The Mulberry Bird

Reach for this book when your child starts asking difficult questions about why their birth parents couldn't keep them or expresses feelings of being unwanted. Using the metaphor of a mother bird who loves her baby but cannot provide a safe nest, this story gently explains that adoption is an act of deep love and protection, not a lack of it. It addresses the grief of the birth mother and the stability of the adoptive family in a way that feels safe for children ages 5 to 10. You might choose this to provide a concrete framework for the complex concept of 'relinquishment' while affirming the child's worth and the permanence of their current family.