Several parents have asked for suggestions about children’s books that especially relate to foster and adopted children. Here are four of my favorites.
LOVE YOU FOREVER (Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw)
The story begins with a young mother looking lovingly at her newborn son. Softlly she sings to him.
"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."
My niece was adopted from foster care at age five. She asks for this story to be read to her over and over.
ARE YOU MY MOTHER? (P. D. Eastman)
When a mother bird’s egg starts to jump, she hurries off to make sure she has something for her little one to eat. But as soon as she’s gone, out pops the baby bird. Where is my mother? He immediately sets off to find her. Not knowing what she looks like makes it a challenge. The little hatchling is determined to find his mother, after first quiaaing a kitten, a hen, a dog, and a Snort.
MY BOOK ABOUT ME (Dr. Seuss)
My parents bought copies of this book for their adopted grandchildren. A wonderful interactive exercise that helps foster and adopted children solidify their tenuous identities. And great fun as they write and draw their own biographies. With a mix of serious and seriously silly "Yes" and "No" questions, fill-in-the-blanks, images to complete, and simple writing activities, My Book About Me, By ME, Myself offers an opportunity for continuous revisiting and happy updating.
LITTLE LOST MONKEY (Jim Kenny and Carla Mann)
A small monkey’s father goes off fishing and disappears. Shortly after, his mother is captured and taken away. Chipper awakens one morning to an empty nest in the tree, beginning an exciting journey as he wanders the jungle in search of a home. The various emotions that are experienced by a child in temporary care are represented in his encounters along the way. He escapes from a snake, a tiger, and a crocodile before being helped by a wise owl. Our small hero is temporarily mothered by a lioness before being taken to a village of chimpanzees where he finds acceptance and love.
The above four books all strongly emphasize the themes of loving commitment and permanence. Good bedtime stories. All four are available on Amazon.com.