Posts
I would like the thank Angela, at Adoption.Suite101 for such a beautiful review. Camela shared her heartfelt memories of living with her brother. We are so grateful that so many people are enjoying her story :-)
Review: Book About Biological Siblings by Pamela & Camela Rollins Jul 5, 2010 Angela Krueger
Kid’s Adoption Book About Birth Siblings - Illustration by Kim Sponaugle/Halo Publishing Children's adoption book Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House from My Brother gives insight into relationships between birth siblings.
With her youngest adopted daughter Camela, Pamela Rollins creates a gentle story that addresses the relationship between birth siblings, a topic in children’s adoption books that is often overlooked. In Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House from My Brother (Halo Publishing International, 2010) the authors share insights into changes that occur and emotions experienced when siblings are separated through adoption.
A Story of Biological Siblings Living Apart
Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House from My Brother is written in the voice of a five-year-old girl who no longer lives with her brother. She and their baby sister have been adopted by their foster family, while their six-year-old brother has moved to the home of his biological father.
The basis of the story is the telling of good memories of what the older brother did with the younger sister before they were living apart. From teaching her to tie shoes to sharing popsicles, the narrator remembers the little things her brother did for her.
Aside from using kid-friendly language to describe the loving relationship between siblings, the authors also address some difficult issues as well. In the narration, “Being sad about my real mommy and hearing my brother say, ‘Sis, I’m sad, too. But we’re gonna be ok!” readers can identify with the complex feelings they may have about their own birth family.
Children’s Book on Open Adoption Relationships
Despite how difficult adoption can be for children, this book creates a realistic but also positive perspective on how relationships can still happen between birth siblings living apart. As a first person narrative the book is very effective in helping 4-7 year olds relate to the story-teller.
The girl narrating the story understands that the nature of the relationship has changed, but that everyone is working together to ensure that she and her younger sister can grow up knowing their brother through open adoption. Near the end of the tale, the narrator tells readers, “Life is different for us now. We just need to build on the new things.” which gives families a natural conversation starter for how the sibling relationship has changed.
Story Helps Adoption Talks
As with many adoption books on the market, the biggest benefit of this children’s book is that it will help open up conversations about adoption in general. There is a Foster Care/ Adoption Guide for Families at the end of the book that highlights the following in navigating on-going relationships between siblings:
Arrange for regular visits
•Arrange for other forms of contact
•Involve families in planning
•Encourage sustained contact
Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House from My Brother is a useful resource not only for foster and adoptive families, but also emphasizes to child welfare professionals the importance of contact with birth siblings. Although the focus of the story is on siblings who have been separated through the public system, this book could also be on the bookshelves of any adopted child who has siblings living elsewhere.
Children’s Adoption Book Inspired by Adoptee
The young narrator of the story is Camela Rollins and with the help of her adoptive mom, she wonderfully describes the relationship she has with her brother. The soft watercolour illustrations of Kim Sponaugle portray Camela and her siblings which are the perfect compliment to this thoughtful story about open sibling relationships.
With her husband, Pamela Rollins has eight children, four of whom were adopted. Rollins has also self-published Straight and Narrow (presently out of print), a teen novel on morals and beliefs.
The proceeds of the sale of Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House from My Brother will help fund MissingPieces Books which aims to help reunite siblings who have been separated through foster care and adoption.
Filling a void in children’s books on adoption, this heart-warming and endearing tale brings to light the complexity and necessity of keeping contact between birth siblings separated by adoption.
Source:
Rollins, Pamela and Camela. Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House from My Brother. Halo Publishing International, 2010 (ISBN: 978-1-935268-51-2).
© 2010 Angela Krueger
Review: Book About Biological Siblings by Pamela & Camela Rollins Jul 5, 2010 Angela Krueger
Kid’s Adoption Book About Birth Siblings - Illustration by Kim Sponaugle/Halo Publishing Children's adoption book Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House from My Brother gives insight into relationships between birth siblings.
With her youngest adopted daughter Camela, Pamela Rollins creates a gentle story that addresses the relationship between birth siblings, a topic in children’s adoption books that is often overlooked. In Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House from My Brother (Halo Publishing International, 2010) the authors share insights into changes that occur and emotions experienced when siblings are separated through adoption.
A Story of Biological Siblings Living Apart
Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House from My Brother is written in the voice of a five-year-old girl who no longer lives with her brother. She and their baby sister have been adopted by their foster family, while their six-year-old brother has moved to the home of his biological father.
The basis of the story is the telling of good memories of what the older brother did with the younger sister before they were living apart. From teaching her to tie shoes to sharing popsicles, the narrator remembers the little things her brother did for her.
Aside from using kid-friendly language to describe the loving relationship between siblings, the authors also address some difficult issues as well. In the narration, “Being sad about my real mommy and hearing my brother say, ‘Sis, I’m sad, too. But we’re gonna be ok!” readers can identify with the complex feelings they may have about their own birth family.
Children’s Book on Open Adoption Relationships
Despite how difficult adoption can be for children, this book creates a realistic but also positive perspective on how relationships can still happen between birth siblings living apart. As a first person narrative the book is very effective in helping 4-7 year olds relate to the story-teller.
The girl narrating the story understands that the nature of the relationship has changed, but that everyone is working together to ensure that she and her younger sister can grow up knowing their brother through open adoption. Near the end of the tale, the narrator tells readers, “Life is different for us now. We just need to build on the new things.” which gives families a natural conversation starter for how the sibling relationship has changed.
Story Helps Adoption Talks
As with many adoption books on the market, the biggest benefit of this children’s book is that it will help open up conversations about adoption in general. There is a Foster Care/ Adoption Guide for Families at the end of the book that highlights the following in navigating on-going relationships between siblings:
Arrange for regular visits
•Arrange for other forms of contact
•Involve families in planning
•Encourage sustained contact
Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House from My Brother is a useful resource not only for foster and adoptive families, but also emphasizes to child welfare professionals the importance of contact with birth siblings. Although the focus of the story is on siblings who have been separated through the public system, this book could also be on the bookshelves of any adopted child who has siblings living elsewhere.
Children’s Adoption Book Inspired by Adoptee
The young narrator of the story is Camela Rollins and with the help of her adoptive mom, she wonderfully describes the relationship she has with her brother. The soft watercolour illustrations of Kim Sponaugle portray Camela and her siblings which are the perfect compliment to this thoughtful story about open sibling relationships.
With her husband, Pamela Rollins has eight children, four of whom were adopted. Rollins has also self-published Straight and Narrow (presently out of print), a teen novel on morals and beliefs.
The proceeds of the sale of Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House from My Brother will help fund MissingPieces Books which aims to help reunite siblings who have been separated through foster care and adoption.
Filling a void in children’s books on adoption, this heart-warming and endearing tale brings to light the complexity and necessity of keeping contact between birth siblings separated by adoption.
Source:
Rollins, Pamela and Camela. Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House from My Brother. Halo Publishing International, 2010 (ISBN: 978-1-935268-51-2).
© 2010 Angela Krueger
No comments:
Post a Comment