Children's Books About Asian Adoption
Stories for Preschoolers Adopted From China, Korea and Vietnam
Jul 27, 2009
International adoptions from Asian countries have been the most popular regions from which to adopt in both Canada and the U.S. for the better part of the past decade. According the U.S. Office of Immigration Statistics, in 2008, 5627 of the over 17,000 children who were adopted internationally by Americans were collectively from China, Korea and Vietnam.
As a result of overseas adoptions from Asian countries, there have been several books written for preschoolers that describe the adoption process and feature characters of Asian heritage. Written with simple language and illustrated with vivid imagery, these preschooler books about international adoption help kids understand how their family came to be.
Picture Books for Children Adopted from China
As China is still one of the most popular countries from which Canadian and Americans adopt from, there are many stories for preschoolers that describe life in China and the process of being adopted internationally. Picture books about Chinese adoptions also often emphasize and celebrate the Chinese culture, making them the perfect introduction to the creation of traditions as an adoptive family.
- A Sister for Matthew by Pamela Kennedy [Ideals Publications, 2006]
- Allison by Allen Say [Sandpiper, 2004]
- An Mei’s Strange and Wonderous Journey by Stephan Molnar-Fenton [DK Children, 1998]
- Dumplings are Delicious by Deb Capone [As Simple As That, 2005]
- Emma’s Story by Deborah Hodge [Tundra Books, 2003]
- Every Year on Your Birthday by Rose Lewis [Little, Brown Young Readers, 2007]
- Finding Joy by Coste Marion [Boyds Mills Press, 2006]
- I Love You Like Crazy Cakes by Rose A. Lewis [Little, Brown Young Readers, 2000]
- Letter of Love from China by Bonnie Cuzzolino [Plum Blossom Books, 2006]
- Motherbridge of Love by Xinran [Barefoot Books, 2007]
- The Red Blanket by Eliza Thomas [Scholastic Press, 2004]
- We See the Moon by Carrie A. Kitze [EMK Press, 2003]
Many of the children’s books written about Chinese adoptions reinforce the concepts of unconditional love and the destiny of an adoptive family, which makes young readers feel positive about their adoption. Some of the stories also set out to debunk stereotypes about children living in Chinese orphanages and the concept of abandonment.
Children’s Picture Books about Korean and Vietnamese Adoptions
Even though there are many picture books that are appropriate for preschoolers adopted from Asian countries in general, these titles are unique for children adopted from Korea and Vietnam.
- Families Are Different by Nina Pellegrini [Holiday House 1991]
- Rebecca’s Journey Home by Brynn Olenberg Sugarman [Kar-Ben Publishing, 2006]
- Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies by Ann Turner [HarperCollins, 1992]
These books appeal to adopted preschoolers in general because the themes of the stories are universal and they help bring forward ideas that may be weighing on a young child’s mind such as differences in physical appearance and the challenge of feeling secure in the adoptive family.
With the majority of children adopted internationally to American and Canadian families being from China, Korea and Vietnam, it is important that these children read stories that reflect their cultural heritage and share the experience of joining their adoptive family. For summaries and information on these Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese adoption stories refer to Amazon.com. Read International Adoption Books for School Age Kids and Adoption Books for Preschoolers and Toddlers for more book titles appropriate for children adopted internationally.
