Best Children’s Books About Adoption (2026): 5 Picks

When a family wants to talk with a child about adoption, the best children’s books about adoption give them gentle words and pictures. We compared five picture books by listed reading age, grade level, page count and description.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	We Chose You by Dungy	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Surrounded by Olson	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	A Is for Always by Cutting	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Happy Adoption Day! by McCutcheon	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Yes, I'm Adopted! by Zinniger	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

We Chose You by Dungy

Tony Dungy·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An adopted boy tells his class about his family and learns his parents chose him.

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Pros

• Reading age 6 - 9 and grade Kindergarten - 4 agree
• 32 pages from Harvest Kids, published April 2, 2019
• For adopted and non-adopted children alike

Cons

• Faith-based framing may not suit all
• 2019 edition, older than the 2022 picks
• No series stated

2

Surrounded by Olson

Allison Olson·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Written by an adoptee, this picture book celebrates open adoption and the love around the adoptee.

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Pros

• By an adoptee who is also an adoptive parent
• Book 1 of 3 in the Surrounded by Love series
• 36 pages, the longest of the five picks

Cons

• Reading age 3 - 8 marked as from customers only
• No grade level stated
• Open-adoption focus will not fit all

3

A Is for Always by Cutting

Linda Cutting·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An alphabet book walking through adoption from A to Z with rhymes and animal families.

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Pros

• Covers birth parents and questions gently
• Diverse adoptive families shown
• 32 pages from Familius, published August 2, 2022

Cons

• Reading age 1 - 6 marked as from customers only
• Alphabet format, less story than narratives
• Animal characters, not human ones

4

Happy Adoption Day! by McCutcheon

John McCutcheon·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A song adaptation with musical notation celebrating the day a child joins an adoptive family.

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Pros

• Musical notation included for singing along
• Full-color illustrations stated
• From Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Cons

• 2001 edition, the oldest here
• Reading age 2 - 7 marked as from customers only
• No series stated

5

Yes, I'm Adopted! by Zinniger

Sharlie Zinniger·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A rhyming picture book from a child's point of view, following an adoption journey start to finish.

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Pros

• Rhyming verse from a child's point of view
• Brightly colored illustrations stated
• 24 pages, published July 30, 2014

Cons

• No reading age or grade level stated
• Fewest pages here at 24 pages
• No publisher stated

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More picks to compare

• A Blessing from AboveLittle Golden Book about adoption for ages 2 – 4.Check on Amazon
• The Adopted DragonDragon story about adoption for reading age 4 – 10.Check on Amazon
• You Made Us a FamilyGentle rhyming adoption story for ages 2 – 7.Check on Amazon
• All the BabiesBoard book about adoption for ages 1 – 4.Check on Amazon
• I'll Hold You ForeverAdoption story with a discussion guide for grown-ups.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 23 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level. Four of five listings give a reading age, three marked as from customers; three give a grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best children’s books about adoption

Match the reading age to the child

Reading ages here run from 1 – 6 years to 6 – 9 years. When marked as from customers, treat the age as buyer input, not a publisher recommendation.

Decide between story and concept books

We Chose You and Surrounded follow one child’s story; A Is for Always teaches through the alphabet. See our picture books.

Check the format before you buy

Happy Adoption Day! includes musical notation for reading aloud. See our books about empathy.

Before you buy

• Check the publication date: Happy Adoption Day! is a 2001 edition.
• For series, start at Book 1: Surrounded is Book 1 of 3.
• Match the listed reading age to the child; note if marked as from customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age are adoption picture books for?

Reading ages run 1 – 6 years to 6 – 9 years; match the listed age to the child.

Which book should I start with?

We Chose You lists 6 – 9 and grade Kindergarten – 4; A Is for Always lists 1 – 6 years for toddlers.

Do any of these books mention birth parents?

Yes. A Is for Always covers birth parents in rhyme, and Surrounded portrays birth and adoptive parents positively.

Still deciding? Our top pickWe Chose You by Dungy

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Related lists

See every picture books list and all kids and teens lists.

More lists: books about kindness, books about love, books about diversity.