Reviews (4)

Perfect
I am getting ready to adopt from China in the next year and wanted to createa library for my child.I am a single woman and this book is perfect.It tells a beautiful story and is about a single woman adopting from China.I love it and so do all of my friends.

International Families and Adoptions
This story begins with a red baby blanket in a store inspiring a single woman to consider the adoption of a child. Through the story the blanket brings comfort to the young girl as she begins her life outside of the adoption center in China. As the bond between the mother and child develop over the span of years, the red blanket continues to convey the initial, unconditional love shared by her adoptive mother. The colors used in the oil paintings convey warmth and emotion throughout the story with crisp detail. As cross-country adoptions become more common and family dynamics change, this story maintains a current day appeal. Within the constraints of a picture book, this story conveys the struggles and frustrations experienced transitioning a baby from an orphanage to a new family. While particularly appropriate for the topic of adoption, children of all backgrounds can appreciate the young girl's attachment to her blanket. This book would be a wonderful addition to a study on families.
The Red Blanket
A lovely picture book with slightly longer text about a chinese adoption. A book to read to a child under 7.The text is too long for a child under that age to read themselves. A nice book for single adopters as it features a single American mother who is adopting on her own.Good pictures of an orphinage setting and the joy of receiving authorisation to adopt.Also a good follow through with the child becoming a young adolecent and knowing what the red blanket stood for - ie the time she and her mother became a family. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Family - Adoption    5. Fiction    6. Intercountry adoption    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. People & Places - United States - Asian American    9. Preschool Picture Story Books    10. Single-parent families    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Family / Adoption   

Reviews (3)

I wish there were more like this
My eight year old loved this book.After reading this book this book with me, she asked me to please buy the whole series.I wish that there was a W.I.S.E UP series of books.I especially like the fact that the book is designed to be read with your child.The book encouraged my daughter to share her thoughts about adoption with me instead of hiding her feelings in her journal.

Great tool for empowering youth!
Children sometimes find themselves in awkward situations with their peers or even with insensitive adults, when issues of personal history arise. W.I.S.E. Up! provides the answer. This book teaches children (and their parents, too) how to manage intrusive questions about adoption and a child's background. Four types of responses, from walking away to educating the questioner, are presented for the child's consideration. Through role play and examples, it encourages the child to make his/her own decision about how to respond. It empowers them! A terrific book for children aged 6 to 16 !!

W.I.S.E. Up!
This is a great tool for parents and their children who are adopted. W.I.S.E. Up! is a book that helps children answer questions about adoption! I have worked in the adoption community for 3 years and haven't seen a more successful program. W.I.S.E. Up! empowers children that are adopted to handle any question about adoption. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 3-4    2. Family - Adoption    3. Juvenile Nonfiction   

Reviews (20)

Great book to open the discussion of adoption
I really like the simplicity of this book. It isn't overly graphic as some books on adoption are. It focuses more on the love that drives parents to wait, the anticipation in hoping every phone call is "the one," and the love we have for our children from day one. I felt very comfortable reading this book to my 1 year oldand a year later, she pulls this one out frequently to read.

FOREVER AND ALWAYS
Well written and understandable to our little Grandson when his Mom read it to him when he was only 2 and 3 years old.The most wonderful compliment for me is when he says; "Grandma, I'll love you forever and always!"He still remembers that line from the book and says it unsolicited and unprompted.That means the world to me.This book fulfills a loving and comforting feeling these adopted children like to have.

I love this book!!!
My son is adopted, and the whole story reminded me of how my husband and myself felt. I cried when reading the book as you do feel like the couple in the book and the wonderful adventure they encounter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Babies    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Preschool    5. Family - Adoption    6. Family - General    7. Fiction    8. General    9. Intercountry adoption    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Adoption   

Reviews (12)

Looks like the perfect adoption book for kids, but.....
I bought this book to help me introduce the concept of adoption to my 3 1/2 year old daughter.The story is absolutely perfect - the little girl in the story tells how she is adopted and asks the reader "were you adopted too?"My husband and I thought we found the perfect book until you get to a page which rather graphically depicts a baby coming out of a woman's womb.If you are ready to explain that to your child, it is the perfect adoption book to start with.We weren't, however, ready to go as far as explaining the uterus, and how the baby comes out, etc.It was disappointing because this book was so cute and many childern's adoption books out there feature sort of weird, outdated-looking illustrations.Both my husband and I felt that for the very young child, this book gives a little too much info.

Better than some
Adoption stories are so unique and individual that it is really difficult to buy a book based on someone else's experience and be able to use it to explain your own child's adoption experience.This one is better than some, in that it doesn't skirt or ignore the issue of the birthmother, however it also gets into some anatomical detail of reproduction and birth that are not necessary when providing your preschooler with the initial details of his or her adoption.Our son is 3 and we have put this away for a few years, it is definately not appropriate for him at this time.
Happy Customer
This book was as described...from a child's perspective and engages the parent to offer details of their child's adoption.I would recommend to other adoptive families to help get the conversation started at an early age. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Family - Adoption    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    8. Early learning / early learning concepts    9. Family & relations    10. Fostering & adoption    11. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (9)

Too strong for young children
This book I felt was too strong for a younger child.The emotions of how the child felt when she knew she wasn't "wanted" and how she rebelled.Yes it may be true that adoptive children will do such things, but if the child is not doing so and then reads this and does it what does that tell you.The end mellows out when everyone is happy and the child shows happiness w/the special party for adoption day signing.In my personal opinion, this is not a book I would promote.

Real Parents are the ones REALLY there! A+!
Great book! Kids need to understand who birthparents are and understand their value...however, it is also critical for children to understand who the parents are...those that raised them...My biological dad is not the man that raised me...the man that raised me is the only person I will ever call dad. Glad to see a book that can separate and value both!

Good when you adopt from birth
My husband and I are considering adopting an older child, but several books were recommended for reading, this one included.I can't say it's helpful when it comes to adopting a child over 4, but I can see it being very helpful for adoptive parentswith young ones discovering what adoption means. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Family - Adoption    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Fostering & adoption   

Reviews (20)

Wonderful Book
As we adopted a little boy from China there are few books that address boys being adopted. I like how this book mentioned several scenarios for why children are adopted in China. One being boys& girls with medical conditions and that fits our son's situation perfectly. Sweet pictures and straight forward. A very nice book!

GREAT book and keepsake!
This book is fantastic. We are leaving to pick up our daughter from China in 11 days and I am bringing this book with us so our guides can sign it and we can get our daughter's footprint stamped in the front. I can not wait to read it to her when she is old enough to understand all about her life before she joined our "forever family".

Adoption memory book
Was very happy with the book I purchased from this vendor. It was in excellent condition and arrived in plenty of time for Christmas! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Family - Adoption    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. People & Places - United States - Asian American   

Reviews (5)

Charming!
A charming idea to think of adoption as being related by love and law. The author shows in moving and funny words how Oliver gets angry at his parents and fantasizes about his birthparents. The parents in turn let Oliver know that they, as children, when they got angry at their parents, fantasized they were adopted and that their natural parents were fun people to be with. Oliver is pleased that his parents understand him and he's happy to live with them again. This book would be good for non-adopted kids too. The Happy Iguana
I like seeing Oliver climb a tree because I like to climb trees. He reminds me of myself. I liked Oliver going into space because I want to go to the moon. It's natural to think about your birthparents because I sometimes do. Buy it! You'll like it too!

There is NO difference. LOVE conquers all.
Excellent choice. OLIVER appeals to all ages. What made it more special was that Oliver was a DINOSAUR and every child I've met likes dinosaurs and stories about them. Great way to explain the trials and tribulations of being adopted. Our son enjoyed Oliver going into space because he wants to go to the moon. I highly recommend this book and the black & white illustrations invite a child that enjoys art to even color the pages to make it more personal. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Animals    3. Animals - Reptiles & Amphibians    4. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    5. Children's Baby - Family    6. Children: Grades 2-3    7. Family - Adoption    8. Family - General    9. Fiction    10. Parent and child   

Reviews (6)

Great Story, Not So Great Book
Read all the other reviews for the story context.It is a good story HOWEVER it is all black and white.This book could of been so much better with a little imagination and color.I was extremely disappointed to find the pictures gray, dull and lifeless.This book would be so much better with colorful pictures and text.

Difficult subject, well dealt with
The story of the little kitten, who's daddy disappears, and Mummy is bad to him, is well written and non judgemental.The kitten is taken away from his birth mother and fostered, then adopted into a family of Swans, who love him.The book tells about the kitten's confusion and feelings of loss, and has a happy ending when the adoptive parents re-state their love for him. Fabulous for adopting a child through the foster care system
This book clearly explains the child coming into foster care and then being adopted.Great for children who were adopted though the foster care system. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Children's Baby - Family    3. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Family - Adoption    6. Fiction    7. Foster home care    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Fiction dealing with specific issues    10. Personal awareness: family, relationship & social issues   

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Reviews (1)

We love this book!
As transracial adoptive parents, we looked high and low for books about African American children adopted by caucasian parents.My daughter, 4,loves this book about Noelle's search for brown things that help her feelas though she belongs. Brown Like Me is a wonderful, thoughtful and joyfulbook about how a family can look very different, yet feel so much love. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Brown    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children's writings, American    5. Children: Grades 1-2    6. Family - Adoption    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. People & Places - United States - African-American    10. Multiculturalism   

Reviews (3)

Adoption-What does it mean to children and families
This can be a tricky issue if families and chidren are not introduced to it sensitively. This book does just that for families,children and agency staff. Domestic,foreign adoptions and the very many questions surrounding adoption are covered in a no-nonsense way in friendly language.

Finally a book that has some focus on older kid adoption
I have been searching for a book to read to my 2 adopted daughters (ages 8 and 5) that talks about older child adoption and all of the emotions and thoughts that can happen for kids during the process.I am so glad to have found this book!Its a great read with kids who are getting ready for adoption or have gone through adoption in an easy to understand format.There are many story books on international adoption but very, very few on adoption of older kids from foster care.Its a must have for families, teachers, and therapists.

Better for domestic
I think this book is more appropriate for domestic adoption. There were a few things that bothered me such as that "usually" adoptive parents know something about birth parents. Most people I know through adoption groups(international) know pretty close to nothing about the birth parents. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Family - Adoption    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    8. Fostering & adoption   

Reviews (17)

To read is to understand...
I totally agree with Melissa.I, too, must have read this book hundreds of times.I never remember not knowing that I was adopted and this booked helped me understand the concept and feel positive about myself.I would recommend this book to any parent with adopted children.

Fond memories flooding back
An earlier review criticized this book's readability and appropriateness for children. As a child who owned it, I do not believe that is an accurate assesment.
An amazing book
I'm 23, my younger sister is 20. We are both adopted from seperate birthparents.
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Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Child Care/Parenting    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Family - Adoption    5. Juvenile literature    6. Fostering & adoption   

Reviews (1)

Chinese Sister book
Love the book.Great story, wonderful pictures.Our adopted 6 year old Chinese daughter is in the process of getting a new sister, and loves this book too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adopted children    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. China    5. Family - Adoption    6. Family - Siblings    7. Intercountry adoption    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile Sociology Of The Family    10. Juvenile literature    11. People & Places - United States - Asian American    12. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    13. United States   

Reviews (10)

Although my daughter is from China I plan on using this book
Even though my daugther is from China, I plan on using this bookalong with the book " We See the Moon" by Carrie A. Kitze to help my daughter ease some of her pain & thoughts that she wasn't loved enough to keep, or that she was "thrown away for a brother". I think it's so important to let your child know they where loved and that they are remembered.
As an Adoptive Mom, I Love It!
Our son was adopted, and we bought a copy for him and for his birthmom.We knew her and found many of the same traits in her that are in Annie (the birthmom in the book).It does portray a very idealistic situation, but the point of the book is that adoption is a very loving decision.
We need more books like this one honoring birthmothers
The title of the book beautifully reflects the love the author instills in the reader, young and old, for birthmothers. The idea to have the name of the birthmother written in the paragraphs is a wonderful way to tell her story to the child. The author not only honors birthmothers but emphasizes what a caring and unselfish decision they had made, and that they love their absent children every day of their lives. We have met our birthmother after 29 years (she found us) and know that all this applies to her. She never stopped loving her child. We too always loved our birthmother during all these years and now that we've met, we have a loving relationship.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Family / Parenting    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Family - Adoption    5. Juvenile Nonfiction   

Reviews (2)

A unique journey shared.
Cindy Roberts' illustrated journal of her return to Vietnam for a homeland tour, accompanied by her four oldest children, two of whom were born adopted from Vietnam. She writes back home to her daughters, sharing the tale of their travels and adventures. Families who hoping to adopt and those who are considering a return trip to Vietnam will find this book very interesting. Adult adoptees will find it interesting as well, as the Roberts visit a babylift memorial and travel with older adoptees to their orphanages.

I loved "Dear Sam and Dani: An Adoption Journal"
I loved "Dear Sam and Dani: An Adoption Journal" by Cindy Roberts!It's a set of letters Cindy wrote when she took her four sons -- two born to her and two adopted from Viet Nam -- to visit the homeland and the birth family of her adopted sons.Cindy gives the reader a very real, fascinating, and honest portrayal of the reactions of all five of them -- the exciting, the strange, and the poignant.This book should be very educational for adoptive (and prospective adoptive) families, reassuring for those worried about contact with birthparents, and a great case study for people interested in multicultural experiences. Best, Margie, An Adoptive Parent ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Juvenile Nonfiction / Family / Adoption    2. Children's 9-12    3. Children, Adopted    4. Family - Adoption    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Orphans    7. Vietnam    8. Vietnamese   

Reviews (7)

Book doesn't address everyday type of questions
I bought this book b/c my daughter just turned 4 I am anticipating that she'll be asking more questions about her adoption. I was disappointed that this book is very basic and addresses more about Foster care situations. I was hoping to find a book that would be a Christian approach to handling adoption questions, but this wasn't the book.
Love it!
It's hard to find an adoption book that you totally like everything in it.There's such a variation of possibilities.This is by far our favorite of all the ones we've read.Typical Mr Rogers style, on an important subject.Emphasizes being in a family that loves you.A must have for any adoption library.

Wonderful book for adoptive families!
We purchased this book along with several other adoption-themed books for children.This one by far best explains adoption in a way our children can understand.As a family that has both biological and adopted children, it was important to us to find a book that presents ALL children- adopted or not- as special.Mr. Rogers does a fantastic job, as always, putting it into terms that all children can understand.This book is appropriate for children of all types of adoptions.It seems that too many other adoption books focus on children adopted from overseas or those adopted as infants.This one is flexible enough that it can be used in many different situations.Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Concepts - Alphabet    5. Family    6. Family - Adoption    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Situations / General   

Reviews (1)

An Exciting and Terrifying Adventure
Imagine you're on a train to a place you don't know, with hundreds of other children riding with you. At the next stop you get off and you're on display for people to see. Complete strangers come over to examine you and scrutinize over whether to adopt you, one of the orphan train riders, into their homes. We Rode the Orphan Trains by Andrea Warren narrates the accounts of seven riders who experienced what is was like to ride the orphan trains. First the author gives a short review of what the orphan trains are all about and the life of one agent who rode with the children to their new homes. Any child who was orphaned or abandoned could be put on the orphan train. These trains then went from town to town where the children, some infants, others in their teens, were put on display and the townspeople wanting to adopt would come over. After that any child wanted by a family would go and live with them. In the case of Arthur Field this worked out well and he grew up living a happy life. Nettie and Nellie Enns suffered under a cruel mother and were promptly taken to a new home where they found happiness. We Rode the Orphan Trains is quite engaging and leads you into the minds of those people who rode the Orphan Trains.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    3. Children's 9-12 - Biography / Autobiography    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Family - Adoption    7. History - United States/19th Century    8. History - United States/General    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Orphan trains    12. Orphans    13. United States    14. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / General   

Reviews (9)

The Mulberry Bird
We read the original version to our adopted daughter until she was old enough to read it herself.She's now 22 yrs old and still calls this book her favorite book.It obviously struck a chord with her.Her adoption was a closed adoption---she's from Korea.

Not a happy adoption story
I read this to my 5 year old girl last night.We both agreed that it was a sad story with an OK ending.
This book may negatively affect your adopted child
The Mulberry Bird would be most appropriate for your family if you have a fairly closed international adoption where the birthmother took care of the child for a while before relinquishing him/her.It would not be as applicable in an open adoption situation or where the child was relinquished at birth.
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Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Animals - Birds    3. Birds    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 3-4    6. Family - Adoption    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Nonfiction   

Reviews (5)

Perfect - Just what i was looking for!
The perfect story to share with your adopted child - especially those adopting internationally. A heart warming story to share with your child.

thank you ms. zisk
I am a single mom of an adopted child.I had not really told my daughter the story of how we became a family.I happened on this book by accident, and it has become our before bed story. My daughter loves the story of how Anna and her Mom became a family.Although our story is not exactly the same it has gotten us to tell our story after we read the book.Jamie loves to look at the vibrant pictures and imagine they are pictures of us. A solid, although not wholly satisfying, book
"The Best Single Mom in the World: How I Was Adopted" is a children's book written and illustrated by Mary Zisk. As the title indicates, it is about a single woman who adopts a child. This is a straightforward story that celebrates the adoptive mother/child bond.Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Babies & Toddlers    4. Family - Adoption    5. Family - Single Parent & Non-traditional    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Single-parent families   

Reviews (12)

Disappointed
The book is wonderful.....but not at all relevant for a single mom who adopted from China. There are several references to Daddy.I was disappointed. The book is useless to me. I wish there was a single mom version of this book.At a minimum, I wish the book description would have told me that this was a book with references to a two parent situation (Mommy and Daddy) as I wouldn't have bought it.

Charming! Compassionate!
The title of this charming bookalready tells us that the author includes the birthmother in the family's lives. This adoption story is told by the young child Elizabeth and shows her thought process as she looks at her adoption album and consoles her mother when she didn't have a baby yet, but now she does. The author also charmingly introduces Penny, the dog adopted from an animal shelter and young Elizabeth is happy for Penny to have a family too. It is fun to see the two little Chinese girls talk about their"far mommy and a near mommy" and fantasize talking to their far mommy on the toy telephone. The author cleverly weaves in the adoptive family's love for the two unknown Chinese birthmothers and throughout the pages lets us feel Elizabeth's joy and sorrow when she thinks of her unknown Chinese mommy. Our family has experienced this kind of love for our own birthmother during all the years that we did not know her, but now we have found one another and have a wonderful relationship. Mommy Far, Mommy Near -- Best Bet
As an adoptive parent of two daughters, I've read many adoption books and this one is exceptional! Mommy Far introduces themes for readers aged pre-school and up in a gentle and compelling way. Brownell's wonderful illustrations heighten the loveliness of this book.The message that adoption is warm and good and loving is inescapable and very powerful.Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Chinese Americans    5. Family - Adoption    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Mother and child    9. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    10. Family welfare   

Reviews (7)

A Surprising Reaction (from my adult, adopted daughter)
I have a daughter, now 31, who was adopted from Korea when she was nine years old.Not easy to find a book that would be suitable for her experience, I thought I would look at this book.I was frankly disappointed that no mention was given to the older child.But, when she read it, she was moved by the pictures and was pleased to take it home. She related to the pictures of the babies, not unlike the ones with whom she traveled to the U.S., in rows of airplane seats.She was impressed with the foster mothers in Korea, though she was in an orphanagefor one year after her father's death andbefore her adoption. In addition to this lovely and resilient daughter, I now have a delightful granddaughter (definitely her mother's daughter)who helps me to see how my daughter must have been as a baby/toddler.)

A must have for children adopted from Korea
My daughter was adopted from Korea through the very same organization shown in this book.The book provided detailed information and photographs giving us insight into the early moments of her life before she came home to us. I have purchased several copies for family members and friends so they too can understand our daughter's journey into our lives.It is obvious this book was created out of love and compassion for the children of Korea.Very Heartwarming!

Better for just kids
I am very disappointed and actually returning this book. I bought it as a gift for my 30 yr old friend.Well, this book is good for children, not adults.And by reading some of the other reviews I thought that the book was supposed to be great for adults and children, they were very misinforming!But if it were for a 7 year old, it would be perfect! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Family    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Family - Adoption    4. People & Places - United States - Asian American