Browse this list of books and movies that help children understand adoption in an age-appropriate, positive, and supportive way. These resources encourage meaningful conversations, celebrate different family journeys, and help children feel seen, valued, and connected.

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BOOKS ABOUT ADOPTION

Seven Core Issues in Adoption & Permanency by Sharon Kaplan Roszia & Allison Davis Maxon AND accompanying workbook(s) for Children/Teens & Parents

The Invisible String & The Invisible String Workbook By Patrice Karst

Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing after Loss By Pat Schwiebert & Chuck DeKlyen

MaMa Do You Love Me By Barbara Joosse

Love You Forever By Robert Munsch

How I Feels To Be Adopted By Jill Krementz

The Rabbit Listened By Cori Doerrfeld

ABC Adoption & Me By Gayle H. Swift & Casey A. Swift

Anger Management Skills Workbook for Kids By Amanda Robinson

My Body Sends a Signal By Natalia Maguire

Hair Love By Matthew A.Cherry

You Matter By Christian Robinson

I’m Gonna Like Me By Jaime Lee Curtis & Laura Cornell

Tell Me Again About The Day I Was Born By Jamie Lee Curtis & Laura Cornell

Beautiful Oops By Barney Saltzberg

Only One You By Linda Kranz

Hey Warrior By Karen Young

I Love You Stinky Face By Lisa McCourt

Your Fantastic Elastic Brain By JoAnn Deak Ph.D.

The Kissing Hand By Audrey Penn

Listening To My Heart By Gabi Garcia

The ABCs of Emotions By Camille Childs & Bryan Jones

Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew By Sherrie Eldridge

A Therapeutic Treasure Box for Working with Children & Adolescents with Developmental Trauma By Dr. Karen Treisman

Creative Coping Skills for Children By Bonnie Thomas

Helping Abused & Traumatized Children By Eliana Gil

Teaching Children Empathy The Social Emotion By Tonia Caselman, Ph.D.

The YES Brain Workbook By Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. & Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.

The Whole Brain Child By Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. & Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.

Parenting From the Inside Out By Daniel J. Siegel, M.D.

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BOOKS ABOUT ADOPTION (SPANISH)

Que es la Adopión By Jeannette Yoffe, LMFT

You Be You/Sé Siempre Tú By Linda Kranz

El Hilo Invisible By Miriam Tirado (Not the original Invisible String book)

Naciste Para Brillar by Isabella Miller

El Ninja (Emocionalmente Inteligente) By Mary Nhin

Escuchando a Mi Cuerpo By Gabi Garcia

¿Me Quieres, Mama? By Barbara Joosse

Eres un Chico Fantástico By María Garcia

Está Bien ser Diferente By Sharon Purtill

Familia By Ariel Andrés Almada & Sonja Wimmer

Sopa de Lagrimas: Una Receta Para Sanar Despues de uan Perdida, by Pat Schwiebert & Chuck DeKlyen

Todos Estamos Conectados By Gabi Garcia

El Color de tu Piel By Desirée Acevedo & Silvia Alvarez

Hija By Sonja Wimmer & Ariel Andrés Almada

Hijo By Sonja Wimmer & Ariel Andrés Almada

Un Puñado de Botones By Carmen Parets Luque

Besos de Sol, Abrazos de Luna By Susan Schaefer Bernardo

Amor de Pelo By Matthew A. Cherry

Qué le Pasa a Uma? by Raquel Diaz Reguera

Vacio by Anna Llenas

Sopa de Lagrimas/Tear Soup By Pat Schwiebert

¿Quien Se Ha Llevado Mi Queso? By Spencer Johnson, M.D.

Esperanza Para Sanar(Una Guia para Padres Sobre Trauma y Apego) By La Asociación para la Capacitación en Trauma y Apego en Niños (ATTACh)

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MOVIES ABOUT ADOPTION

Annie

Juno

The Wild Robot

Kung Fu Panda 1 & 2

Stuart Little

Matilda

Instant Family

Elf

Earth to Echo

Lion

The Blind Side

Black & White: Colin Kaepernick Documentary (Netflix)

Closure: Addison Cooper, MSW, LCSW Documentary

This is Us

Will Trent

Tarzan

Batman

Superman

Modern Family

Glee

Jessee

The Fosters

Twinsters

Wonder Boy

Three Identical Strangers

Big Mama (California Newsreel)

Mother & Child

Instant Family

Loggerheads

Secrets & Lies

Flirting With Disaster

Deep in my Heart

Philomena

The Book Thief

Precious

Rails & Ties

December Boys

Then She Found Me

White Oleander

Losing Isaiah

A Simply Twist of Fate

Luce