Tag Archives: book review

Book Review: William is My Brother

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Most people today seem to know better than to ask me if I’m Meg’s “real mother”. However, I do still get people asking (in front of the kids, no less) if they are “really” brother and sister. The book William is My Brother, by Jane Schnitter, is a good one for adoptive families, especially those with birth and adopted children. I have read this book to my kids before, but recently dug it out again. Seven-year-old Meg now says it’s her favorite book. I’m planning to read it to her first-grade class when I am the “guest reader”. This story … Continue reading →

Book Review: When Friends Ask About Adoption

When Friends Ask About Adoption by Linda Bothun is a slim volume designed for adoptive parents to give their friends and relatives, schools and professionals, and parents of their children’s friends. Perfect, I thought. A quick, inexpensive read, with examples of positive adoption language, that I could give other people who interact with my children so we’ll all be on the same page. Bothun correctly points out that adoptive parents have spent a lot of time thinking and talking with other adoptive parents about what adopted children say and how they might respond. Adoption is such a natural part of … Continue reading →

Book Review: God’s Wisdom for Little Boys

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We received the book, God’s Wisdom for Little Boys by Jim & Elizabeth George, for our two-year-old son at Christmas this year. Jim and Elizabeth George have both written exceptional devotional books for adults and teens and have been involved in Christian ministry for years. At first, I admit, I was a little skeptical. I generally enjoy children’s books that are short and simple, and this one appeared long and perhaps over his head. However, upon sitting down to read it with him, I abruptly changed my mind. I found this book to be a wonderful study on Proverbs for … Continue reading →

Book Review: Real Parents, Real Children

My favorite adoption book of all time is probably Real Parents, Real Children: Parenting the Adopted Child, by counselor (and parent and sibling of adopted children) Holly Van Gulden and writer Lisa Bartels-Rabb. I read it first before we adopted our first daughter and have returned to it many times since. The book begins and ends with discussion of adoption topics such as grief and loss, identity development, self-esteem, preparing for placement, postplacement adjustment, school issues and the adopted child. There is also a discussion which presents clinical information about bonding and attachment in everyday language. The unique part of … Continue reading →

Book Review: Inside Transracial Adoption

Can a mother duck raise a swan to swim like a swan? By educating herself about swans, telling her child about swans? Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall would suggest that she cannot. What she can do very well, however, is teach the young swan all the important things about how to be a bird. She can love him, and she can be his real mother. But to have him be comfortable as a swan, ultimately she will have to let him spend time with and learn from swans. Steinberg and Hall are the authors of Inside Transracial Adoption(c.2000,Perspectives Press). Steinberg … Continue reading →

Allowing Your Child To Fail

Book Review: Allow Your Child To Fail If You Want Them To Succeed, by Dr. Avril Beckford For some parents the slogan, “Failure is not an option,” is their mantra. But in her new book, “Allow Your Children to Fail if You Want Them to Succeed”, Dr. Avril Beckford, an Atlanta pediatrician, tells parents that it’s okay for our kids to fail. In fact, failure will ultimately lead to success. The book provides parents with proven tools and methods that the doctor has used in her 20 years of professional practice. The book is different from a lot of parenting … Continue reading →

Book Review: “Debt-Free Living” by Larry Burkett

“Debt-Free Living” by Larry Burkett is an interesting and informative book about making decisions that will help you get out of debt and to stay debt free. The book was original published and so the numbers he uses in example budgets seems surprisingly low, but other than that it is a great book to read or recommend to someone who is ready to make a change. Burkett briefly describes the concept of credit and how it began again after the Great Depression. He also talks about how the government fuels the use of credit because it helps to boost the … Continue reading →

Review: The Other Mother, by Carol Schaefer

In 1991, a book was published that changed who I was and how I felt about being adopted. It gave me a hope and a longing that I hadn’t known prior to the text written between the covers of that book. “The Other Mother”, by Carol Schaefer told the amazing story of a young 19 year old girl, in love and pregnant. Raised in a Catholic family, she was nothing but a disgrace to them. She was sent off to a convent home for girls in the same situation to await the birth of this very much wanted child. But … Continue reading →

A Review of “The Best of Fun for Family Night”

If you feel like you just cannot come up with another idea for family home evening then you should check out “The Best of Fun for Family Night” by Max H. Molgard and Alan K. Burgess. This is a great resource that is available to supplement your family home evening lessons. The book includes thirty-four lessons on a wide variety of topics. The lessons revolve around an activity or a game. In a few lessons there are several activities and in others there is just one. It depends on the length of the game. The games are then tied back … Continue reading →

Book Review: Living with Kids and Dogs Without Losing Your Mind

Title: Living with Kids and Dogs Without Losing Your Mind Author: Colleen Pelar, CPDT Price: $16.95 US Overall Rating: Review: If you’ve ever had a dog or, heaven forbid, a puppy you know first hand just how these furry bundles of joy can consume our time, energy and, of course, love. Parents of children know that children often consume us on an ever greater level. Having both under the same rooof can drive the best of us insane! How do you handle it when Benji chews up baby Bobby’s beloved blankie that he can’t sleep without? What will you do … Continue reading →