“My Growing World” , a life book from Adoption World Specialties, features a character named Piper the Pig. Piper speaks to foster and foster-to-adopted children everywhere. This memory book is written for children ages 6 – 10 years of age.

“Hi there! My name is Piper. Your adventures in your growing world are so important that you are going to write them down in this life book. This is your story! You might have a caseworker, foster parents, or adoptive parents who can help you along as you write your story. They will also do their best to help you record information that you may not know.

As you work on your story, you might notice that you have a lot of different feelings. If the information is new to you, you might be excited to find out more about your life! However, there may be things that you think about and record that could make you sad or angry. Don’t worry! We’ll all help you on your journey. All of your feelings are important, and none of them are wrong to feel.

Enjoy the adventure of writing your story!!! If you need to skip a page, go for it! Try to take the time to come back to it later when you feel ready to work on it. It’s more important to think and feel through these pages than to complete each one quickly and in order. You’ll find that some of the pages are just for your enjoyment, and you might find some activities that you can do with other people too! Have fun creating your life book. Happy writing and drawing!”

Kathleen Carroll

Author of “My Growing World”

What is adoption? Adoption World Specialties handles this difficult question for kids in the new foster and adoption memory book, “My Growing World”. This lifebook is full of whimsical characters that help children engage and enjoy working through their life’s journey. Many children’s lives have been so difficult that “My Growing World” is a necessary means of therapy.

Piper the pig, Elley the elephant, BeeBear, Linus the giraffe, Hairy, and Fuzzyhead are characters in this memory book for foster children and kids that are adopted after foster experiences. Piper and all of the characters have had foster and adoption stories. This book has a special page about “moving day” which is most usually a traumatic and confusing day for children. Other special pages for child expression are “birth family tree” and “adoptive family tree”, “memories of foster homes”, “memories of adoption day” and many more sensitive subjects that are expounded upon for child therapy. The foster or adoptive parents and/or social workers are also easily engrossed in this beautiful book of artwork and therapeutic messaging. Each child’s story is different. Each adult that touches their life has a unique perspective. “My Growing World” caters to that important fact and allows for personal expression.

In addition to bibliotherapy, there are wonderful arts and crafts for the child. Dot-to-dots, musical motions (the child is asked to find a song they love and something to draw with and draw how the music makes them feel), coloring pages, mazes, word finds, and even a special list of child-friendly recipes. This concept for kids is to spend time in the kitchen getting to know their foster or adoptive parents better.

“My Growing World” is just one of Adoption World Specialties’ publications. We have resources for teenagers, social workers, case workers, agencies and more! Visit our main website at AdoptionWorld.net, and discover our world.

The month of November generates awareness for our special foster and adopted children across the United States. On November 14 at 1:30 p.m., Linn County in Iowa will be hosting an event at the Courthouse to bring foster and adoption advocates together. Please join Adoption World Specialties at this special “Adoption Friday”!

Kathy Mobley, Chuck Carpenter and Jim Ketchum will represent Adoption World Specialties. Our company aims to help foster and adoption situations by providing children with a lifebook and therapeutic, enjoyable guides to life. These life books and resources help children, parents, agencies and social workers document the child’s past and help engage, excite and educate the child about their adoption experience. Please visit our website for further information about our authors, our publications and meet our staff. We look forward to joining you on November 14^th function, in an effort to help facilitate a healthy transition for foster and adopted children.

www.adoptionworld.net

*If you are interested in adding a link to our page or if we could add ours to your page, please let me know! We can help more children if we reach out!

Ann Boland

aboland@cornerstonepress.net

The characters created by illustrator Lucy Cook-Taylor for “My Growing World” are very special.  This is the first time a foster life book has used such compelling artwork.  To get kids to pay attention to a lifebook, you need a visually interesting book.  Lucy’s art draws kids in and they relate to the characters.

It’s important to have whimsical, non-gender characters.  Piper (a pig) and Linus (a giraffe) lead kids through the book and Hairy and Fuzzyhead help illustrate points.  BeeBear and Lambabelle add interest and a friendly, comforting tone.  Historically, adoption life books have been boring and lacked color or visual interest.  But “My Growing World” breaks the barrier into creating something that is not only useful but fun to use.  Interesting graphics surround a great cast of characters.

This is a book social workers will enjoy using.

Jim Ketchum
Cornerstone Press

The Real Me – Adoption Life Book

The Real Me is an empowering, contemporary life book for teenagers. It helps teens explore and document the many sides of their personality. This is an exceptional book that quickly distinguishes itself as a must have for young adults in foster care or adoption.

Each chapter allows the teenager to express their feelings and gives powerful inspiration along the way:

“Who Am I Today?” I am more than what others think of me… more than my fears and anxieties… more than my appearance. I am more than my actions or any labels that the world may place upon me!

“Where I Came From” I need to revisit my childhood in order to understand how I got where I am today. I may feel sad or angry or hurt. I can’t change the past, but I can make peace with it! Then I’ll be ready to move on, taking the best of my memories with me.

“What My Future Holds” The future is a promise that I make to myself. I will not be limited by the past or the choices of others. I will follow my dreams and meet every challenge. I will reach out to others when I need assistance and offer a helping hand in return. I will be the best that I can be… I promise!

There are very few adoption lifebooks out there that focus on the teenager perspective. The Real Me is a very special life book and caters to fostered youth as well as a teen that has finally come into an adoptive situation. For the parental perspective, an older child brings unique challenges. For both the teenager and the parent, this life book encourages growth together through documentation of feelings and happenings that have lead you to be together.

Please visit our informational articles about the adoption process as it applies to foster parenting, adopting and the special children in our care.