Welcome Home, Forever Child: A Celebration of Children Adopted as Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Beyond [Paperback]

Christine Mitchell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 18, 2007

Finally....a book that genuinely celebrates a young child joining their forever family past infancy. With its touching message of love and reassurance, and whimsical illustrations, Welcome Home, Forever Child is sure to be cherished by children and parents alike. While best suited to children ages two to eight, this gem will undoubtedly be enjoyed by older children as well. Most children's adoption books reflect infant adoptions, and may not be appropriate for the older child who spent their early years in foster care or an orphanage. Welcome Home, Forever Child is a much needed book that social workers and therapists will want to recommend to families who adopted their child past the age of two. The book helps parents reassure children of their permanent place in the new family, and of how much they are wanted and loved. It will also make a very special and meaningful keepsake gift for a child upon joining his or her new family, upon finalizing the adoption, or upon the anniversary of either event. READ WHAT TOP ADOPTION AND PARENTING EXPERTS ARE SAYING ABOUT WELCOME HOME, FOREVER CHILD: "I truly enjoyed reading this book. Children will love the pictures and delightful rhymes. This book helps adopted kids to celebrate life and activities in their adoptive home while providing a framework to understand their infancy in another place. This book will be useful in helping children bond to adoptive parents." - Foster Cline, M.D., co-author with Jim Fay - Parenting with Love and Logic and Parenting Teens with Love and Logic "A great way to help young children to understand what adoption and forever means in their lives. Parents and children will love to see the many firsts they will share while grieving the ones they missed. Fun illustrations and the rhyming cadence are sure to delight the preschool set." - Regina M. Kupecky, LSW - co-author with Gregory Keck - Adopting the Hurt Child and Parenting the Hurt Child "This book provides reassurance to children and parents

Editorial Reviews

Review

A great way to help young children to understand what adoption and forever means in their lives. Parents and children will love to see the many firsts they will share while grieving the ones they missed. Fun illustrations and the rhyming cadence are sure to delight the preschool set. -- Regina M. Kupecky, L.S.W., co-author with Gregory C. Keck, PH.D. - Adopting the Hurt Child and Parenting the Hurt Child

Christine Mitchell truly captures the heart's desire of an adoptive parent welcoming an older child into their home. Written with warmth and understanding, Christine captures hope for the adoptive family and most of all, hope for the new child. Welcome Home, Forever Child will be a great book to keep on the night stand of every toddler or pre-school child coming home. -- Jayne Schooler - Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child

I truly enjoyed reading Welcome Home, Forever Child. Children will love the pictures and delightful rhymes. This book helps adopted kids to celebrate life and activities in their adoptive home while providing a framework to understand their infancy in another place. This book will be useful in helping children bond to adoptive parents. -- Foster Cline, M.D., Co-author with Jim Fay - Parenting with Love and Logic

This book provides reassurance to children and parents that a lifetime of important memories can be created regardless of the age at which a child joins his or her forever family. The rhymes and delightful illustrations will appeal to children from toddler age through middle childhood. -- Mary Hopkins-Best - Toddler Adoption: The Weaver's Craft

From the Author

After adopting her younger child at the age of four from foster care, the author had difficulty finding appropriate adoption books for her daughter. She was especially looking for one that would make a special gift on Adoption Day. The vast majority of children's adoption books reflect infant adoptions, and often are not ideal for children who spent months or years in foster care or an orphanage. She was inspired to write Welcome Home, Forever Child for her daughter and for other families who adopted their children as toddlers or older.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (January 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1425963048
• ISBN-13: 978-1425963040
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #328,129 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christine Mitchell lives in California with her husband and two children; one by birth and one by adoption. She is the author of several adoption ressources for both children and parents. She has a special interest in older child and foster care adoption. Her titles, which have been endorsed by leading adoption experts and authors, include:

~ Welcome Home, Forever Child: A Celebration of Children Adopted as Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Beyond

~ Family Day: Celebrating Ethan's Anniversary

~ Adoption Awareness in School Assignments: A Guide for Parents and Educators

~ Adoption Awareness: Handling Awkward Adoption Questions and Comments

Coming soon...
~ A Foster Adoption Story: Michael and Angela's Journey

www.christine-mitchell.com
[e-mail]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for any older-child adoption, August 28, 2007

By 

H. Strawser "heidijo70" (PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Welcome Home, Forever Child: A Celebration of Children Adopted as Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Beyond (Paperback)

The book Welcome Home, Forever Child is a wonderful children's book! This one is different from the children's books I've reviewed in the past, as this one is written particularly for children who are NOT adopted as infants. There is a whole different set of issues and questions that go along with a child who is adopted at an older age. They may remember experiences shared with birth and/or foster families, and have questions about how long they will be with their "new" family.

If you've adopted a toddler, preschooler, or older child, then this book is a MUST for your family! Author Christine Mitchell shares a story of love and the meaning of adoption in rhyming words that children will love to hear and easily understand. It will help create a bond with adoptive parents, and explain to the child what "forever" means.

The illustrations are so sweet. The author has used cats as the characters in the story. I love this because it makes the book appropriate for any type of adoptive situation- transracial, etc. The book starts out by talking about all the important milestones that may have been missed by the adoptive parents, but goes on to primarily focus on all the "firsts" that are to come, with a promise of being there to share in them. I am sure this book will be one that you will read over and over again with your child(ren).

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars C.Botello, Adoptive Support Services, Family Stress Center, March 5, 2007

By 

C. Botello "CAthy" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Welcome Home, Forever Child: A Celebration of Children Adopted as Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Beyond (Paperback)

Review sent in :Christine's book has captured into words and pictures the often hard to mention past of an older adopted child in a very warm and accepting manner. Acknowledging an adoptive child's beginnings is very important for the basis of self-esteem in the present and basic trust in the future. I love the simple yet straight forward manner Christine handles the loss of not being in their child's life from the beginning. As a professional in adoption support groups, I highly recommend this book. It will inspire both child and parent to work towards a healthy, honest and loving relationship. Cathy Botello, Adoptive Family Support Services, FSC

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful lessons about family acceptance and love, February 16, 2007

By 

Robyn C. (Clayton, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Welcome Home, Forever Child: A Celebration of Children Adopted as Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Beyond (Paperback)

I purchased this book for two friends who just went through international adoptions. The wonderful story of family love and moments to come brought tears to my eyes. The beautiful illustrations create a sense of warmth and love. The story reminds us all that raising children is a lifetime of shared experiences and moments.