Fostering and adoption

Adoption, by Anita Ganeri & Ximena Jeria

“This hands-on picture book is designed to help children with their questions and feelings about tricky topics that can be hard to talk about. The exquisite and approachable illustrations give a comforting story book feel, particularly aimed at 5-7 year olds, while also appealing to both younger and older children.”

Daddy, Papa and Me, by Lesléa Newman & Carol Thompson

“Rhythmic text and illustrations with universal appeal show a toddler spending the day with its daddies. From hide-and-seek to dress-up, then bath time and a kiss goodnight, there’s no limit to what a loving family can do together.”

The Blanket Bears, by Samuel Langley-Swain & Ashlee Spink

“Written by an adoptive dad, The Blanket Bears sensitively and accurately outlines the adoption process from a child’s perspective, helping young children to understand the concept of adoption.”

Morris and the Bundle of Worries, by Jill Seeney & Rachel Fuller

“Morris the mole has a secret. He has lots of worries - in fact, a big bundle of them. The worries fill up his bedroom which means he can’t sleep. Morris doesn’t know what to do. There are squiggly, wriggly worries, thorny, spiky ones, and even some TERRORS, which Morris is too scared to touch. The worries float around his head, and prick his paws, and make him shiver. He’s scared to tell the other woodland animals about them.

“But one day, Morris finds a friend who can help him, and realises that problems are easier to deal with when you’ve got someone to talk to. Suddenly, the worries don’t seem so frightening any more.

“A charming picture book for young children in a range of situations, Morris and the Bundle of Worries shows that talking about problems, and facing worries with the help of others is more helpful than hiding your fears.”

Dennis Duckling, Dennis and the Big Decisions and Dennis Goes Home, by Paul Sambrooks & Tommaso Levente Tani

A trio of stories that follow Dennis and his sister as they leave their home to go into foster care, settle in, and eventually return to their birth parents.

Chester and Daisy Move On, by Angela Lidster & Rachel Fuller

“This is a picture book for use with children who are moving on to adoption. It tells the story of two bear cubs who have to leave their parents and live with a foster bear family. The book’s interactive text encourages children to compare their own experiences with those of the bears’ and this helps to trigger discussions between children and adults going through the story with them.”

Elfa and the Box of Memories, by Michelle Bell & Rachel Fuller

“Elfa the elephant was in a bad mood. It was a hot day, and she was carrying a box on her back. It was really heavy and felt very uncomfortable. Elfa carried it on her back everywhere she went. She never took it off because she was scared of losing it. But even though it was a beautiful, shiny box, none of the other animals ever seemed to notice or ask what was inside… They didn’t know that in it Elfa kept her most precious things - her memories.”

The Story of Tracy Beaker, by Jacqueline Wilson & Nick Sharratt

“Tracy is ten years old. She lives in a children’s home but would like a real home one day, with a real family. Meet Tracy, follow her story and share her hopes for the future.”

The Most Precious Present in the World, by Becky Edwards & Louise Comfort

“Taking the form of a dialogue between a little girl called Mia and her adoptive mother, this book explores questions that might preoccupy an adopted child. Mia wants to know why she looks different to her adoptive parents and why her birth parents didn’t want to keep her.”

We Belong Together, by Todd Parr

“We belong together because… “You needed a home I had one to share Now we are a family.”

“Author/illustrator Todd Parr approaches this challenging matter with humour and sensitivity through his bold and colourful illustrations and unique reassuring messages.”

The Nanny Goat’s Kid, by Jeanne Willis & Tony Ross

“There was once a Nanny Goat who wanted kids more than anything in the world, but she couldn’t have any of her own. Adopting seems like the perfect solution, but the kid she adopts is different to the others. In fact, he’s a tiger cub! But the Nanny Goat doesn’t care.”

Tell Me Again About the Night I was Born, by Jamie Lee Curtis & Laura Cornell

“A young girl asks her parents to tell her again the cherished family story of her birth and adoption.”

Welcome to the Family, by Mary Hoffman & Ros Asquith

“This book takes one element of The Great Big Book of Families, the arrival of new members into a family, and explores all the different ways a baby or child can become part of a family. The book includes natural birth within a nuclear family, adoption, fostering, same sex families and many other aspects of bringing babies or children into a family.”

Nutmeg Gets a Little Sister, by Jufith Foxon

“Family relationships can be particularly complicated for adopted children, and the diverse mix can often lead to uncertainty, confusion and, if a new child is joining the family, a need to re-negotiate family roles. This is a story for adopted children exploring some of the problems and concerns surrounding sibling adoption.

“Designed to be read to or with children by their own social worker, their current carers or adoptive parents, this book will encourage children from a wide age range to explore their feelings about their own circumstances and situations.”

Snowflakes, by Cerrie Burnell & Laura Ellen Anderson

“Mia has come to live with her Grandma in a land of forests and snow. It isn’t at all like her old life in the city, and at first she feels very different from the new children she sees. But when she watches the snow falling around her one night, Mia realises that she is just like one of the snowflakes - unique and perfect in her own way.”

A Safe Place for Rufus, by Jill Seeney and Rachel Fuller

“Rufus the cat lives with a family who looks after him, feeds him and gives him lots of cuddles. He feels happy and safe, especially when he is lying on his favourite cushion.

“But he didn’t always feel this way. The family that Rufus used to live with were not kind to him at all and he struggles to escape from his bad memories.”

And Then You Arrived and We Became a Family, by Anette Hildebrandt & Almud Kunert

“An affectionate story which tells of the special situation of adoption in a very sensitive way.”

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell & Henry Cole

“Based on a true story, this charming and heart-warming tale proves that all you need to make a family is love.”

I’ve Loved You Since Forever, by Hoda Kotb & Suzie Mason

“This beautiful picture book is inspired by Hoda Kotb’s heartwarming adoption of her baby girl. With Kotb’s lyrical text and stunning pictures by Suzie Mason, young ones and parents will want to snuggle up and read the pages of this book together, over and over again.”

Josh and Jaz have Three Mums, by Hedi Argent & Amanda Wood

“This book for young children aged five to eight helps to explain the diversity and difference of family groups, and encourages an understanding and appreciation of same-sex parents.

“Will Josh and Jaz’s class laugh because they live with two mums and what will they say about their birth parents? They want to be like everyone else and have just one mum and dad.

“Mummy Sue and Mummy Fran help Josh and Jaz to understand that every family tree will tell a different story and that life would be boring if they were all the same. Working together, they produce a family tree that Josh and Jaz are truly proud of and one that wins the admiration of all their classmates.”

Heather has Two Mummies, by Lesléa Newman & Laura Cornell

“Heather’s favourite number is two - she has two arms, two legs, two pets and two lovely mummies. But when Heather goes to school for the first time, someone asks her about her daddy - and Heather doesn’t have a daddy! But then the class all draw portraits of their families, and not one single drawing is the same. Heather and her classmates realise - it doesn’t matter who makes up a family, the most important thing is that all the people in it love one another very much.”