Basia Bonkowski has two children adopted from overseas (Colombia and Thailand). Jesse’s world covers the experiences of other families in her position and, as Basia writes, "the book is inspired by the short but wonderful life of a brave young Colombian boy called Jesse Scott who was adopted in 1992 but died six years later from a rare genetic disease of the brain."

The book gives a bird’s eye view of the "Global Family" which is how we have come to think of the links connecting the Australian families with the children they have adopted from overseas and the families and the networks back in those children's home countries.
Price: $29.95 plus $5.50 postage - To order please click here.

Adopting Older Children Kit - volume 1

This is a guide for parents adopting or planning to adopt older children. It is really useful as resource material but also helpful in the decision making process. Published by Australian Families for Children.
Cost: $11.00 + $2.20 postage and packaging. To order please click here.

Adopting Older Children Kit - volume 2

This is a guide for parents adopting or planning to adopt older children. It contains over 100 pages of advice, suggestions, personal notes and experiences relating to the adoption of older children. Published by Australian Families for Children.
Price: $22.00 + $5.50 postage and packaging. To order please click here.

Helping Adoptive Families Heal and Grow
By Gregory C. Keck, Ph. D. & Regina M. Kupecky, LSW

Many adopted kids come from difficult pasts. And when new adoptive or foster parents get stuck in the "old baggage" and negative behaviours of these hurt children, no one benefits. Together, they all sink deeper and deeper, eventually drowning in the turmoil.

"Parenting the Hurt Child: Helping Adoptive Families Heal and Grow" helps solve this problem by providing families with the instruction they need, the guidance they want, and the support they deserve.
Price: $42.00 + $5.50 postage and packaging. To order please click here.

Out of stock

Understanding the Adopted Child's Complex Baggage By Gregory C. Keck, Ph. D. & Regina M. Kupecky, LSW

In the not-so-distant past, adoption was "easy" and healthy babies were the norm. But advances in both birth control and the legalization of pregnancy termination has changed the face of adoption. Though healthy babies still exist, the average child awaiting adoption today is far from healthy. Serious trauma in the birth family and involuntary removal from the birth home are often the earmarks of a modern day adoption. And, perhaps most tragically, many adoptive parents are uninformed and ill-prepared for the trials that come when they adopt a hurt child.
"Adopting the Hurt Child" addresses the frustration and heartache that surrounds these special needs adoptions, including in-depth looks at issues such as:
Understanding the emotional and physical atrocities experienced by the hurt child
Identifying common behaviours of unattached children
Repairing interruptions in parent-child bonding cycles
Learning to handle the losses felt by the adopted child
Dealing with difficulties in the adoptive home and much more.

"Adopting the Hurt Child" is a frank and poignant portrayal of the sad and often brutal reality of adoption. But more importantly, it is a source of valuable information, hope, and inspiration for adoptive and foster parents, therapists, teachers, social worker, and all others whose lives interact with these children.
Price: $42.00 + $5.50 postage and packaging. To order please click here.