Understanding Adoption – Child Development

Toddler Adoption: The Weaver's Craft
by Mary Hopkins-Best
This book discusses the needs and concerns a toddler may have at the time of adoption, and provides practical advice from the adoptive parent.

Parenting the Hurt Child : Helping Adoptive Families Heal and Grow
by Gregory C. Keck and Regina M. Kupecky
Gregory C. Keck and Regina M. Kupecky explain how to manage a hurting child with loving wisdom, resolve, and success, and how to preserve your stability while untangling a thorny heart.

Adopting a Toddler : What Size Shoe Does She Wear
by Denise Harris Hoppenhauer
A practical guidebook for preparing to bring a toddler into your home that provides answers to many questions, including questions about changing a name, choosing a crib or a bed, what size clothing to buy, child safety and more.

 

Personal Stories of Adopting From Russia

The Russian Word for Snow: A True Story of Adoption
by Janis Cooke Newman
A memoir detailing the journey to parenthood that began with the crooked little smile of a Russian baby boy on a video .

Two Little Girls: A Memoir of Adoption
by Theresa Reid
Theresa Reid chronicles the long, often excruciating, and ultimately joyous journey that led her to adopt two little girls from Russia and Ukraine.

Adopting Natasha: My First Year as a Mother
by Carol Lee
Carol Lee shares her experience with international adoption procedures, the Russian legal system, and the considerable at-home preparation involved in adopting. She describes what it is like to become a mother to a four-year-old, non-English speaking child, after 40-plus years of being single and childless.

 

Children's Books About Adoption

Borya and the Burps: An Eastern European Adoption Story
by Joan McNamara
When baby Borya is adopted by his new Mama and Papa, he leaves his familiar Eastern European orphanage, taking nothing familiar with him except his talent for burping. Written from a child's point of view.

When I Met You: A Story of Russian Adoption
by Adrienne Ehlert Bashista (Author), Christine Sykes (Illustrator)
"When I Met You" is a story that acknowledges a little girl's past in the Russian orphanage as well as her new home. The last sentence states it well, "You will always be Russia's child. But now, you are also mine." Also included a brief glossary with words in Russian and English followed by the Russian pronunciation.

 

Understanding the Process of Adopting in Russia

The Russian Adoption Handbook (2004)
by John H. Maclean
This book covers how the international adoption process works, how to start the process, what you need to know before traveling to Russia, the children's homes, the courts and the questions asked, medical issues and more .

 

Web Resources & Reading Suggestions

General Websites about adopting from Russia:
www.russianadoption.org - Adoptions from Russia website, offers many links
www.karensadoptionlinks.com - Compilation of Russian sites on numerous topics

International Pediatricians & Clinics – websites with great information on medical topics relevant to international adoption:
www.med.umn.edu/peds/iac/ - University of Minnesota International Adoption Clinic
www.orphandoctor.com - Dr. Jane Aronson website, International Adoption Pediatrician

FASD Website Links:
www.russianadoption.org/fas.htm - Russian Adoption Medical Services information sheet
www.nofas.org - National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Speech-Language Development:
pages.towson.edu/sglennen/index.htm - Sharon Glennen, PhD, CCC-SLP

More interesting International and/or Russia websites:
frua.org - Support group for families with children from Russia & Ukraine
www.cheerchicago.org - Support group for children and families from Eastern Europe (Chicago based)
www.adoptivefamiliestoday.org - Adoptive Families Today support group (Illinois based)
travel.state.gov/family/ - US Dept of State Bureau of Consular Affairs
www.usembassy.ru - US Embassy in Moscow
www.russianembassy.org - Russian Embassy in US
www.jcics.org - Joint Council on International Children's Services
www.geographia.com/russia/index.html - General information about travel in Russia
russian-crafts.com/russian-traditions.html - Russian traditions, holidays and crafts
www.xe.com/ucc/ - Money conversion
www.langintro.com/rintro/ - An internet based introduction to Russian Language
www.map.rin.ru/index_e.html - Maps of Russia

Russian List Serv's:
www.eeadopt.org - offers a mailing list support group titled A-PARENT-RUSS for persons adopting from Russia or the former Soviet Union
www.frua.org/chat_main.html - mailing list support group for Russian adoption
groups.yahoo.com - Yahoo groups offer many lists for Russia, including specific regions and parenting topics.