Adoption Goes to School by Hilborn, Robin

This two-part guide will help you prepare your adopted child (and yourself) for school ... and teach the teacher all about adoption. In the Parent's Guide, Robin Hilborn covers school issues, dealing with racism, telling the teacher, giving an adoption talk in school, language development and learning disabilities (diagnosis, strategies, services). The Teacher's Guide aims to educate the educator, with lessons on the many non-traditional forms of families, creative approaches to the family tree assignment, proper adoption language, teaching adoption, pregnancy options for high schoolers, and many resources.

Understanding Adoption:  Clinical Work with Adults, Children, and Parents  by Hushion, Kathleen and Sherman, Susan and Siskind, Diana

“This is a wonderful and desperately needed book addressing the multiple levels of complexity faced by clinicians working with adopted children and their families”.  Reviewed by Arietta Slade, Ph.D., professor, clinical and developmental psychology, the City College and Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Families Change:  A Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights by Nelson, Julie 

Over time, all families change. Sometimes, when families have big problems, they need to change so kids are safe. A child’s family might change from a birth family to a foster family or an adoptive family.  That kind of change can be hard on kids. This book can help children and families through this difficult change.  With the support of caring adults, children who experience termination of parental rights can move from the pain of the past to the promise of the future.

China in My Heart  by Davy, Emma Ling Zhu

This book was written by six-year-old Emma Ling Zhu Davy that chronicles the story of her adoption. She writes about the sadness of not knowing her birth parents as well as the joy of meeting her forever family for the first time.  It’s a sweet, simple story told by a child, but it’s also very powerful because it comes from the heart of a child.

Chasing Away the Shadows:  An Adoptee's Journey to Motherhood by Phillips, Zara

“An enlightening read for anyone affected by adoption.   This personal testimony is definitely worth a read for anyone whose life has been touched by adoption in any way. In simple language and with an engaging writing style, the author, Zara, tells her own story, with frankness and simplicity. In doing so, she educates us about the some of the complex feelings of adoption - feelings that, for many people and for many years, have never been acknowledged”. Reviewed by L. Lawrence, UK.

Will You Be Here When I Get Home? by Cashin, Claire

This is a true and very honest account of adoption, search and reunion. It examines in depth how adoption can affect the individual and their loved ones. It does not shy away from the reality of what a reunion can mean and how hard it can be at times, or indeed what joy it can add to peoples lives.

Butterbox Babies:  Baby Sales, Baby Deaths, New Revelations, 15 Years Later by Cahill, Bette

A terrific book about the Ideal Maternity Home located in East Chester, Nova Scotia Canada.  This book tells the story of the birth mothers and their babies who were born there.

Adopted Teens Only:  A Survival Guide to Adolescence by Gorbett, Danea

This book tackles the tough issues that parents are oftentimes reluctant to discuss with their teenager. Adopted teenagers will discover: What feelings and thoughts are common to the adoptive experience: What adoptive parents feel, what birth parents feel, what emotional issues are connected with search and reunion and how to talk to parents about adoption questions

Rebecca's Journey Home by Sugarman, Brynn Olenberg

Two boys, ages eight and four, prepare for their mother's trip to Vietnam to bring home their new baby sister. The author is successful in explaining both the intricacies of adoption procedures as well as details of life in an observant Jewish home. A smattering of Vietnamese culture is also included. The appealing and bright watercolor illustrations show touches of whimsy and lightheartedness that add to the story.

The Adoption Reunion Handbook by Trinder, Liz and Feast and Howe

Many adopted people today try to find information about their origins and search for birth family members. Based on a large-scale research study, the authors have drawn on the real-life experience of adopted people who have searched for, and had a reunion with, birth relatives. This book combines comprehensive and practical step-by-step guidance. This 'how to' guide is essential for everyone involved, particularly those considering searching for information on their birth relatives. It will also be of use to birth parents, adoptive parents, adoption charities, social workers, psychologists and counselors.

Handbook of Adoption: Implications for Researchers, Practitioners, and Families

While most mental health and behavioral health professionals have encountered adoption triad members—birth parents, adoptive parents, and adopted persons—in their clinical practice, the vast majority have had no formalor informal training on adoption issues. The Handbook of Adoption: Implications for Researchers, Practitioners, and Families is the first book to specifically address the many dimensions of adoption-related issues which can and do affect adoption triad members, specifically in the United States.