I received this book from my adopted parents when I was in Grade School and really enjoyed the illustrations and the way it explained adoption. I lost by first version - so I just ordered it again and still absolutley love it almost 15 years later! I like how it mentions the different types of adoption. They go through single parent adoption and also traditional adoption. I highly recommend this book for children and parents.

Many children's adoption books have a particular slant i.e. single parent adoption, or international, or domestic, newborn, older child... This book covers all aspects. It's detailed, informative, and humorous. The question and answer format appeals to both parents and children. It's a book you should have on your child's bookshelf and re-read as your child grows and develops new awarness about their sometimes complicated lives.

Susan M. Ward, mama to Hannah, adopted at age 6

Carole Livingston WHY WAS I ADOPTED?; Carol Publishing Co.; N.J.; 1996. This unique book's introduction starts the readers with whom we are not ( neither a gorilla nor a puppy. . .). This helps us explain who we are (humans) and what we are (unique people). As the adopted character in the book asks the reader(s) questions about their role in human relationships, the reader begins to have an idea that being a unique human is great and being a unique human who is adopted is very special. "An 'adoptive parent" is a special kind of person." This book can do a great job at making an adopted child feel very special with great reasons of why children are adopted and how they are adopted. As well, it shares to the reader (the adopted child) that though he or she is special, he or she does not receive special treatments. The adopted child has to go to bed at a certain time, has to eat his or her carrots, and neither Mom nor Dad will not ignore ignore negetive behavior. This book is great for introducing an adopted child into a family, to a child who might feel embarrassed or ashamed about using the "adopted" when describing the self, to an elementary classroom with children who aren't too familiar with adoption or for whatever great reason YOU may have.