Families Change: A Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights (Kids Are Important Series) [Paperback]

Julie Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Kids Are Important Series

All families change over time. Sometimes a baby is born, or a grown-up gets married. And sometimes a child gets a new foster parent or a new adopted mom or dad. Children need to know that when this happens, it’s not their fault. They need to understand that they can remember and value their birth family and love their new family, too. Straightforward words and full-color illustrations offer hope and support for children facing or experiencing change. Includes resources and information for birth parents, foster parents, social workers, counselors, and teachers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Julie Nelson is passionately committed to supporting society’s most highly stressed children. She is a teacher and home visitor for the Families Together Preschool, a nonprofit early intervention program, and an instructor at the University of Minnesota Center for Early Education and Development.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing (November 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575422093
• ISBN-13: 978-1575422091
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,663 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Parenting & Families > Adoption
  • #18 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Adoption
  • #24 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Adoption

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended especially for sharing with children in foster care or other, similar situations., July 10, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Families Change: A Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights (Kids Are Important Series) (Paperback)

Written by Julie Nelson, who has taught in at-risk early childhood settings for nearly 30 years, Families Change: A Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights is a simple, softcover picturebook about the realities of when families have big problems and need to change so that kids can be safe. The illustrations, painted in warm colors, evoke a powerful sense of hearth and home while the text gently discusses difficult situations. "When families change, kids can remember the happy times and the sad and mad and scary times too. Kids can remember and love their birth families. Kids can love their new families too." The last few pages offer a serious message to parents, foster parents, social workers, teachers, and caregivers, offering basic information about how to support and encourage young children amidst the terrifying crossroad of the termination of parental rights, as well as a list of resources and organizations created to help such children and those who look after them. Highly recommended especially for sharing with children in foster care or other, similar situations.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well done!!!, January 11, 2008

By 

Christine Mitchell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Families Change: A Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights (Kids Are Important Series) (Paperback)

With so few books available for foster children, this is an amazing resource! The concepts are presented in such gentle, reassuring, and child-friendly language. I think that books like this really help children to know that they are not the first or only child to go through the traumatic experience of being separated from their birth family (and possibly abuse and neglect). And when they know they are not alone, it may help them to believe it is not their fault. Once again, it is very well written, and the artwork is quite nice.

Christine Mitchell, author and illustrator of:
Family Day: Celebrating Ethan's Adoption Anniversary and
Welcome Home, Forever Child: A Celebration of Children Adopted as Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Beyond

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent tool to assist children in understanding parental termination, June 23, 2008

By 

L. D. Compton (Granville, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Families Change: A Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights (Kids Are Important Series) (Paperback)

I am a mental health clinician, providing mental health treatment to both children and adults who've experienced abuse & neglect. This book is a wonderful tool for assisting children in understanding what is happening to their families. It does a nice job of portraying outcomes in a "hopeful" light. Finally, it is a great tool for facilitating conversation with the less-enthused late school age child, who is not necessarily happy to be placed in mental health therapy.