Experts recommend talking about adoption with your child early on so they feel confident in their identity and proud of their story. In addition, sharing your child’s adoption story with them in an age-appropriate manner will promote a healthy view of adoption.
However, what makes a conversation age-appropriate may differ based on your child’s maturity or curiosity. To start the dialogue, many adoptive parents will teach their child adoption vocabulary by discussing their child’s adoption story and birth parents. Also, children’s books, life books, and scrapbooks can be a great way to help explain adoption in its simplest form.
Reading any of these children’s books about adoption to your child is a wonderful way to incorporate the topic into their daily lives. These thoughtful books, with relatable characters and essential lessons about love and family dynamics, will help your child grasp the meaning of adoption.
You can click on each book’s title to learn more and make a purchase. Please feel free to share this list of children’s books about adoption with anyone who has been touched by adoption. We hope you enjoy it!
- Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis
In this book, a young girl asks her parents to repeat the cherished family story of her birth and adoption. The book is told from her point of view and is full of fun details. Underlying the playful tone of the text and illustrations is a strong message of the parents’ love for their new baby girl.
- Rosie’s Family; An Adoption Story by Lori Rosove
Here, we find a story told in kid-friendly language about belonging to a family despite differences. Rosie is a beagle who was adopted by a family of schnauzers. She shares that she feels different from the rest of her family and raises many questions that adoptees may have.
- I Wished for You: An Adoption Story by Marianne Richmond
With a simple storyline and beautiful illustrations, this book introduces the concept of adoption to children. It follows the conversation between a little bear and his mother as they cuddle and discuss how they became a family. The little bear asks his mother questions many adopted children will have, and his mother lovingly answers them all. This book warmly declares the adoption truth that love truly makes a family!
- I Prayed for You by Jean Fischer
In this simple yet touching children’s book, we follow a mother bear as she prays daily for Baby Bear. “Even before you were born, I prayed for you,” she says.
This sweet little book shows children that they’re prayed for and loved so much every day. - God Found Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergen
Every night at bedtime, Little Fox asks his mother to tell him about the day he came home. Little Fox also asks why he couldn’t stay “with the mother who had me.” Mama Fox warmly tells him how long she has dreamed about and waited for him. Many adopted children and adoptive parents will be able to identify with this loving and intelligent story!
- How I Was Adopted by Joanna Cole
This book demystifies adoption for children by breaking down the complexity of adoption into simple, easy-to-understand steps. Sam, the main character, shares his adoption story and asks the reader questions about their adoption. By engaging your child in the adoption conversation, this book helps adoptees realize how many other kids were adopted, too.
- Some Babies Are Adopted by Cindy Walker
Walker wrote this book from the perspective of a birth mother and shares how she searches for a loving couple to adopt her child. It shows adopted children that birth parents often have the best intentions when choosing adoption.
- Yes, I’m Adopted! by Sharlie Zinniger
A young child beautifully articulates the special nature of adoption through a delightful poem. Rhyming its way through the fundamentals of adoption, the poem illustrates that, above all, adoption is about love. With adorable illustrations and minimal text, it serves as an excellent introduction to the topic, sparking conversations about a child’s emotions regarding adoption.
- I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb
Written by Today show co-anchor Hoda Kotb, I’ve Loved You Since Forever is a celebratory testimonial of the timeless love between parent and child. Kotb felt inspired to write the book after the heartwarming adoption of her baby girl, Haley Joy.
- And That’s Why She’s My Mama by Tiarra Nazario
This children’s adoption book explores the loving tasks that mamas do (like taking you to the park and kissing your boo-boos!). It shows children that someone can be a parent without giving birth!
- We Belong Together: A Book About Adoption and Families by Todd Parr
With cheery, colorful artwork depicting various family structures, this kid-friendly book explores how people can come together through adoption. The book explores the meaning of family with an understanding of how personal and unique each adoption is.
- Adoption Is a Lifelong Journey by Kelly DiBenedetto, Katie Gorczyca, and Jennifer Eckert
The book’s narrator, Charlie, shares his thoughts and emotions while growing up with adoptive parents. Readers will learn about his challenges with building trust and establishing identity. In addition, you’ll benefit from included conversation tips, family activity recommendations, and other resources.
- ABC, Adoption & Me by Gayle H. Swift and Casey Anne Swift
This book expresses the complicated feelings of adoptees in a way that makes them feel normal and makes it easy to discuss with their families. ABC, Adoption & Me celebrates the blessing of family but doesn’t shy away from discussing the complex issues that often come with adoption.
It’s packaged with vibrant cartoon artwork that includes multicultural families and a guide for parents. According to one child who read the book, “Most adoption books only talk about the good part of adoption. This book shows adoption from the kid’s side.” - All Together Now by Anita Jeram
Perfect for very young children aged two to five, this board book shares the story of Mommy Rabbit’s family. She has three children: Bunny, Little Duckling, and Miss Mouse, and only one is a rabbit, too! The author uses this family of different animals to tell a story of love, family, and togetherness.
- Little Miss Spider by David Kirk
After Miss Spider hatches, she can’t find her mother anywhere. Betty Beetle helps with the search and eventually adopts Miss Spider, proving that parental love can look many different ways.
- Over the Moon by Karen Katz
Ring! Ring! Everyone in the neighborhood is curious about when the couple’s baby will arrive. They keep asking, “Is it soon?” until one day, the big moment finally comes. Join the couple as they journey to bring their baby home and introduce her to their neighbors! “Over the Moon” is filled with lively pictures that jump off the page, enhancing the joyful story.
What’s great about this book is that it’s inspired by Karen Katz’s own experience of adopting a child. She includes lots of small details that really make the story come alive. We especially like how she shows the parents’ feelings – they start out nervous about taking care of a baby but end the day eagerly looking forward to the next. - Emma’s Yucky Brother by Jean Little
Emma’s Yucky Brother depicts the challenges of an older adopted child as she adjusts to life with a new sibling. Initially hopeful about her new brother, Emma imagines him to be sweet and little, envisioning the best brother ever. However, upon his arrival, she finds he’s not quite what she expected. Max isn’t as little or as sweet as she had hoped. To make matters worse, he seems to prefer Emma’s friend Sally over her and even refers to Emma as “yucky Emma”. Can they ever find common ground? Emma’s Yucky Brother serves as an effective transition from picture books to chapter books, blending pictures, text, and plenty of dialogue.
- I’m Adopted by Sheila M. Kelly
With simple language geared toward children, Kelly’s book introduces the idea adoption and how adoptive families come to exist.
“We read ‘I’m Adopted’ every night. I just love the story we’re starting to share with our son about how he came into our lives. He asks the sweetest, most sincere questions!” shares Lifetime adoptive mom Miranda.
Children’s Books About Adoption
If you want to explain adoption to your child, picking up one of these children’s books will help you tackle the topic in age-appropriate ways. The authors sensitively discuss family dynamics, share touching stories of love, and feature adorable characters to help kids understand what it means to be adopted.
Additional resources for talking about adoption with your child include:
- Creating a Family’s series on talking with children about adoption.
- Reading stories from an adoptee’s point of view
- Resources to get talking from AdoptiveFamilies.com
- Tips from adoption expert Mardie Caldwell on how to tell your child they were adopted
- One Mom’s advice from her experience at the playground
- Lots of recommended adoption reading
- Guidance to avoid oversharing your child’s adoption story
- How to create an adoption-friendly classroom
- A guide from Adoptive Families Magazine on how to have positive adoption conversations
Do you have any favorite children’s books about adoption that didn’t make it on our list? Please share by leaving a comment below!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on January 22, 2018, and has since been updated.
As Vice President of Lifetime Adoption, Heather Featherston holds an MBA and is passionate about working with those facing adoption, pregnancy, and parenting issues. Heather has conducted training for birth parent advocates, spoken to professional groups, and has appeared on television and radio to discuss the multiple aspects of adoption. She has provided one-on-one support to women and hopeful adoptive parents working through adoption decisions.
Since 2002, she has been helping pregnant women and others in crisis to learn more about adoption. Heather also trains and speaks nationwide to pregnancy clinics to effectively meet the needs of women who want to explore adoption for their child. Today, she continues to address the concerns women have about adoption and supports the needs of women who choose adoption for their child.
As a published author of the book Called to Adoption, Featherston loves to see God’s hand at work every day as she helps children and families come together through adoption.
Our son loves “We Chose You” written by former Indianapolis Colts’ coach Tony Dungy!
Thank you for the book recommendation, Kimberly. We’ll check it out!