Celebrating Adoption on International Children’s Book Day

April 2 is a holiday observed around the world celebrating child literacy and the impact literature can have on a child’s learning and imagination. International Children’s Book Day honors the birthdate of a famous 19^th-century Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen, who penned some of the earliest forms of fairy tales for children. Some of his most famous stories include The Princess and the Pea, The Little Mermaid, and The Ugly Duckling.

On International Children’s Book Day, we get to be reminded of the importance of sharing a love of reading with our children and choosing books fitting their interests. Also, books that correspond with a child’s family life can be influential and grab their attention because of the connection with the content. In reference to adoption, there are so many stories that are available to not only celebrate literacy on International Children’s Book Day, but to also aid in celebrating the theme of adoption within your family.

Take a trip to your local library or order some of these titles for keepsakes in your house and read them with your children to encourage the thoughts and feelings of adoption. Use these books as loving ways to nurture more conversations or just to affirm your family’s own adoption story. See which story speaks to your child. In our family, we have already started a collection of books that will be not only informative for our children, but also make connections with their family and the love they feel. We are particularly excited to be able to read #10.

1. Tell Me Again about the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis

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Fi woke up sickies today😷 So we are reading our favorite adoption story while her soup heats up • I can never get through this story without crying 😭 #tellmeagainaboutthenightiwasborn {to read along with us watch on YouTube via FIFIANDMO VIDEO 👀

A post shared by finley + christina (@fifiandmo) on Apr 28, 2016 at 9:21am PDT

2. God Found Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren

3. I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb

4. I Wished for You: An Adoption Story by Marianne Richmond

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Read this precious little #Adoption book to Bo before his nap today. He certainly is my wish (and a million prayers) come true! 💙 Thank you @amillioncanaries for this sweet gift for our boy! #IWishedForYou

A post shared by Brittany Burtch (@theburtchs) on Jun 15, 2018 at 11:00am PDT

5. Yes, I’m Adopted! by Sharlie Zinniger

6. And That’s Why She’s My Mama by Tiarra Nazario

7. A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza

8. A Blessing from Above by Patti Henderson

9. I Don’t Have Your Eyes by Carrie A. Kitze

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Another sweet book for adoptive families. #transracialadoption #thenewamericanfamily #adoption #idonthaveyoureyes

A post shared by TheNewAmericanFamily (@thenewamericanfamily_) on Aug 9, 2016 at 11:39am PDT

10. My Adoption Story by YOUR CHILD

We will be encouraging our children to write their own stories of what adoption looks like in their own lives. Whether they are an adopted child or a sibling of an adopted child, their perspective and story will be told in our family for years to come.

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Jill is a 32-year-old wife and mom. She has been married to her husband, Brannon, for eight years and has 5-year-old and 1-year-old daughters. Jill and her husband are currently in the adoption process to bring another baby into their home. Jill lives in a small community in Kentucky. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish and obtained her Master’s degree in Christian Ministries. Jill’s passions are her faith, her family, writing, playing sports, and eating good food.