I already reviewed both of these books on my Russian Adoption blog, but I thought this was worth a re-post since they're both great, general adoption books for children.

Both of these books are suitable for the pre-school set and for pretty much any adopted child. I actually read My Family is Forever at a pre-school adoption storytime and it went over very well.

Happy Adoption Day! is the book version of some song lyrics by John McCutcheon. It's a super little book, with fun illustrations by Julie Pashkis that depict a Caucasian man and a women fixing up a bedroom for a child, then traveling somewhere in an airplane to pick up an Asian boy:

So it's here's to you and three cheers to you!
Let's shout it, "Hip, hip, hip, hooray!
For out of a world so tattered and torn,
You came to our house on that wonderful morn...
And all of a sudden this family was born.
Oh, happy Adoption Day!

Now, it is possible that some people may be offended by that line "for out of a world so tattered and torn" as denigrating the child's home country. I had people respond to my book in that way because I insinuated that there are many children to one caregiver in a Russian orphanage and at nightttime children sleep in "crib after crib lined up against the wall." Ummmm...did your orphanage have a 5 to one child/caregiver ratio and featherbeds for the infants? No? Didn't think so...so what are you trying to glorify? I never said my book was about life in Russia...just life in the orphanage. There's a big difference.

Sorry. I'm obviously feeling a little fiesty this morning.

Anyhoo, I am not offended by the "tattered and torn" line - I prefer to apply that to the ENTIRE world, not whatever country or place the child came from. Most of the world is tattered and torn and could use a little love - that's how I choose to read it. But if you're easily offended, don't buy this book.

It's a happy line rhyme in a happy, celebratory book, and it's accompanied by a page of music at the end that will give you the tune if you're musically inclined.

Next book: My Family is Forever.
Look, I don't love this book, but it's a perfectly acceptable, accessible book for young children to learn about adoption. I don't love it because the language is a little boring and I don't like the illustration that much, but I am a children's librarian and a pretty big book snob, so don't mind me. The message is good: my family is forever and I'm happy with the family I have even though we don't look alike, and little kids will "get" it as it's very straightforward.