When You Joined Our Family

This touching picture book details everything an adopted child may go through during their adoption story. From feelings of apprehension to meeting their new extended family and making new traditions together, the colourful illustrations and clear language are a great way to explain different kinds of families to all children. The book displays children of varied ages and at various stages of their adoption journey and takes special care to show parents of different ages as well.

The repeated line “When you joined our family” creates a calming rhythm that carries the book forward and gently introduces the more difficult subjects such as the questions or fears the child might have. The detailed and inclusive illustrations and soothing language assures readers that families come in many forms and are all equally full of love. It is refreshing to see so many different kinds of families represented and the book is full of little details that celebrate this inclusive approach.