentic portrayal of the siblings’ emotions—grief, anger, confusion, love, and hope—as they navigate complicated home lives and the challenges of reconnection. Honest, heartfelt dialogue captures the realities of identity, loss, and belonging. A compelling and accessible read, this story offers a moving glimpse into the complexities of adoption, foster care, and what it truly means to be family.
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The War I Finally Won
The War I Finally Won continues Ada and Jeremy’s story as they find a permanent home with their guardian, Susan, during World War II. Still scarred by years of abuse, Ada struggles to feel safe, even as she longs to settle into her new family. Against the backdrop of rations, blackouts, and wartime upheaval, the siblings adapt once more, forging connections and resilience. A powerful sequel to The War That Saved My Life that also stands strongly on its own.
Under His Wings: Truths to Heal Adopted, Orphaned, and Waiting Children’s Hearts
Written by adult adoptees, this faith-based curriculum for children ages nine and up uses the story of Moses to help adopted kids process the emotions surrounding their relinquishment and adoption. Through lessons and guided reflections, it draws parallels between Moses’s life and the adoptee experience, offering comfort and hope. The curriculum helps children understand that feelings of sadness, confusion, or anger are normal and that healing and purpose can grow from even the most difficult beginnings. Ideal for church groups or faith-based family discussions.
Kinda Like Brothers
Eleven-year-old Jarrett is used to his mom fostering babies—but this time is different. The new baby comes with an older brother, Kevon, who immediately gets under Jarrett’s skin and, to make matters worse, moves right into his room. The boys clash at every turn, but as they learn to share space and experiences, they begin to understand each other in unexpected ways. With honesty and heart, this story explores themes of racism, poverty, and foster care through a realistic and relatable lens, making it an excellent read for both kids in foster care and those welcoming foster siblings into their homes.
Waiting to Forget
Told through the eyes of eleven-year-old T.J., this moving story follows two siblings adopted from foster care who are still haunted by the pain of their past. As T.J. reflects on memories of neglect and abuse, he also wrestles with the challenges of learning to trust and belong in his new family. Honest and emotional, this book captures the lasting impact of trauma while offering hope for healing, love, and the courage it takes to embrace a second chance at family and a brighter future.
My Flight Training Manual: Flying Above the Clouds in Sibling Relationships
This engaging workbook helps tweens and teens understand how sibling relationships shape who they are—especially when one or more siblings have experienced trauma. Drawing on current research, it explores the unique challenges siblings of children from hard places often face and provides practical strategies to reduce conflict, strengthen connection, and ask for help when relationships feel overwhelming. Designed for use individually or with a parent, the exercises and discussion prompts encourage trust, teamwork, and open communication, making it a valuable tool for families growing and healing together.
A Daughter to Many
This memoir shares the powerful journey of an adoptee who endured profound hardship, abuse, and trauma before finding a path toward healing. After being relinquished by her adoptive family at age thirteen to a faith-based residential school, she spent her teen years learning resilience, faith, and the tools to rebuild her life. As an adult, her search for family history led to shocking discoveries that forever altered her understanding of identity and belonging. Deeply rooted in faith, this story offers a message of redemption and hope, though its strong spiritual themes may not resonate with every reader.
Three Little Words: A Memoir
Three Little Words is the powerful true story of Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s nine-year journey through the foster care system—and her incredible resilience in the face of hardship. Removed from her mother at just four years old, Ashley spent her childhood moving through fourteen foster homes, enduring neglect and abuse before finally finding the safety and love of her forever family. Both heartbreaking and inspiring, this memoir sheds light on the realities of foster care and the lasting impact it can have on children, while also highlighting the profound difference that compassion and stability can make in a child’s life.
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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