With the goal of motivating children to read and ultimately creating successful and life-long learners, over 50 organizations and over three million educators partner with the National Education Association to celebrate reading and provide materials and resources to help children continue to read 365 days a year! Through much research, we have learned that “children who are motivated and spend more time reading do better in school.”
The NEA’s website offers a wealth of resources to be able to celebrate throughout the month. Look for the following exciting and helpful resources: an opportunity for families to participate in a Facebook Live Event, an article noting book recommendations written by a diverse group of children’s book authors, a fun Share Your ‘Shelfie’ Challenge, reading resources for each month of the year, and much more!
Read Across America Day provides a great opportunity to introduce your adopted child to some great children’s books that they can relate to and enjoy! Many are great tools to celebrate with your child their unique and beautiful adoption story. Perhaps you have a family member or friend preparing to adopt a little one—something like this would be a helpful and treasured gift. Below, we have provided some of the book titles that many adoptive families have enjoyed sharing with their children.
Children’s Books for Domestically Adopted Children:
A Blessing from Above: Patti Henderson
A Koala for Katie: Jonathan London
A Mother for Choco: Keiko Kasra
Did My First Mother Love Me: Kathryn Ann Miller
God Gave Us You: Lisa Tawn Bergren and Laura J. Bryant
Families are Forever: Deborah Capone
Horace (Reading Rainbow Book): Holly Keller
Is That Your Sister: Catherine and Sherry Bunin
Just in Case you Ever Wonder: Max Lucado
The Keeping Quilt: Patricia Polacco (September 1994)
Let’s Talk About It: Adoption: Fred Rogers
Little Miss Spider: David Kirk + A Christmas Wish
A Little Story About a Big Turnip: Tatiana Zunshine (ages 2-8)
Megan’s Birthday Tree: A Story about Open Adoption: Laurie Lears
My Special Someone: A Child’s Perspective of Adoption: Brittany and Sherry Kyle
The Mulberry Bird: Anne Braff Brodzinsky
Never, Never, Never Will She Stop Loving You: Jolene Durrant
Oliver: A Story About Adoption: Lois Wickstrom
Our Twitchy: Kes Gray and Mary McQuillan
Sam’s Sister: Juliet Bond
Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born: Jamie Lee Curtis
Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies: Kristine Wise
Children’s Books for Internationally Adopted Children:
At Home in This World. . . A China Adoption Story: Jean MacLeod
Just Add One Chinese Sister: Patricia McMahon and Conor Clarke McCarthy
I Love You Like Crazy Cakes: Rose A. Lewis
Moonbeams, Dumplings and Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales: Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz and The Children’s Museum, Boston
Waiting for May: Janet Morgan Stoeke
Families Are Forever: Deborah Capone
Horace: Holly Keller
I Love You Like Crazy Cakes: Rose Lewis
Is That Your Sister?: Catherine and Sherry Bunin
Babies Come from Airports: Erin Dealey
Children’s Books for Transracially Adoption Children:
The Keeping Quilt: Patricia Polacco
Little Miss Spider: David Kirk
The Little Snowgirl: Carollyn Croll
A Little Story About A Big Turnip: Tatiana Zunshine
A Mother for Choco: Keiko Kasra
Over The Moon: Karen Katz
Seeds of Love: Mary Ebejer Peteryl
Three Cheers for Catherine the Great! : Cari Best
Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies: Kristine Wise
