Suggested Reading List

Resources for Adoption Professionals| Planning and Preparing for Adoption |Parenting Adopted Children |Psychology of Adoption 
"Special Needs" Adoption | Birthparent & Reunion Issues | Sources for Books

 

RESOURCES FOR ADOPTION PROFESSIONALS

EMK Press: Tools and Resources for Adoptive Families and the Professionals Who Help Them: http://www.emkpress.com/

Ten Top Tips for Finding Families, Jennifer Cousins, British Association for Adoption & Fostering, http://www.baaf.org.uk/res/pubs/books/book_tttff.shtml

Answering the Call, Lasting Impressions: A Guide for Photolisting Children, http://www.adoptuskids.org/images/resourceCenter/photolisting.pdf


PLANNING AND PREPARING FOR ADOPTION

Johnston, Patricia Irwin. Adopting: Sound Choices, Strong Families Indianapolis, IN: Perspectives Press, January 2008.

Johnston, Patricia Irwin. Launching a Baby's Adoption: Practical Strategies for Parents and Professionals. Indianapolis, IN: Perspectives Press, 1998.

Maskew, Trish. Our Own: Adopting and Parenting the Older Child. Longmount, CO: Snowcap Press, 1999.

Melina, Lois Ruskai. Making Sense of Adoption: a Parent's Guide. New York: Harper Collins, 1989.

Melina, Lois Ruskai and Sharon Kaplan Roszia. The Open Adoption Experience: a Complete Guide for Adoptive and Birth Families - from Making the Decision through the Child's Growing Years. New York: HarperPerennial, 1993.

Robinson, Grace. Older Child Adoption. New York: Crossroad Publishing, 1998.

Schooler, Jayne. The Whole Life Adoption Book: Realistic Advice for Building a Healthy Adoptive Family. Colorado Springs: Pinon, 1993.

Webber, Marlene. As If Kids Mattered: What's Wrong in the World of Child Protection and Adoption. Toronto: Key Porter, 1998.


PARENTING ADOPTED CHILDREN

Crook, Marion. The Face in the Mirror: Teenagers and Adoption. Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2000. Completely new edition.

Hopkins-Best, Mary. Toddler Adoption: the Weaver's Craft. Indianapolis: IN: Perspectives Press, 1997.

Keefer, Betsy and Jayne Schooler. Telling the Truth to your Adopted or Foster Child: Making Sense of the Past. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey, 2000.

Melina, Lois Ruskai. Raising Adopted Children: Practical Reassuring Advice for Every Adoptive Parent. New York: HarperPerennial, 1998. Revised edition.

Pavao, Joyce Maguire. The Family of Adoption. Boston: Beacon Press, 1998.

Schaffer, Judith and Christina Lindstrom. How to Raise an Adopted Child: a Guide to Help your Child Flourish from Infancy through Adolescence. New York: Copestone, 1989.

Van Gulden, Holly and Lisa Bartels-Rabb. Real Parents, Real Children: Parenting the Adopted Child. New York: Crossroad, 1995.

Watkins, Mary and Susan Fisher. Talking with Young Children about Adoption. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1993.


PSYCHOLOGY OF ADOPTION

Brodzinsky, David, Marshall Schecter and Robin Henig. Being Adopted: the Lifelong Search for Self. Anchor, 1993.

Brodzinsky, David and Marshall Schecter. The Psychology of Adoption. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.

Ito, Susan and Tina Cervin. A Ghost at Heart's Edge: Stories and Poems of Adoption. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 1999.

Johnston, Patricia Irwin. Perspectives on a Grafted Tree: Thoughts for those touched by Adoption. Indianapolis: IN: Perspectives Press, 1983.

Lifton, Betty Jean. Journey of the Adopted Self: a Quest for Wholeness. Basic Books, 1995.

Verrier, Nancy. The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child. Lafayette, CA: Nancy Verrier, 1993.


INTERNATIONAL/TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION

Cox, Susan Soon-Keung. Voices from Another Planet: a Collection of Works from a Generation Born in Korea and Adopted to Other Countries. St. Paul, MN: Yeong & Yeong, 1999.

Fancott, Harriet. Raising Healthy Multiracial Adoptive Families: a Question and Answer Guide for Adoptive Parents. Vancouver: Adoptive Families Association of British Columbia, 1999.

Klatzkin, Amy. A Passage to the Heart: Writings from Families with Children from China. St. Paul, MN: Yeong & Yeong., 1999.

Register, Cheri. "Are Those Kids Yours?" American Families with Children Adopted from Other Countries. New York: Free Press, 1991.

Steinberg, Gail and Beth Hall. Inside Transracial Adoption: Strength-based, Culture-sensitizing Parenting Strategies for Intercountry or Domestic Families that don't Match. Indianapolis, IN: Perspectives Press, 2000.


"SPECIAL NEEDS" ADOPTION

Edelstein, Susan. Children with Prenatal Alcohol and/or Other Drug Exposure: Weighing the Risks of Adoption. Washington, D.C.: CWLA Press, 1995. Child Welfare League of America.

Graefe, Sara. Parenting Children affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: a Guide for Daily Living. Vancouver: Society of Special Needs Adoptive Parents. 1998. Revised edition. Also available in French.

Keck, Gregory and Regina Kupecky. Adopting the Hurt Child: Hope for Families with Special-needs Kids: a Guide for Parents and Professionals. Colorado Springs, Col.: Pinon, 1995.

Ziegler, Dave. Raising Children who refuse to be Raised: Parenting Skills and Therapy Interventions for the most Difficult Children. Jasper, OR: Acacia Press, 2000. (For dealing with all troubled children)


BIRTHPARENT & REUNION ISSUES

Forge, Leslie and Gail Mosconi. The Third Choice: a Woman's Guide to Placing a Child for Adoption. Berkeley, CA: Creative Book Company, 1999.

Franklin, Lynne and Elizabeth Ferber. May the Circle be Unbroken: an Intimate Journey into the Heart of Adoption. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1998.

Hern, Katie and Ellen Carlson. Reunion: a Year in Letters between a Birthmother and the Daughter she couldn't Keep. Seattle, WA: Seal Press, 1999.

Lifton, Betty Jean. Lost & Found: the Adoption Experience. New York: Harper Collins, 1988. Revised edition.


SOURCES FOR BOOKS

British Association for Adoption and Fostering: http://www.baaf.org.uk/res/index.shtml/

EMK Press: Tools and Resources for Adoptive Families and the Professionals Who Help Them: http://www.emkpress.com/

Child Welfare Information Gateway: http://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/

FAS Bookshelf, 438 - 6540 E. Hastings St., Burnaby BC V5B 4Z5, 604-942-2024, info@fasbookshelf.com, www.fasbookshelf.com. Books, videos, posters, etc. on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Parentbooks, 201 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1H6 416 537-8334 Fax: 416 537-9499, info@parentbooks.ca, www.parentbooks.ca Large selection of adoption books and will order others.


  • We suggest you ask your public/college/university library to order the ones they do not already own.  

  • List prepared by Elspeth Ross, Adoption Council of Canada, Revised February 2008

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