Customer Reviews

Zachary's New Home: A Story for Foster and Adopted Children

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a social worker with Child Protective Services and I use this book all the time. It helps me to explain to a child what is happening in their life as well as frame their situation in a perspective they can understand. I have used this book both at the time I am removing a child from a birth home and at the times that I place a child in an adoptive home. They often ask me to read the story again. I recommend this book for anyone with a foster child in their home or a child adopted from the Child Welfare System.

The story of the little kitten, who's daddy disappears, and Mummy is bad to him, is well written and non judgemental. The kitten is taken away from his birth mother and fostered, then adopted into a family of Swans, who love him. The book tells about the kitten's confusion and feelings of loss, and has a happy ending when the adoptive parents re-state their love for him.

This book is relevant for children who have been removed from a birth parent's home, not for children adopted after being orphaned or abandoned, and the picture of the scary Mum will probably introduce the wrong message about their birth parents.

As a foster mother and author of books for foster children, it is wonderful to see good quality books available for foster children! The writing is easy to understand and deals with some being in foster care and then being adopted. The illustrations are charming--I like how animals are used because they are appropriate for the whimsy of children, plus they do not peg the reader into thinking about whether the book's subjects are "black" or "white," etc. Children will be able to relate to this book, and they will find comfort in its story. -Cynthia Miller Lovell, author of The Star: A story to help young children understand foster care, and Questions & Activities for The Star: A handbook for foster parents

This book clearly explains the child coming into foster care and then being adopted. Great for children who were adopted though the foster care system.

We are in the process of adoptiong 2 children, ages 3 and 4, from the foster care system. We have found this book to be an excellent tool for helping our children understand their story and begin to heal from their wounds. Other books on adoption for children are based on the premise that they were adopted at birth, which has confused our kids because they have been in foster care for as long as they can remember and therefore these books are not always relevant. Zachary's new home has been exactly what they needed!

I have used this book in helping to prepare a number of school-aged children for adoption. The story line not only engages them, but they also seem to be comforted by the resolution. The story is written in such a way that they understand the message: "It's okay to be frightened, but it will all work out."

I adopted twins from the foster care system, ordered this book, and was very excited to read it to them. They were 4 years old at the time and had been living with me about a year. However, I do recommend that adoptive parents pre-read the book 1st.
There is a part in the story when the kitten gets in trouble and runs away from his adoptive parents to go look for his birth parents.

There are so few children's books for kids adopted past infancy! This is a good one for children adopted at older ages, who were removed from their birth families. I agree with another reviewer that having the illustrations in color would have been a better choice.

Another children's book that deals with these issues is Families Change: A Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights (Kids Are Important Series). It is not a fictional story, but explains different ways that families change (including having new foster or adoptive parents, etc.).

My daughter asked to hear Zachary's New Home several times. In fact, I had to buy a second copy after misplacing the first one, because she kept asking for it. I 'edited out' the part about Zachary running away from his adoptive parents. Basically this book is a very useful resource for families who have adopted from foster care.

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, and author of Adoption Awareness in School Assignments: A Guide for Parents and Educators

This is a good book for kids that remember what their parents didn't do for them. It talks about the process of a social worker coming to his birth-home, moving him into a group home and finding him a forever home. It also talks about how scared Zachary is and that he thinks no one loves him or wants him. It didn't work for our situation but is still a very good book.

This book explains foster adoption very well. My niece loves this book and has told me that the child we are adopting she is going to adopt them as well, as a sister. I guess if I can be the Mom then she doesn't have to be a cousin she is going to be the sister. Very good four year old logic. It is a great book, I love the use of animals instead of people doesn't make the process seem scary and has good messages for everyone involved in an adoption.