The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise by Julie Gianelloni Connor, Illustrated by Saman Chinthaka Weerasinghe

A gentle and colorful explanation of being adopted from a foreign country, The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise by Julie Gianelloni Connor, and illustrated by Saman Chinthaka Weerasinghe, is a unique and essential children’s book. Clearly laying out some of the key reasons, factors, and steps in the emotionally complex process of overseas adoption, this book delicately explores the subject, making it a great launching point for conversations between parents and children. The illustrations are vivid, though some of the facial expressions are a bit opaque, and the text is stripped down to its simplest form, for a concise and sincere look at the topic. The list of warnings at “parent school” could be more thorough, but generally, this is a charming and accessible read that will help facilitate meaningful conversations in non-traditional families.