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China Adoption Book Review: The Lost Daughters of China

Karin Evans is a journalist. Her book, Lost Daughters of China: Abandoned Girls, Their Journey to America, and the Search for a Missing Past alternates between her story of adopting a one-year-old Chinese girl and her research into the circumstances leading to the abandonment of so many girls from China. (I should point out, as I’ve written before, that abandonment is not always—nor even usually in other countries—leaving a child to its fate. In countries where there are no adoption agencies helping birthparents nor laws allowing the relinquishment of babies, leaving a child in a place where she will easily … Continue reading →

Book Review: Made in China

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Two years ago, I wrote about books for kids who were adopted from China. Since then, there has been a veritable explosion of new books on the subject. One of them, Made in China, is actually a three-way story: the text, the illustrations, and the material inside the covers (more about that later). Made in China could also be an entry in my Adoption Books with Great Art series. I usually like the books with delicate watercolors, but these illustrations are noteworthy for the medium chosen by illustrator Kristin Blackwood: linoleum cut prints and computer coloring; unusual for children’s books. … Continue reading →

Book Review: Adoption–Social Issues Firsthand Series

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The series Social Issues Firsthand is published by Greenhaven Press, the publishers of the Opposing Viewpoints series (see my review of Opposing Viewpoints: Adoption). The Social Issues series does not consist of direct arguments by those with different beliefs, but does endeavor to have contributions from people with diverse experiences. The volume Adoption, from the Social Issues Firsthand series, contains sixteen articles, approximately 600 words each, divided roughly into sections. The first section is “Giving Up a Child for Adoption”. Many people today would object to the phraseology used here. Positive Adoption Language prefers “made an adoption plan” to emphasize … Continue reading →

Children’s Book Reviews: The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairy Tale and Every Year on Your Birthday

The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairy Tale is author-illustrator Grace Lin’s tale of a king and queen who feel a strange pain in their hearts. I consider it a strong contender for my Adoption Books with Great Art series. Lin, an American of Chinese descent, wrote the book after experiencing “many warm and wonderful interactions with families with children from China”. Based on an ancient Chinese belief that an invisible, unbreakable red thread connects those who are destined to be together, Lin creates a wise peddler who gives a king and queen with a “pain in their hearts” a pair … Continue reading →

Review of Artful Adoption Books: Three Names of Me

Yesterday I wrote about a children’s adoption book with beautiful artwork. Today I present another one. Three Names of Me is written by Mary Cummings in the voice of her Chinese-born daughter Ada. I would judge the writing to be for ages 6-12. The illustrations are done by Chinese-American illustrator Lin Wang, who combined watercolor and colored pencil to create a style she calls “ethereal realism”. Like the illustrations in Over Land and Sea, they appear realistic and detailed, yet at the same time soft. The use of light and blended backgrounds in Three Names of Me does produce a … Continue reading →

Adoption Books with Beautiful Art: Over Land and Sea: a Story of International Adoption

Books showing children of color are becoming more common, but books showing multiracial families are still relatively rare. So books that show multiracial adoptive families with gorgeous artwork, while giving a sensitive and accurate portrayal of adoption, are a real find. Many families will find themselves reflected in Over Land and Sea: a Story of International Adoption. This book is one of my new “absolutely favorite things”. This book is one of my new “absolutely favorite things”, largely because of its stunning artwork. Author Steven Layne is a father of three children who were internationally adopted. The simple story—“hey, I … Continue reading →

Adoption Blog Month in Review, April 2007: Part One

I’d like to start this April Month-in-Review with a word about March. Most of you know that my co-blogger Ed Paul left. However he was a prolific writer here so there are many blogs in our archives to enjoy—check some out! When Ed left, Rachel Whitmire (who wrote for the adoption blog before either Ed or I did) was ready to come back from her leave of absence–during which she picked up her toddler son Jayden from Guatemala! She has about ten blogs in the adoption blog in late March describing aspects of her journey and new motherhood. Check them … Continue reading →

Books on International Adoption for Adults

I recently published a blog on books for adults on adoption from Korea and China. This followed a series of blogs presenting children’s books on adoption, from various countries and domestically. This blog presents books which deal with adopting from Eastern Europe, Africa, Vietnam and Latin America, as well as many books dealing with international adoption in general. Books on Adoption from Eastern Europe: Russian Adoption Handbook: How to Adopt a Child from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan Author: John H. Maclean Two Little Girls: A Memoir of Adoption Author: Theresa Reid The Russian Word for Snow Author: Janis Cooke Newman … Continue reading →

Books for Adults on Adoption from China and Korea

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I recently published a series of blogs on children’s books dealing with adoption, including books specifically featuring kids adopted from different countries. Here, I will present books for adults on adoption from China and Korea. Many are memoirs which tell of adoptive families’ experiences. Others are memoirs of adoptees and even of birthmothers and an adoption worker. Others are serious looks at the topics of preserving heritage and the reasons children are available for adoption. Books for adults on Korean adoption: A Single Square Picture tells the story of a girl adopted at age 7 who returns to search for … Continue reading →

Kids’ Books on Domestic Adoption and General Adoption Themes

This blog features books about adoption-—primarily domestic adoption within the U.S.; however many of these books are good for all adoptive families and kids. It is the last (for now) in a series on children’s books with adoption themes. Previous blogs included: books featuring children adopted from China, children from Korea and Vietnam, and children from Latin America and Eastern Europe as well as kids adopted internationally from any country. Let’s Talk About It: Adoption. Fred Rogers of television’s “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” has photos of several families and children interacting together—eating, playing, working, arguing. He addresses children simply, talking about … Continue reading →