Randall Pearson from “This is Us”

This Is Us is the fictional account of a very unique family and follows their lives and the struggles they go through. What makes it unique is that it shows the realistic struggles of the Pearson family who navigate the journey of adoption with their African American son, Randall. The show accurately portrays the intricacies of a white family raising a black boy as it touches on adoption issues as Randall grows up. The show also delves into the challenges and joys of foster care, after a decision is made by Randall and his wife. I love this show because it doesn’t give easy answers but shows real-life situations that adoptive families go through. I love Randall (played by Sterling K. Brown) because rather than run from his past, he runs towards it, embracing his origin story and uses his past to enhance his future and the future of others.

Superman

“It’s a bird!”, “It’s a Plane!”, “It’s Superman!” was the phrase that I grew up with watching the old reruns of “The Adventures of Superman” TV series from the 1950’s. Superman, formally, Kal-el, was a refugee from the Planet Krypton, which met its fiery demise. Superman was adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent from Smallville, Kansas. They gave him the name Clark Kent. The more recent adaptation, Man of Steel, shows the struggles of Clark Kent who learns of his incredible powers and his origin story. In one scene, a young Clark Kent says to his adopted father, “Can’t I just keep pretending I’m your son?” Jonathan replies, “You are my son”, showing that family ties are stronger than DNA.

Batman

Batman, a DC Comics character (aka Bruce Wayne), grew up as an orphan who witnessed his parents’ death. Though it is not clear if he was officially adopted, it is clear that his family butler, Alfred Pennyworth, was the legal guardian of Bruce and inspired and helped create Bruce’s alter ego on many an escapade. What would Batman do without the support of Alfred?

Robin

Batman’s sidekick, Robin was also an orphan. Robins’ true identity is Dick Grayson. He was raised in an orphanage or a boys’ home, in some versions of the origin story. In other stories. Dick Grayson was adopted by Bruce Wayne. In any case, the dynamic duo is the idols of all boys without parents and shows that you do not need to have superpowers to be a superhero. 

Paddington

The Paddington Bear series are movies about a Peruvian bear who travels to England and gets lost at Paddington Station in London. Paddington gets adopted by the Brown family. The movie is another great example of taking in someone who you may have nothing in common with and making him or her part of the family.

Storks

Storks is a unique animated story about the first ever “baby drop.” A stork named Junior and a human named Tulip team up to make it happen. Junior, Tulip, and the baby girl go on an adventure and bond as a family. They learn about one another during this time as they discover the meaning of family.

Lilo and Stitch

This movie is another unique animated, sci-fi film set in Hawaii. Lilo, a little rambunctious girl, meets the lost alien, Stitch. They find during their escapades that they have more in common than they think. The one phrase that has been popularized in this film is “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” This may be a particularly difficult thing to hear, especially for a child who has moved to many different families during his or her life. Lilo and Stitch are characters that adopted kids can identify with on many different levels.

Hooray for Hollywood for putting adoption in a more positive light. Filmmakers have come a long way from making the adopted kid the serial killer, or the nerd, or the outcast. Adoptees are all around us. They are productive, inspiring members of society. I’m glad Hollywood has finally caught up to that reality.

Did I forget someone? Who would you put on this list? Who are your favorite fictional characters who were adopted?

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Nowadays, open adoption is common. This makes the birth mother a part of the child’s life and not some mysterious person they never meet. Having more understanding of her experience is crucial for the adoptee. Reading to a child is a sweet way to teach them about their birth mother. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

The story has the sweetest illustrations of a vibrant, red-haired girl who is making a difficult decision to place her daughter for adoption. You read about her making her choice, the emotions she felt, and searching for the best adoptive parents. You read about the connection between the birth mother and child and how that connection will always be there even if they are not together. 

The ending of the book makes it seem like more of a closed adoption story. The birth mother wonders if she will ever see the child again. At first, I didn’t like that aspect and it made me sad. But then, I thought how good it will be to tell my son that his open adoption is different. Then a birth mother friend told me the ending could still be relevant to open adoptions. She said that the birth mother would wonder if the adoptive parents will keep their word and actually have visits with her: it is a real fear. Wow, I thought. She is right. That must be a real fear for birth mothers. How sad that some adoptive parents don’t keep their word. The ending is still a valid thing to talk about with the adoptee.

I am glad to have found this book and plan on reading it to my three-year-old son soon. It will make more sense to him when he’s a little older, but it’s written in such a tender way that I think even a young child can benefit from hearing it read aloud.

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#1- “The Orphan Keeper” – Cameron Wright

This is an amazing story of a young boy, kidnapped from his village in India, sold to a Christian Orphanage then adopted to an unsuspecting couple in the United States. He can’t speak English to tell them he has a family back home in India. Can he make it back to India to find his family, over a decade later? Can he remember enough to do so? Such a gripping story.

#2- “The Wanderer”- Sharon Creech

Sophie is thirteen-year-old girl with two non- biological parents. She goes on a journey to visit her grandfather. On her way, she discovers how her parents died and she starts to learn about herself and understand her own feelings.

#3- “Anne of Green Gables”-Lucy Maud Montgomery

This is a series of at least six books about an orphan girl, sent to an elderly brother and sister by mistake.  She charms her way into staying in her new home and charms her family and community with her fiery spirit and imagination.

#4- “October Suite” – Maxine Clair

A coming of age story of a young woman who struggles to deal with her family and relationship issues.

#5- “Chasing Her Destiny”- Terri Friedlander

A story of hope, love, and adoption. It is a humorous, heartwarming account of a successful forty something couple, struggling to start their family.

#6 – “Little Men” – Louisa May Alcott

With two sons of her own and twelve rescued orphan boys, Jo March starts an informal school. Hard, but she couldn’t be happier. Troubles and adventures in store.

#7- “The Boy on the Porch” – Sharon Creech

One day a young couple awakes to find a boy asleep on their porch. Unable to speak, the boy cannot explain his story. All they know is they have been chosen to care for this boy. The three blossoms into an unlikely family.

#8- “The Book Thief” – Markus Zusak

While subjected to the horrors of World War II Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. In the basement of her home, a Jewish refugee is being protected by her adoptive parents.

#9 – “Never Knowing” – Chevy Stevens

At 33, Sara is finally happy. Her business is taking off and she is engaged to a wonderful man. But, there’s one big question–who are her birth parents?  She is ready to find out.

#10 – “Chosen” -Chandra Hoffman

A young caseworker is entangled in the lives of adoptive and birth parents. She faces life-altering choices when an extortion attempt goes horribly wrong.

#11 – “The Secret Daughter” – Kelly Rimmer

Pregnant with her own child, Sabina can’t understand how a mother could abandon her daughter, or why her adoptive parents kept the past a secret. She goes on a journey to find her birth mother.

#12 – “Before We Were Yours” – Lisa Wingate

A story of a lost and found family. Two Families, two generations apart, sibling love and the toll of secrets.

I hope you can find a good book, to snuggle up and read, while enjoying and connecting with the storylines! Some with drama, some with adventure and all enthralling. Please enjoy!

Visit AdoptionGifts.com where you can find other adoption books. What adoption novels would you add to this? Let us know in the comments!

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#1. God Found Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren

The book begins with Little Fox asking his mama to tell him the story about when she brought him home. Mama smiles and says, “That is my favorite story of all. When God found us you. It made me the happiest mother in the world.” They cuddle together and Mama tells Little Fox that she will love him always and forever, no matter what.

#2. Adopted And Loved Forever by Annetta E. Dellinger

Adopted And Loved Forever, tells the story of a little girl who was adopted. She begins by explaining how very happy she is to have her adoptive parents and how much they love each other. Her parents were lonely, so they spoke to a lady from the adoption agency and the lady knew about a baby who needed a home…and her parents chose her! Now they aren’t lonely anymore. She doesn’t look like her mom or dad and sometimes they get angry with her, like when she doesn’t clean her room. The girl says, “Being part of a family, is what adoption means to me.”

#3. The Night The Angel Came by Sharilyn Martin

This book is about a little Korean-American girl. She tells how her country was at war before she was born and soldiers from America came to help. Her mother and an American soldier fell in love and the soldier became her father. She was not accepted in her village, so her mother made the hard choice to place her in an orphanage where she was later adopted. One night as she slept a memory picture crept into her mind and she “saw” her precious birth mother slipping away. When she tried to call out to her, strange hands grabbed her. She awoke in terror, afraid that she would have to leave this mama as well. But her new mama whispered, “God’s angels are keeping you,” and murmured words of comfort.

#4. A Mother For Choco by Keiko Kasza

This book is one of the first adoption-related books I read to my children, and it has remained a favorite. Choco is an adorable yellow bird with blue and white striped legs and feet. He is searching for a mother. While asking all the animals he meets if they will be his mother, he is continually turned away because they don’t have yellow feathers or striped feet. Then he meets a bear who is busily picking apples and she invites him home where he meets her other children. Mrs Bear assures him that you don’t have to look alike to love each other.

#5. How I Was Adopted by Joanna Cole

Sam is a little girl who shares the story of how she was adopted.

#6. Over The Moon: An Adoption Tale by Karen Katz

The book puts a positive spin on adoption from the author’s personal experience. The colorful pictures are a delight!

#7. Did My First Mother Love Me? A Story For An Adopted Child by Kathryn Ann Miller

Most adopted children will at one time or another ask this very difficult question. In this story, Morgan cannot help wondering why she was adopted; didn’t her mother love her? Morgan’s mother reads a letter written by her birth mom aloud to Morgan.

The following books are not about adoption in particular, but they are among our children’s favorites. These books speak of love and connection.

#8. Pocket Full Of Kisses by Audrey Penn

Chester Raccoon isn’t sure he likes his little brother because Ronnie takes so much of his mom’s time and attention, plus he ruins Chester’s games. His mother assures Chester she loves him as much as ever, then asks him to spread his little palm into a fan. When he follows her direction, she places a kiss into his palm, telling him to use that kiss whenever he needs her love.

#9. The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

Liza and Jeremy were settled in bed one night when it began to thunder. They were frightened and ran to their mother. She told them it was just a storm, and they should go back to bed. The twins told her they were too scared so their mother told them about the invisible string that connects their hearts even when they cannot see one another.

#10. I Promise I’ll Find You by Heather Patricia Ward

The author describes all the places and to what extent she would go to find her (child). Across the sea, through the sky or to the bottom of the sea ending with, “So remember this my darling, for it is very true. If ever you’re apart from me, I’ll search until I find you.”

More adoption books can be found at AdoptionGifts.com. What adoption children’s books would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments!

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1. Ready or Not: 30 Days of Discovery For Foster & Adoptive Parents by Pam Parish

Pam Parish takes would-be parents on a journey to thoughtfully consider the choice to foster through a biblical lens. Parish gives would-be parents the opportunity to explore their motivations and expectations in order to shape their choices going forward.

2. Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison

A real foster mom of thirty years shares her heart-warming and, at times, devastating experiences being a foster mom and an adoptive mom. She has cared for many children with special needs, and she also discusses the relationship with the biological families and other professionals (for better and worse) who inevitably are involved in the process.

3. Welcome to the Roller Coaster by DD Foster

A wonderful independently published collection of stories from fourteen foster moms who have, collectively, fostered over one hundred and thirty-five children. This collection will show you many diverse insider perspectives which can offer advice and comfort to you as a foster parent.

4. Foster Parenting 101… and other books by Dr. John DeGarmo

Dr. John DeGarmo has compiled several different books which address different aspects

of being a foster parent. His book titles include: Foster Parenting 101: House Rules and Safety for your Foster Child; Foster Parenting 101: When a Foster Child Leaves; The Foster Parenting Manual: A Practical Guide to Creating a Loving, Safe and Stable Home; and Keeping Foster Children Safe Online: Positive Strategies to Prevent Cyberbullying, Inappropriate Contact and other Digital Dangers.

5. Parenting with Love and Logic by Foster Cline and Jim Fay

This book is good for all parents. Cline and Fay help parents find ways to interact with their children in a loving and respectful manner while avoiding nagging and arguments. The strategies recommended in this publication were influenced by writer and educator Jim Fay whose expertise comes from many years in the public education system wherein lie students from all walks, including foster care.

6. The Foster Parenting Toolbox by Kim Phagan-Hansel

This text is a comprehensive compilation from experts on all sides of the foster care experience which pinpoints the special situations that foster families will meet. The reader will hear from judges, caseworkers, more than one hundred foster care parents, and many others. This is a resource that foster parents can reach for at any stage of their process, with any age of foster children (from infants to young adults), for professional insight.

7. Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches by Russell Moore

Moore makes a case to tie adoption to the evangelical calling to enact the Great Commission. This is a great book for Christian families to read if they are considering their call to adopt as a response to evangelize. This book is culturally relevant and rooted deeply in theology.

8. Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

This memoir recounts Rhodes-Courter’s personal experience in fourteen different foster homes within nine years. It is important, when considering foster care, to understand from a primary source what it’s like to be a part of the system. This book could also be a book that a young adult reader could use to learn more about a potential foster brother or sister.

You can find more awesome books about adoption by going to AdoptionGifts.com or by clicking here.

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