( 8 reviews )
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Posted: Mar 3 2009
I am very disappointed with this book. The author seems to have written the book as a way to vent her frustration with challenges she faced in the adoption process (losing a referral, problems with the hotel, delay in her daughter's speech therapy, etc.). Some of the difficulties the author mentions more than once, making the book somewhat redundant. At least half of the information has nothing to do with adopting a toddler; it may apply to parenting a toddler or adopting internationally, but NOT to "the unique needs of adopted toddlers," as the back of the book claims. I had been hoping to learn more about adopting a toddler from this book, since I am still in the decision-making process of the adoption -- but this book did not meet my expectations. Furthermore, I have only read half of the book and I've already found 4 very obvious typos/grammatical errors. This is just plain sloppy! Call me nitpicky, but I believe any book with more than three errors in it deserves a poor rating (and the author should fire their editor). The book does have some good shopping lists in it though, and I probably will use it when I create a gift registry for my "baby" shower. However, a comprehensive checklist of needed supplies certainly isn't worth the price of the book. Don't waste your money.
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Posted: Sep 18 2008
This book was very reassuring during the preparation for our international adoption. The author shares her own experiences, provides many helpful tips and resources, and writes in a very friendly and encouraging way. I liked that this book helped to make this feel like a manageable journey, and was realistic without being too scary, unlike many other books about this topic. I would definitely recommend this book.
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Posted: Jun 6 2008
As a soon-to-be adoptive mother of a 20 month old girl I have not yet met, I have been asking myself so many questions - do I change her name? how much of the nursery do I prepare? will she be in a crib or toddler bed? what size is she? I was absolutely amazed to see a book that asked (and offered realistic advice) to just those same questions. This book is written by adoptive parents that found themselves adopting a child much older than they were expecting, a situation very common in international adoption, with delays, red tape, and miscommunication. The book provides easy to read, NON-PREACHING suggestion and advise for any parent adopting a slightly older child (the "tweens", between infancy and preschool age). Even those adopting a 4-5 year old child could still find useful information. Among all the books about raising adoptive children, this is the one that "spoke" to me the best, on my terms, about things -I- was concerned about. I have already recommended the book to others in my pre-adoptive circle, and will continue to do so. Definitely worth your time.
