November 19th is National Adoption Day! And to celebrate, we are highlighting books that help children learn about and reflect on how families come together.
The Story I’ll Tell, by Nancy Tupper Ling, illus. by Jessica Lanan
A young child asks his mother to tell the story of where he came from. “I might tell how you came from a land far away in a hot air balloon. The basket slowly drifted down like a feather into our yard. I dropped the firewood I was carrying and ran to you. ‘You’re home now,’ I said.” Or maybe it was a lark—and not a stork—that brought the child to the mother. Or perhaps he was rescued from a dragon! Each lyrical and fantastic tale contains a small kernel of truth that pieces together the baby’s journey across a wide ocean into his new mother’s arms.
Purchase a copy of the book here.
Bringing Asha Home, by Uma Krishnaswami, illus. by Jamel Akib
It’s Rakhi, the Hindu holiday special to brothers and sisters, and Arun wishes he had a sister with whom to celebrate. Soon it looks as if his wish will come true. His parents are going to adopt a baby girl named Asha. She is coming all the way from India, where Arun’s dad was born.
The family prepares for Asha’s arrival, not knowing it will be almost a year until they receive governmental approval to bring Asha home. Arun is impatient and struggles to accept the long delay, but as time passes he finds his own special ways to build a bond with his sister, who is still halfway around the world.
Purchase a copy of the book here.
Journey Home, by Lawrence McKay, illus. by Dom Lee and Keunhee Lee
Mai is excited about traveling to Vietnam with her mother. Mom wants to search for her birth family and Mai wants to help solve the mystery.
Mai has never been to her mother’s homeland, and she wonders what being there will reveal. Will learning about her mother’s past help her gain a new sense of identity? Is her “real” home in America or Vietnam?
Purchase a copy of the book here.
A Song for Cambodia, by Michelle Lord, illus. by Shino Arihara
When Arn was a young boy in Cambodia, his days were filled with love, laughter, and the sweet sounds of music. That all changed suddenly in 1975 when Arn’s village was invaded by Khmer Rouge soldiers and his family was torn apart.
Nine-year-old Arn was taken to a children’s work camp, where he labored long hours in the rice fields under the glaring eyes of threatening soldiers. Overworked, underfed, and in constant fear for his life, Arn had to find a way to survive. When guards asked for volunteers to play music one day, Arn bravely raised his hand—taking a chance that would change the course of his life.
Purchase a copy of the book here.
Want to read them all? Check out our Adoption Collection here.
Here’s additional reading for teaching and celebrating adoption:
