This is How We Became a Family: An Adoption Story [Paperback]

Wayne Willis (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2000

For the youngest child who is just beginning to wonder, "where did I come from?" and for older children who want to be reminded how much they are cherished, this is an adoption story for all ages. It is the story of a couple who long for a child, of a pregnant young woman who is not ready to be a mother, and of the events that bring them together for a happy ending. Told in simple terms, it invites children to ask qu estions about their own adoption story and gives parents a unique opportunity to tell it, whether their child's adoption was domestic or international, open or closed, or arranged privately or through an agency .

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Magination Press; 1 edition (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557987009
• ISBN-13: 978-1557987006
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 7.9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #911,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not my speed; your mileage may vary., September 21, 2007

By 

Robert P. Beveridge "xterminal" (Lakewood, OH) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: This is How We Became a Family: An Adoption Story (Paperback)

Wayne Willis, This Is How We Became a Family (Magination Press, 2000)

I've been reading a lot of kids' books about adoption recently, getting them out of the library and trying to figure out which ones we want to buy for our own kid. This is the most recent of them, and while I admire what it sets out to do, there's something off in how it goes about doing it.

The book presents its situation in straightforward language, but it seems almost cold, informative but distant; the language is age-appropriate (this is aimed at the preschool set), but the tone isn't in some way I can't quite define. While I can't say that underinvesting the language in emotion is worse than overinvesting same (quite the opposite, in fact), this one seems to go a bit too far in the right direction, if that makes any sense. And, to be technical about it, the pictures (photorealistic, but with a primitive streak) creep me out. I doubt they'd have that effect on a kid, but who's going to be reading the book to the kid, eh?

I'd suggest getting this one out of the library and giving it a going-over first if you're thinking about buying it. ** ½

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a must buy for adoptive parents, May 18, 2007

By 

Jessica Velez - See all my reviews
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This review is from: This is How We Became a Family: An Adoption Story (Paperback)

If you adopted your child through domestic adoption, and the birth mother was a young unwed mother- then this is the story for you. It gives a brief overview of both sides of the story- very good for opening the field for questions from your child. The only part that I did not like was how it said how the parents "cired, cried, cried" because they could not give birth to their own child, and the birth mother "cried, cried, cried" because of her situation. This does not take away from the rest of the story however.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delicate subject dealt with beautifully!, April 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: This is How We Became a Family: An Adoption Story (Paperback)

What a wonderful book! Every attorney who handles private adoption should give this book to new parents. Any obstetrician's office where a child is making important decisions about her own life and that of a baby she is carrying would do well to make this resource available. My husband and I are giving a copy to all of our family members who have adopted. We have also checked to be sure that the local crisis pregnancy center has a copy. The book can be used on so many levels. In addition to those listed on the fly-leaf, I think it could be very useful in helping the young friends of adopted children understand one way that families can be made. Dr. Willis' artwork is also very expressive, and supports his words in such a way that enables the story to be told in an easy-to-understand manner. His characters' faces and body language do as much to show their sadness and joy as any of the written text. The painting of his daughter on her swing makes a great concluding statement that assures Dr. Willis' readers that indeed this family will live "as happily ever after as 'ever after' ever really is."