Books and Movies to Help Talk About Adoption at Home

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Why Storytelling Is a Powerful Tool in Adoption

Books and movies are more than just entertainment — they are bridges to empathy, understanding, and healing. For adoptive families, stories can help children process complex emotions about their past, understand what adoption means, and see themselves reflected in narratives of love, belonging, and identity.

Whether you are introducing the concept of adoption to a young child, supporting a teen through identity exploration, or helping your family navigate difficult questions, the right books and films can open doors to meaningful conversations.

Benefits of Using Books and Movies in Adoption Conversations

  • Normalize Adoption: Children learn that families come together in many ways.
  • Support Emotional Processing: Stories provide safe ways to explore feelings like grief, joy, confusion, or loss.
  • Affirm Identity: Representation matters. Seeing characters who share adoption experiences validates a child’s own story.
  • Facilitate Open Conversations: Stories often lead to questions and discussions that deepen understanding.
  • Bridge Cultural Gaps: Especially important for international or transracial adoptions.

Recommended Books About Adoption (By Age Group)

For Young Children (Ages 3–7)

  1. “A Mother for Choco” by Keiko Kasza
    • A sweet story about a bird looking for a mother and finding love in an unexpected family.
  2. “Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born” by Jamie Lee Curtis
    • A humorous and heartfelt story explaining a child’s adoption day.
  3. “We Belong Together” by Todd Parr
    • Bright, simple illustrations celebrating how families come together through love and adoption.
  4. “The Family Book” by Todd Parr
    • Celebrates diversity in family structures, including adoptive families.
  5. “I Wished for You: An Adoption Story” by Marianne Richmond
    • A conversation between a mama bear and her adopted cub about how they became family.

For School-Age Children (Ages 8–12)

  1. “A Place for Me: The True Story of an Orphan in Africa” by Cathleen Burnham
    • A real-life story that introduces themes of loss, hope, and adoption.
  2. “Motherbridge of Love” by Xinran
    • A poetic reflection on the love shared between birth and adoptive mothers in international adoption.
  3. “The Great Gilly Hopkins” by Katherine Paterson
    • A moving story about a foster child learning about belonging and family.
  4. “Rosie’s Family: An Adoption Story” by Lori Rosove
    • A relatable story that addresses common questions and emotions about adoption.

For Teenagers and Young Adults

  1. “Far From the Tree” by Robin Benway
    • Follows three biological siblings adopted into different families as they navigate identity, family, and belonging.
  2. “The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
    • A powerful novel about a young woman aging out of foster care, exploring the search for belonging.
  3. “Three Little Words” by Ashley Rhodes-Courter (Memoir)
    • The true story of a girl’s journey through foster care and eventual adoption.
  4. “Someone Else’s Shoes” by Ellen Wittlinger
    • Explores themes of blended families, identity, and understanding different life experiences.

Recommended Movies and Documentaries About Adoption

For Children and Family Viewing

  1. “Lilo & Stitch” (Disney)
    • Themes of chosen family, loss, and belonging.
  2. “Despicable Me”
    • A villain learns how to be a loving father to three adopted daughters.
  3. “Kung Fu Panda”
    • Subtle adoption themes about finding identity and belonging.
  4. “Paddington”
    • A bear adopted by a human family navigates the challenges of fitting in while celebrating differences.

For Teens and Adults

  1. “Instant Family”
    • A heartfelt and humorous look at a couple adopting three siblings from foster care, highlighting real emotional challenges and joys.
  2. “Lion”
    • Based on a true story of a boy adopted from India who searches for his birth family as an adult.
  3. “Closure” (Documentary)
    • Follows an adult transracial adoptee’s journey to reconnect with her birth family.
  4. “Somewhere Between” (Documentary)
    • Focuses on four teenage girls adopted from China as they navigate identity and belonging in America.
  5. “Found” (Documentary)
    • Three adopted girls from China, raised in different American families, discover they are biological cousins and travel together to China to explore their roots.

How to Use Books and Movies Effectively

  • Watch or Read Together: Shared experiences foster open conversations.
  • Pause for Questions: Let the child ask questions as they arise.
  • Relate to Their Story: Gently connect themes in the story to your child’s own journey.
  • Normalize All Feelings: Whether the story brings laughter, tears, or confusion, affirm that all emotions are valid.
  • Revisit Often: As children grow, the meaning they extract from stories will evolve.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Forcing Conversations: Let questions arise naturally rather than pushing a discussion.
  • Choosing Only Idealized Stories: Balance sweet, happy narratives with stories that reflect the real complexities of adoption.
  • Ignoring Cultural Representation: Choose stories that reflect your child’s racial, ethnic, or cultural background whenever possible.

Final Thoughts: Storytelling as a Path to Connection

Books and movies offer adoptive families a unique and powerful way to explore identity, belonging, and love. They help children understand that while adoption may come with challenges, it is also a story of resilience, transformation, and the enduring power of family.

By choosing stories that reflect their journey, you empower your child to embrace every part of who they are — their past, their present, and their future.

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