Adoption and fostering: advice, topics and issues Books

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Book SynopsisDamian longs for home, but one man stands in his way Damian is just seven when he is taken in by foster carer Cathy Glass. His mother, Rachel, loves her three young children dearly, but she is vulnerable, naive and unable to cope on her own.Cathy sets about helping Damian overcome his eating issues, with the hope that he will eventually return home. But when Rachel's new boyfriend, Troy, arrives on the scene, Cathy becomes deeply concerned. She soon realises that Damian and his siblings are in great danger

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Book SynopsisFrom Torey Hayden, the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of One Child comes The Invisible Girl, a deeply moving true account of a young teen with a troubling obsession and an extraordinary educational psychologist's sympathy and determination to help.Eloise is a vibrant and charming young teen with a deeply caring nature, but she also struggles with a worrying delusion. She’s been moved from home to home, and her social workers have difficulty dealing with her habit of running away. After experiencing violence, neglect and sexual abuse from people she should have been able to trust, Eloise has developed complex behavioural needs. She struggles to separate fact from fiction, leading to confusion for the social workers trying to help her.After Torey learns of Eloise's background she hopes that some gentle care and attention can help Eloise gain some sense of security in her life. Can Torey and the other social workers provide the loving attention that has so far been missing in Eloise's life, or will she run away from them too?Trade ReviewHayden is a fine storyteller, recounting the touching bonds that form among children and between Hayden and her students. * Washington Post *Torey Hayden deserves the kind of respect I can’t give many people. She isn’t valuable, she’s incredible. The world needs more like Torey Hayden. -- Boston Globe

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Book SynopsisJackson is aggressive, confrontational and often volatile. His mother, Kayla, is crippled with grief after tragically losing her husband and eldest son. Struggling to cope, she puts Jackson into foster care.Cathy, his carer, encourages Jackson to talk about what has happened to his family, but he just won't engage. His actions continue to test and worry everyone.Then, in a dramatic turn of events, the true reason for Jackson's behaviour comes to light

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Book SynopsisAfter taking a few weeks off work, Casey is presented with a new foster child: 14-year-old Elise, whose Mum left her at just five years old.At first, she's no trouble at all, that is until she falsely accuses another carer, Jan, of acting inappropriately towards her. It turns out this isn't the first lie Elise has told her previous carer was constantly following up allegations Elise had made of people bullying her, trying to have sex with her, or hurting her physically. With some reservations, Casey agrees to take Elise on long-term, but when she makes some dark claims about her mum, Casey doesn't know whether to believe her. In any case, she is determined to find out the truth

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Book SynopsisA fresh and practical guide to successfully managing children's behaviour from babies to young adults.Cathy Glass has been a foster carer for 30 years, during this time fostering more than 150 children, as well as bringing up three of own. Many of these children have had severe behavioural difficulties and have come to Cathy as a last resort, when their parents or carers were no longer able to cope.Drawing on a combination of years of training and extensive personal experience, in this comprehensive guide, Cathy passes on her tried and tested methods for guiding, nurturing and disciplining children.Approaching child development chronologically, this book guides you through Cathy''s incredibly simple and effective 3Rs technique: Request, Repeat and Reassure.Within this framework, Cathy addresses a host of childcare issues, including, amongst others, why children misbehave and what parents can do to the change this, how diet can affect children''s behaviour, what parents can do to avoid

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Book SynopsisA BOY WITHOUT HOPE is the heart-breaking story of a boy who didn't know the meaning of love. A history of abuse and neglect has left Miller destined for life's scrap heap. But in this turbulent story of conflict and struggle, Casey Watson is determined to help Miller overcome his demons, show him love and give him hope.Casey Watson is back, doing the job she does best rolling up her sleeves and fostering the children who, on first meeting, seem like hopeless cases. But when she meets Miller and discovers the truth about his disturbing childhood, even Casey begins to doubt if this child will ever be able to accept love.Found naked and alone on a railway track, Miller was just five when he was first admitted into the care system. Emotionally tormented by his biological parents, Miller has never understood how to establish meaningful relationships, and his destructive past, and over 20 failed placements, is sealing his fate in society's social scrap heap.After a torrent of violent behavi

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Book SynopsisA family with a dark secret.A child who refuses to speak.Rosie must help her before it's too late.Nine-year-old Caitlin has a secret, but she cannot tell anyone about it. When her mother is sectioned under the Mental Health Act she and her three siblings have to go and live with her grandmother Julie and grandad Ryan.Caitlin finds her new living conditions challenging: cat poo on the carpet, rubbish everywhere and the constant stare of her grandad she retreats more and more into herself.When foster carer Rosie Lewis meets Caitlin she knows something is deeply wrong with this little girl, who is withdrawn, afraid and refuses to speak. Rosie decides to take her in, but Caitlin's silence continues, and Rosie knows she must act.Why is Caitlin so afraid to speak?Could it be that the family has a dark secret?One that is so shocking it can no longer be hidden?Trade Review‘In Silenced Rosie Lewis has drafted a map of the human spirit. Rosie, a talented and empathic foster carer, acts as our guide, taking us from the depths of despair to the peaks of happiness as she tells the story of a remarkable little girl named Caitlin: how Rosie found her in awful circumstances and led her out of the darkness. Told with an innate understanding of child psychology and written with consummate skill, Silenced is a unique testament to the strength and resilience of children, and a reminder that love can save lives.’ – Shane Dunphy, childcare expert and bestselling author of Wednesday's Child.

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Book SynopsisThis is a true story about two non-identical twin brothers who were adopted soon as they were born due to unfortunate circumstances. They were taken up by two different families who happened to be in the vicinity of about ten miles from each other - none of the two families knew each other. Everything was running smoothly until circumstances led one of the boys to search for his biological parents and his other brother. How successful was he? Was it like looking for a pin in a haystack in the wide world? It was many years, according to the foster parents, since he had been adopted - there had been a lot of tear jerking moments.

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Book Synopsis'Touching, tender . . . filled with wonderful humour' Sarah Haywood'A very special book' Katie FfordeThe Sunday Times bestselling novel, perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and The Rosie Project.My name is Hope Nicely. Why am I writing this book? That's easy. This book is going to change my life.My boss, Karen, says a friend is a stranger you haven't met yet. I think that's right. Veronica Ptitsky and Danny Flynn are strangers, except I have met them now because they're in my writing class. Karen says friends always have your back. They don't mean your real back, of course. It's called an analogy. But I don't want any friends, actually (only dog ones). I have my mum, Jenny Nicely, who says adopting me was the best thing she ever did, even if my thoughts bounce a bit differently to other people's thoughts. She is proud of me for writing my book which will be a Big Achievement. I tell her that writing my story is going to change my life.Except when my life does change it isn't because of my writing but because something happens to my mum, Jenny Nicely, and she isn't here anymore. And, flip a pancake, this is not what I wanted. I'm not very good at being on my own and I wish she were here to tell me everything will be right as rain again soon. Maybe I do need some human friends after all . . . 'A gorgeous, funny, heartwarming read. Leaves you smiling' Ericka Walker, author of Dog DaysTrade ReviewHope Nicely's Lessons for Life is a sunburst of a story, full of love, kindness and one of the sweetest, most engaging central characters you're likely to meet. I was drawn in from the very first page by Caroline Day's sensitive portrayal of Hope Nicely's inner voice; as I followed Hope on her mission to make sense of the present, to uncover the past and to write her book, I found myself sharing in her triumphs and frustrations, her laughter and tears. It's a touching, tender story, but Hope Nicely's wonderful humour and delicious honesty mean that it's never sentimental. An absolute joy * Sarah Haywood bestselling author of The Cactus *I can't even find words to say how much I adore Hope Nicely's Lessons for Life! A heart-bursting book, full of tears, laughter and hope. Gorgeously written with an incredible protagonist and I cannot recommend it enough, it's FABULOUS * Jessica Ryn, author of The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside *How I wish Hope had been in my writing class. A gorgeous, funny, heartwarming read. Leaves you smiling * Ericka Waller, author of Dog Days *A very special book. Hope is extremely endearing and her rules for life relevant for us all. Really enjoyable * Katie Fforde *Hope is a bit different - she has Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and is on a mission to discover her birth Mum, who she hopes will answer the difficult questions of why she was abandoned as a baby. Her unique experience of the world will warm your heart with Hope's character and dialogue so well crafted by Day. A novel that reads as if Hope is sat with you. A book of acceptance, kindness and ultimately hope * My Weekly *I loved it! A sharply drawn character with beautiful soft edges who has lessons in her for all of us * Anstey Harris *A gorgeous, funny, heartwarming read. Leaves you smiling * Ericka Waller *This touching, uplifting debut novel oozes heart, and you'll fall in love with Hope, sharing in both her success and her sadness. * Daily Mirror *If you loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, this book is for you. * Sunday Mirror *Uplifting and touching, if you loved Eleanor Oliphant, this is for you. * Fabulous, The Sun on Sunday *This touching, big-hearted debut is funny, sensitive and has lessons for us all about optimism and perseverance * The Mail on Sunday *A gorgeous tale about love, acceptance, and living your best life no matter what * The Sun, PICK OF THE WEEK *A book full of hope, friendship and acceptance * Woman's Weekly *Captivated from the very first page! Perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Hope's story will stay with you long after the final page * NFOP magazine *

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Book SynopsisLotte Jeffs is an award-winning magazine writer, editor, author and podcaster. They are a contributing editor for Grazia and have hosted the award-winning podcast Some Families as well as Grazia Life Advice. Lotte writes for broadsheet newspapers, and international magazines and was previously Deputy Editor of ELLE. Lotte's has published a children's book, My Magic Family. Lotte lives in London with her wife, daughter and two kittens. They are one of the authors of The Queer Parent.Stu Oakley is a film publicist and award-winning podcaster. Stu has written a number of opinion pieces for The Guardian, Grazia, ELLE and Attitude. In his day job as a film publicist, Stu has worked on some of the biggest film franchises of all time including Star Wars, Harry Potter, Frozen and Jurassic World. He thought he was well-versed in dealing with divas . . . until he had toddlers! Stu lives in Hertfordshire with his husband and their three children. He is one of the authors of The Queer Parent.

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Book SynopsisLittle Jamey, 2 years old, is placed with experienced foster carer, Cathy Glass, as an emergency.The police and social services have no choice but to remove two-year-old Jamey from home after his mother leaves him alone all night to go out partying.When he first arrives with foster carer Cathy Glass, he is scared, hungry and withdrawn, craving the affection he has been denied for so long. He is small for his age and unsteady on his feet a result of being left for long periods in his cot.Cathy and her family find Jamey very easy to love, but as he settles in and makes progress, a new threat emerges. Coronavirus and lockdown change everything.

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Book SynopsisThe true story of a 6-year-old boy with a dreadful secret.Oskar's school teacher raises the alarm. Oskar's mother is abroad and he has been left in the care of friends', but has been arriving in school hungry, unkempt, and with bruises on his arms, legs and body. Experienced foster carer Cathy Glass is asked to look after him, but as the weeks pass her concerns deepen. Oskar is far too quiet for a child of six and is clearly scared of something or someone.And who are those men parked outside his school watching him?

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Book SynopsisTilly hates her stepfather, Dave. He abuses her mother, but she refuses to leave him.Frightened for her own safety, Tilly asks to go into foster care and is placed with Cathy. Tilly arrives with a graze on her cheek and Cathy becomes increasingly concerned by Dave's behaviour, especially when she learns he has been showering Tilly with gifts. While she's busy looking after Tilly and trying to keep her safe, Cathy is also worried about her own daughter, Lucy. She has a very difficult decision to make that will affect the rest of her life, and Cathy hopes she makes the right choice.Perfect for fans of Maggie Hartley, Lisa Stone and Ann Cusack!

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Book SynopsisWhen foster carer, Cathy Glass, is asked to foster Darcy-May, a two-day old baby, she is very concerned.The baby is coming to her straight from hospital and will have no contact with her teenage mother, Haylea. Even more worrying, she will be brought to Cathy with a police escort as it's vital her extended family don't know where she is.Abandoned at birth, Cathy and her family quickly bond with little Darcy-May although they have to accept she will eventually leave them to be adopted. But fostering is rarely straight forward, and when Haylea asks to see her baby a different story begins to emerge. It's so alarming that even Cathy, a highly experienced foster carer, struggles.

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Book SynopsisA 5-year-old boy, Ethan, is brought to Casey in the middle of the night after the sudden death of his young mother after a drug overdose.Estranged from her parents, Ethan's mum had been abused by her ex-partner, and began taking drugs to cope. Ethan is obviously lost and bewildered, and regularly wakes up screaming for his mum in the night. He begins to lash out at other kids at school and his behaviour becomes more volatile. When arrangements are made for Ethan to see his dad in prison, Casey recognises the name and face It turns out she's far more familiar with this case than first imagined.

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Book Synopsis"This is a remarkable achievement. Like Batman's Utility belt for teachers. So many practical, wise, inspiring, and achievable ideas are packed in here. I can imagine this becoming as indispensable for teachers as Gray's Anatomy is for doctors..." - Stephen Fry"If you want a book to assist with your work with traumatised children, choose this one. It is the best!" - Professor Peter Fonagy OBE, Chief Executive, Anna Freud National Centre for Children & Families"Humane and grounded in science, this book could change lives." - Sir Norman Lamb, Chair of Maudsley NHS and Children and Young People's Mental Health CoalitionWhat does trauma-informed teaching really look like in the classroom, and can we really achieve it?Maybe you, like many other teachers, will reach the end of a busy day feeling exhausted, deskilled and less than keen to dive into a book on the theory of trauma. Luckily you won't find any complex theory or jargon in this book, but you will gain an understanding of how small humans develop, how perplexing behaviours can be explained and learn inclusive strategies that will help all children in your classroom and school. Part 1 provides you with an explanation of what trauma-informed teaching involves. Then, Part 2 lists an A-Z of issues and behaviours for you to flip to in your busiest moments, ranging from Aggression and Lateness right through to Learning Challenges and Zzz (sleep issues). Gain new understanding into the children in your classroom with this book offering you strategies to better support every child's mental health and resilience.Trade ReviewThis is a remarkable achievement. Like Batman's Utility belt for teachers. So many practical, wise, inspiring, and achievable ideas are packed in here. I can imagine this becoming as indispensable for teachers as Gray's Anatomy is for doctors... -- Stephen Fry, English actor and comedianIf you want a book to assist with your work with traumatised children, choose this one. It is the best! This is the most comprehensive, accurate, and practically valuable guide for managing children made vulnerable by adversity which all teachers should have. The authors provide a beautifully written, well laid out, accessible and accurate understanding of a highly complicated area and go on to identify all (yes all) the problems that can arise in an educational context with a child who experienced adversity and trauma and offer explanations and practical solutions to support their management. The book is a remarkable and invaluable resource for all those working with children, from senior clinician to professional support staff. -- Professor Peter Fonagy, OBE, Chief Executive, Anna Freud National Centre for Children & FamiliesA must read for all teachers! The A-Z will empower and equip teachers to understand trauma and create the best possible environment for children to feel safe enough to learn. -- Helen Fearn, Primary Teacher, Adoptive Mum, Foster parent, Therapeutic Parenting Coach and TrainerAt last, the ultimate, practical guide to understanding children and their behaviour. Humane and grounded in science, this book could change lives. Instead of punishing 'naughty' or 'badly behaved' children, teachers and others will get the tools to do their job, recognising the impact of trauma and other adversity, and enabling children to learn and to grow. -- Sir Norman Lamb, Chair of Maudsley NHS and Children and Young People’s Mental Health CoalitionEvery person working in a School needs to read this book! By demystifying complex behaviour, this book gives readers the confidence to question 'School-shaped' approaches and the tools to build relationships based on trust, which is the key to meeting the needs of children affected by trauma. -- Naomi Edmund, adoptive parent and former school nurseThe authors' hands on experience of developmental trauma means the book is written with a lot of heart and the advice therein has real integrity. It is also written with an understanding for the lot of teachers trying their best to accommodate ever more complex needs in their classrooms. The result is a refreshingly succinct, accessible, informative read - one that parents and teachers alike should find immensely useful. -- Nick Moss, headteacher, Minchinhampton Primary Academy

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Book Synopsis"All behavior makes sense"'"It most certainly does not!", is probably your first reaction.Parenting and neuroscience expert Robyn Gobbel is here to reveal how all behavior, no matter how baffling, can be explained and remedied. You just need to look past the behavior and understand what's going on inside.Robyn decodes the latest brain science into easy-to-understand principles and metaphors to help you become an expert in your child's behavior. She reveals simple ways to help you regulate and connect with your child, with brain-, body- and sensory-based strategies to overcome day-to-day challenges. She also provides you with the knowledge to understand and regulate your own brain so that you don't flip your lid when your child flips theirs.Let this be your lifeline for parenting or caring for any child with baffling behaviors and hidden challenges, including kids who have experienced adversity, or with additional needs.Trade ReviewRobyn Gobbel is a clinical powerhouse who masterfully eases the reader into science-based strategies that actually work. This book delivers wisdom and grace to parents everywhere. -- Sue Marriott LCSW, CGP, psychotherapist and co-producer of Therapist Uncensored Podcast, a Top 10 Social Science podcastA must read for anyone that cares for a struggling child. Robyn brilliantly simplifies the complexities of a kid's developing autonomic nervous system, equipping us with practical knowledge of how to actually help! -- Jackie Flynn, Host of Play Therapy & EMDR with Kids CommunitiesEvery parent or caregiver should read this book because the author brilliantly takes complex issues and makes them understandable and manageable. -- Mary M. McGowan, Executive Director ATTAChThis book is a gift for weary parents!! Reading it feels like sharing a cup of coffee with a dear friend who is there to hold your hand on this wild ride of raising kids with big, baffling behaviors.Clear explanations, helpful analogies, and "aha" moments galore await you in these pages, but it doesn't stop there. With deep compassion and well-timed humor, the author shares the science behind behavior and illuminates the path to relational healing. I will be sharing this book far and wide. Highly recommended! -- Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH, Author of Riley the Brave's Adventure series and Light Up the Learning BrainRobyn Gobbel has created an important resource for parents that explains the 'why' behind baffling behaviors and provides practical and science-based solutions to help improve them. -- Greg Santucci, Occupational Therapist, Executive Director Power Play Pediatric TherapyWritten in a connected, conversational style, Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors explains some very complex neurobiological science that is at the root of understanding kids' behaviors. It's like having Robyn in your living room, co-regulating with you as you parent. -- Julie Beem, Executive Director, Attachment & Trauma Network, Inc.The author brings a spirit of inclusivity and generosity to an important discussion on the intricacies of parenting through complicated moments and intense seasons. This is an approachable and beautiful gift to parenting literature! -- Marshall Lyles, LMFT-S, LPC-S, RPT-SA revolutionary book uniting sound neuroscience with easy-to-understand examples and engaging characters. Read this book to truly understand how to help people with vulnerable nervous systems. -- Marti Smith, OTR, author of The Connected Therapist: Relating Through the SensesThe author's expertise tackles all experiences, even those that are shameful and marginalised in a way that is equally smart and kind. Finally, a book that speaks with love to the parents who need it the most! -- Bethany Saltman, author of Strange Situation: A Mother's Journey Into the Science of AttachmentThis book delivers transformative, powerful and easy to implement tools for parents that promote safety, regulation and connection. Masterfully organized with the author's clinical experience and the latest relational neuroscience it is rich, well integrated, and immensely useful. -- Ana M. Gomez, MC, LPC Author of EMDR Therapy and Adjunct Approaches with Children: Complex Trauma, Attachment and DissociationThis is not your typical parenting book. The author's wit, charm and vulnerability comes across on every page. Although there are plenty of practical tips and strategies, the magic of this book is that it changes you, and when we change, our children change too. -- Karen Doyle Buckwalter, LCSW, RPT-S, co-author of Raising the Challenging Child and Attachment Theory in Action podcast hostWeaving together relational neuroscience with practical ideas and application, Robyn has created the ultimate guide for parents who would love to understand and ultimately transform their children's challenging behaviors into safety and connection. -- Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, President of the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute and creator of Synergetic Play TherapyThe simulated parent-therapist format, and creative restructuring of the child and parent perspectives into narratives, garners compassionate understanding from the reader. As a parent, I find the insights and strategies in this book timely and appropriate. -- Dr Stephen Porges, Professor of Psychiatry and Founding Director, Traumatic Stress Research ConsortiumA sneak-peek into the intimate conversations between a frustrated parent and a skilled therapist, this book is a fantastic combination of neuroscience and practical strategies. You'll learn how to respond to your child's baffling behaviors in compassionate and effective ways. -- Tina Payne Bryson, LCSW, Ph.D., New York Times Bestselling co-author of The Whole-Brain Child & No-Drama Discipline, and author of The Bottom Line for BabyThe author impressively weaves the early effects of trauma into the present day behavior of children. This is a must read for any parent who has ever felt inadequate at parenting their child with baffling behavior. -- Stephen J. Terrell, PSYD, International Trainer for Developmental Trauma, , Developer of Transforming the Experience-Based Brain and Co-Developer of Somatic Resilience and RegulationI highly recommend this book to anyone living or working with challenging children. Neuroscience demystifies disruptive behavior and decouples it from shame whilst a conversational writing and friendly animal metaphors makes the content readily accessible for stressed parents. -- Emily Daniels, Author & Founder of The Regulated ClassroomComprehensive and filled with hands-on tips for parents striving to help their children. -- Julia M. Reffner, The Library Journal

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary and riveting story of separated Chinese twins, with one twin seized by the authorities and adopted into America, by the Samuel Johnson-winning author of Nothing to Envy. In 2000, a Chinese woman gave birth to twins in a bamboo grove, trying to avoid detection by the government because she already had two daughters. Two years later, an American couple travelled to Shaoyang to adopt a Chinese toddler they thought had been abandoned. Their understanding had been that China's brutal one-child policy was leading to hundreds of abandoned girls, desperate for the care of adopted parents. What they didn't know - and what award-winning journalist Barbara Demick uncovered in 2007, while working as a correspondent in Beijing - was that their daughter had been snatched from her beloved family and her identical twin. Under China's one-child policy hundreds of poor Chinese were giving up their children due to soaring fines and threats of violence. More sinister still, international demand for adoptees was sky-rocketing, and local officials were forcibly seizing children and trafficking them to orphanages, who were selling them abroad. Daughters of the Bamboo Grove tells the gripping story of separated twins, their respective fates in China and the USA, and Barbara Demick's role in reuniting them against huge odds. Painting a rich portrait of China's history and culture, it asks questions about the roots, impact and consequences of China's one-child policy, the ethics of international adoption, and, ultimately, the assumptions and narratives we hold about the quality of lives lived in the East and the West.

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Book SynopsisWhen Reece arrives at Cathy''s door aged 7 years old, he has already passed through the hands of four different carers in four weeks. As the details of his short life emerge, it becomes clear that to help him, Cathy will face her biggest challenge yet.The latest title from the author of Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller Damaged.Reece is the last of six siblings to be fostered. Having been in care for four months his aggressive and disruptive behaviour has seen him passed from carer to carer. Although only 7, he has been excluded from school, and bites people so often that his mother calls him ''Sharky''.Cathy wants to find the answers for Reece's distressing behaviour, but he has been sworn to secrecy by his mother, and will not tell them anything. As the social worker prepares for the final hearing, he finds five different files on Reece's family, and is incredulous that he had not been removed from them as a baby. When the darkest of family secrets is revealed to Cathy, ReecTrade ReviewREVIEWS FOR DAMAGED: 'Cannot fail to move those who read it.'Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.'Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.'OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’First magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’Star magazine

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Book SynopsisLara was seven when her birth mother died from a drug overdose. With no extended family to look after her, she was put into foster care. The care system failed Lara and now she is failing her son.Lara and her one-year-old son, Arthur, are brought to experienced foster carer, Cathy Glass, by their social worker. Lara has fled an abusive relationship and Arthur has suspected non-accidental injuries. Cathy must monitor Lara whenever she is with her son, day and night. She cannot let them out of her sight for a minute.Lara loves her son, but she puts her own needs first. Cathy must teach Lara how to care for Arthur, but will it be enough to allow her to keep him?

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Book Synopsis''Necessary and illuminating'' Times Literary Supplement''A writer of genuine accomplishment'' Good Book GuideA story of adoption and queer parenting from the award-winning author of The Spring of Kasper Meier, The Other Hoffmann Sister and An Honest ManI''m calling because we have a little boy, four weeks old, who needs a family.''In 2018, after the introduction of marriage equality in Germany, Ben Fergusson and his German husband Tom became one of the first same-sex married couples to adopt in the country. In Tales from the Fatherland Fergusson reflects on his long journey to fatherhood and the social changes that enabled it. He uses his outsider status as both a gay father and a parent adopting in a foreign country to explore the history and sociology of fatherhood and motherhood around the world, queer parenting and adoption and, ultimately, the meaning of family and love.Trade ReviewNecessary and illuminating...he is a fine comic writer * Times Literary Supplment *

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Book Synopsis''Wow! I did not want this book to end. This story was unlike any other'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reader review''Very gripping and powerful read... makes you see what can be going on behind closed doors'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reader review''I''m very, very bad. I don''t deserve to have nice things. Nobody loves me.''Three young siblings arrive at Maggie''s door after being taken into care. Teachers of eight-year-old Bobby spotted distinct hand-shaped bruises on his arm and his dad and stepmother are uncooperative and hostile to Social Services. While they investigate, Bobby, as well as Melodie and Poppy, are looked after in Maggie''s home.As the children settle in, a thought won''t let Maggie go. While Melodie and Poppy are clean, well-fed and immaculately dressed, Bobby is pale, severely underweight and extremely quiet. What looks like a case of neglect is actually something m

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Book SynopsisFrom Torey Hayden, the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of One Child comes Lost Girl, a poignant and deeply moving account of a lost little girl and an extraordinary educational psychologist's courage and determination.Jessie is nine years old and looks like the perfect little girl, with red hair, green eyes and a beguiling smile. She even has a talent for drawing gorgeous and intricate pictures. But Jessie also knows how to get her own way and will lie, scream, shout and hurt to get just exactly what she wants.Her parents say they can't take her back, and her social workers struggle to deal with her destructive behaviour and wild mood swings. After her chaotic passage through numerous foster placements, Jessie has finally received a diagnosis of an attachment disorder. Attachment disorders arise when children are deprived of the all-important close bonds with trustworthy adults that allow them to develop emotionally and thrive. Finally educational psychologist Torey Hayden is called in to help. Torey agrees to weekly meetings with Jessie to try and uncover why she is acting out. Torey's gentle care and attention reveal shocking truths behind Jessie's lies. Can Torey and the other social workers help to provide the consistent loving care that has so far been missing in Jessie’s life, or will she push them away too?Trade ReviewHayden is a fine storyteller, recounting the touching bonds that form among children and between Hayden and her students. -- Washington PostTorey Hayden deserves the kind of respect I can’t give many people. She isn’t valuable, she’s incredible. The world needs more like Torey Hayden. -- Boston Globe

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Book SynopsisConcise and easy-to-understand, this book provides an introduction to what attachment means and how to recognise attachment disorder in children. Colby Pearce explains how complex problems in childhood may stem from the parent-child relationship during a child's early formative years, and later from the child's engagement with the broader social world. The book explores the mind-set of difficult and traumatised children and the motivations behind their complex tendencies and behaviours. It goes on to offer a comprehensive set of tried-and-tested practical strategies that can be used with children affected by an attachment disorder. This second edition has been updated to include the new DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Reactive Attachment Disorder and an increased number of illustrative case vignettes.This is a perfect introduction to the subject for parents, carers and practitioners in supportive roles caring for children.Trade ReviewAlthough short, this revised edition remains for me a core text in supporting teachers' understanding of attachment, its importance and what happens when it goes wrong. Pearce makes this complex field highly accessible without losing any rigour; this book will be one of the most enlightening reads of your career. -- Andy Bloor, Senior Lecturer in SEN and Disability Studies, University of Derby, UKColby Pearce provides answers. In a straightforward way, he defines and describes normal and disordered attachment. The first edition and my participation in Triple A training have added to my confidence and competence as a carer. This is a ' must read ' book for anyone involved with children. I am pleased to recommend it. -- Margaret Quinn, Foster CarerPractical, credible and evidenced based, this is a must read for all those working directly with troubled, challenging and unhappy children inside and outside the care system. Pearce explains the aetiology of different attachment disorders and provides workable strategies to support children consistently across their care, educational and therapeutic environments. -- Lynne Peyton, Child Care Consultant, Author & Trainer, UK and IrelandTable of ContentsPrologue: A Tale of Three Mice. Chapter 1. Understanding Attachment and the Influence of Parental Care. Chapter 2. A Short Introduction to Attachment Disorder. Chapter 3. CARE to Promote Attachment Security. Chapter 4. Treating Attachment Insecurity and Disorder. Postscript: Eyes are Mirrors for a Child's Soul. Glossary of Terms. About the Author.

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Book SynopsisThrough words, pictures, photographs, certificates and other 'little treasures', a Life Story Book provides a detailed account of the child's early history and a chronology of their life. Fully updated, this clear and concise book shows a unique family-friendly way to compile a Life Story Book which promotes a sense of permanency for the child, and encourages attachments within new families. Joy Rees' influential model works chronologically backwards rather than forwards, aiming to reinforce the child's sense of belonging and security before addressing the child's past and early trauma. The book contains simple explanations of complex concepts, practical examples, helpful suggestions and includes some simple checklists. This new edition has been expanded to include fostered children and those living in kinship care or with a special guardian. Perfect for social workers, adoption agencies, adoptive parents, foster carers and kinship carers, Life Story Books for Adopted and Fostered Children is a refreshing, innovative and common-sense guide.Trade ReviewJoy Rees has the gift of explaining theoretical concepts in a straightforward and jargon-free manner and of empowering adults - whether social workers, adopters or foster carers - to feel confident in tackling what is a complex and sensitive task. Joy's book is a practical guide and includes a wealth of examples of ways to frame sad and difficult stories without leaving the child feeling responsible. -- Jeanne Kaniuk OBE, Managing Director, Coram AdoptionThis book has been my go-to guide in terms of constructing family friendly life stories since its publication - I'm thrilled to see that this second edition broadens the scope to include children in foster care or special guardianship arrangements, as well as adoption, as Rees' model fits them perfectly. Busy practitioners will love the selection of sensitively written sample stories that will prove invaluable in ensuring all children who need them have timely access to a child-friendly life story book - a book that their adopters and carers will use with confidence to support their children to integrate their histories. -- Katie Wrench, Co-author 'Life Story Work with Children who are Fostered and Adopted' (JKP, 2013) and author of 'Helping Vulnerable Children and Adolescents to Stay Safe – Building Protective Behaviours' (JKP, 2016)Table of ContentsForeword. Introduction. Chapter 1. A New Approach. Chapter 2. A Life Story Book is Not... Chapter 3. A Different Perspective. Chapter 4. The Inner Child and Subliminal Messages. Chapter 5. Involving Adoptive Parents. Chapter 6. Compiling a Life Story Book. Chapter 7. Sample Life Story Books. Chapter 8. Final Thoughts. References. Further Reading. Index.

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Book SynopsisAn honest insight into the rollercoaster reality of therapeutically parenting teenagers.Raising any teenager is tough, but raising teens who have experienced trauma in their early years is a whole different - and more difficult - ball game. Adoptive parent Sally Donovan is here to answer every question you've ever wanted to ask about therapeutically parenting teenagers, and a whole lot more besides. Therapeutic parenting is equal parts love, commitment, determination, and realism, and Sally writes about it all with equal parts blazing wit, tear-jerking honesty, and wisdom. Read this book to hear a voice speaking from experience - and above all, the heart - about everything to expect from therapeutically parenting your teens.Trade ReviewSally writes with an honest and open approach using her own experiences of parenting traumatised teens in a heartfelt, at times funny, at times moving manner. Sally's experiences are clearly unique to her but I have no doubt that her insights, observations and ideas will be useful to others in similar positions. Parenting children and young people who have suffered early trauma is challenging and, as Sally reminds us, requires skills, knowledge and support greater than the average parent requires. It also requires doggedness, compassion, understanding and a sense of humour and realism. Sally's insightful book shows how to care for these vulnerable teens who, by no fault of their own, have had some of the most challenging starts to their lives. -- Kevin Williams, Chief Executive, The Fostering NetworkTherapeutic parenting requires equal parts bravery, commitment, fierce love, and hope. Sally Donovan offers an authentic peek into the trial-by-fire reality of the teen years. With genuine compassion and insight, she gives strategies that will help sustain the flagging spirits of exhausted parents, so they can continue their heroic efforts to be the parents their children need them to be. It takes more than love. Read this landmark book. -- Gayle H Swift, author of ABC Adoption & Me, and co-founder of GIFT Family ServicesSally pulls no punches in this insightful, compassionate and beautifully-written book. The honesty and sensitivity with which she describes the experiences of parenting teenagers who have experienced trauma will profoundly resonate with many. Compelling, validating, tough and yet uplifting, its authenticity is firmly rooted in experience. Parents/ carers - I strongly suggest you read this book as an exercise in the self-care that Sally so wisely advocates for. Professionals - this is a fantastic resource. I strongly recommend a read [or three]! -- Rachel Staff, author of 'Parenting Adopted Teenagers'

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Book Synopsis· What is shame?· How does it affect children?· How can adults help?The perfect starting point for any adult or carer working with children who have experienced shame, this guide provides straightforward answers and explanations to both common and complex questions.At a time when children are more likely than ever to experience shame, the accessible advice in this book helps adults to boost children's self-esteem. Betsy de Thierry navigates the need to understand its impact and the reasons behind it, as well as how to reduce its hold on self-confidence. Reassuring advice will also help revitalize adults' abilities to face the challenges of supporting children affected by shame. It will teach them how to restore self-esteem.Trade ReviewAnother brilliant book by Betsy de Thierry. Shame is such a crucial area and emotion, however one that is often overlooked. Therefore it is great to see a book that offers a deeper understanding and practical ideas for support around shame. This book is written in an accessible, engaging, and informative way. The doodles and reflective questions are fantastic too. A welcome addition to any book shelf! -- Karen TreismanThorough, underpinned by extensive researched and well articulated. de Thierry manages to write a short guide about shame, a challenging task but one very well executed. If you're looking to understand shame, how it seeps into our being from a very young age and how 'toxic shame can be like a poison in our subconscious', then this guide is for you. For parents, educators, therapists and social workers, this guide is an essential starting point pulling together all the latest knowledge, research and experience. -- Lisa Cherry, BA (Hons) Sociology, ITEC Dip HM, S.A.C. Dip., Life Coaching and Counselling, Reiki MasterThe Simple Guide to Understanding Shame in Children by Betsy de Thierry is thoughtful insight into how shame has such a pervading hold on us all, sometimes with disastrous consequences. De Thierry argues that feelings of shame are often at the root of unhelpful behaviours and linked to a primeval fear we may be abandoned or rejected by our tribe or society. Unwittingly, though, it remains a thread that runs through traditional parenting and the education system, driving the sensitive child towards shame rather than away from it and cutting off crucial relationships with others. The Simple Guide to Understanding Shame in Children by Betsy de Thierry is an important read for adoptive parents and those working with children who may already be sensitive to shame due to damaging life experiences. This book provides a key to understanding the sometimes bewildering and distressing behaviours by those locked in the grip of shame. -- Jill Turner, Editor, Adoption TodayTable of ContentsPreface. 1. What is shame? 2. What is the impact of shame? 3. The neurobiology of shame. 4. How do children get shamed? 5. Shame symptoms: a) hiding, masks, silence and sorry. 6. Shame symptoms: b) deceit, lying, critical of others and projection. 7. Shame symptoms: c) self hatred, self rejection and anger. 8. Shame symptoms: d) emotional shut down, dissociation & confusion. 9. How can we help heal shame? 10. Building shame resilience. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisTrauma can have a significant impact on the stability of a child's development and can put additional pressures on the education staff working with them. Showing you how you can best support children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, this guide is full of practical guidance on how you can adapt your teaching with this group.Covering a range of issues a child may have, such as foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, pathological demand avoidance, attachment difficulties and many more, this book provides the trauma-informed tools you need to care for these children and to give the best possible opportunities from their education. It also addresses the difference children may experience in learning, how they behave, how teachers can ensure home--school cooperation, and how teachers can act in a trauma-informed manner.

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Book Synopsis· What are attachment difficulties?· How do they affect children?· How can you help?This book provides clear and concise answers to these important questions - and more.Much more than just a simple introduction to the subject of attachment, the book is also full of advice and practical ideas you can try. It tackles some challenging questions, such as 'what is the difference between trauma and attachment?', and explains how having an understanding of attachment is only part of the overall picture when it comes to caring for traumatized children. It is an essential read for any adult parenting or caring for a child who has experienced attachment difficulties.Trade ReviewOut of a complex field of study De Thierry's latest works have delivered prime knowledge that is easy-to-grasp. This simple guide will increase confidence to supportively approach attachment difficulties and through its easily applied teachings will play a powerful role in strengthening relationships. A must read for anybody working with children and caregivers. -- Ben Rockett, PhD, Research PsychologistThis book is easily digestible yet manages to cover the well researched topic of attachment brilliantly. As a nursery owner I will be ensuring my team read this and as a mum of three boys, I have taken the guidelines and easily accessible advice laid out in the book and reflected on my own parenting techniques that can so easily be tweaked to ensure stronger and more positive attachments with all three of my children. Thank you Betsy. It's great that someone has taken the time to digest these huge topics and present them so that we all may have a positive impact on children's lives. -- Charlotte Lucas, parent, owner and founder of Free Rangers Nursery, UKTable of Contents1. What is attachment? 2. How does an attachment grow stronger? 3. The brain science around attachment. 4. The safe place and co-regulation. 5. What is an unhealthy attachment style? 6. Anxious, controlling or helicopter parenting. 7. Attachment trauma. 8. A healing adult relationship. 9. Resilience, bad days and top tips!

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Book SynopsisAll families of children affected by trauma are on a journey, and this book will help to guide you and your family on your journey from trauma to trust.Sarah Naish shares her own experiences of adopting five siblings. She describes how to use therapeutic parenting - a deeply nurturing parenting style - to overcome common challenges when raising children who have experienced trauma. The book describes a series of difficult episodes for her family, exploring both parent's and child's experiences of the same events - with the child's experience written by a former fostered child - and in doing so reveals the very good reasons why traumatized children behave as they do. The book explores the misunderstandings that grow between parents and their children, and provides comfort to the reader - you are not the only family going through this!Full of insights from a family and others who have really been there, this book gives you advice and strategies to help you and your family thrive.Table of ContentsIntroductionThe Trauma Difference (Room 1)1. Before2. Expectations3. Meeting4. Moving In5. Honeymooon6. Change7. Christmas8. The Honeymoon Is Over9. Emotional Age10. Stuck11. Food12. Sugar13. Easter14. Birthday15. The Necessary Lies?16. Nonsense Chatter17. Anxiety18. Wee & Poo19. Hypervigilance20. Exhausted (Compassion Fatigue)21. No Friends22. More Than One!23. Straight Talk Please24. Dogs25. Mess26. Blame27. Diagnoses28. Sabotage29. What Lies Beneath (The Internal Working Model)30. Memory31. Lying32. Hypochondria33. Shame34. Visits (Contact)35. Violent36. School37. Isolation38. Guilt39. Therapy40. Busy41. Sleep42. Honesty43. Avoiding Connection44. Who Cares?45. Stealing46. Rude47. Grief48. Moving On49. Hope50. Our FamilyBibliography and References

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Book SynopsisTherapeutic parenting is not your usual parenting style. It's a special, specific way to raise kids who have experienced trauma in their past, and requires a lot of commitment and determination - this is about far more than love and care.But where do you start?This book is the ideal first step for anyone who wants to understand how therapeutic parenting works. It offers simple summaries of the key ideas behind it, fully illustrated throughout with informative cartoons and graphics. Over 40 different issues are covered, from dysregulation and fear, to setting boundaries and parenting in the midst of trauma.The perfect introduction for new therapeutic parents, family members, teachers or other adults who need to help support you and your child, this Quick Guide will also be a source of inspiration for more experienced parents.Trade ReviewUsing light-hearted analogies and their wealth of first-hand knowledge, Sarah Naish and Sarah Dillon encourage us all to see the behaviour of children with developmental trauma in a whole new light. This accessible Quick Guide is a source of enlightenment, comfort and hope for all parents and professionals. It will help us to discover what the authors describe as 'the hidden path', so we can translate and see behaviour as a means of communication and in doing so support healing. For the sake of the increasing number of children with developmental trauma, everybody needs to tread this path. -- Daniel Thrower, CEO and Anne Oakley, Attachment Lead, The Wensum Educational Trust, NorwichWhat an amazing book! I read through each part and can easily put children's names to the behaviours that are explained. It's funny, serious, passionate reassuring and very helpful to any Therapeutic parent. The way it is written makes it ideal for a quick ten minute read/reminder for specific behaviours or a longer introduction for less experienced TPs. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and sure that it will help thousands of other parents. -- Jen Dalby, Therapeutic parentTable of ContentsAcknowledgments. 3Introduction Sarah Naish. 31 WHY DO OUR CHILDREN DO THE THINGS THEY DO?!41 The Unskilled Pilot - (A lack of trust)52 The Spider Parent- (Fear of adults)73 My Friend the Spider- (Staying safe)104 The Automatic Car- (Illogical behaviours)125 The Plane Crash (part 1) - (Impulsiveness)156 The Deal Breaker -(Breaking promises)187 The Land of Now- (Unable to link cause and effect)208 The Crumbling Wall - (Hidden disabilities)232 RAISING PENGUINS. 269 Penguins Don't Fly- (Our children are different)2710 The Messy Nest (Destruction)3011 The Girl Who Wouldn't Try - (Self sabotage)3212 Squeezing the Glass- (Over controlling)3513 The King of the Castle (Traditional consequences don't work)3714 Lie Tennis- (Lying)4015 The Apprentice Who Wasn't Sorry- (Fake apologies)4316 The Lift - (Unintended consequences)463 IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS - The Unhelpful Others. 5017 The Goldfish -(Risk averse practice)5118 The Measuring Stick - (Judgement from others)5419 The Cart - (Our burden)5720 The Ostrich Teacher- (Unhelpful schools)6021 The Snowflake Parent- (Unhelpful others)624 PARENTING IN THE TRAUMA TORNADO.. 6422 The Eye of the Storm- (Managing chaos)6523 The Elephant- (Staying kind)6724 The Steam Train- (Keeping on track)6925 The Rude Wind- (Responding to rudeness)7126 The Conductor - (Controlling behaviour)7427 The Missiles- (Responding to arguing)7728 The Cliff Top- (Keeping boundaries)7929 The Inquiry Lie- (Honesty)825 SAFER PARENTING- Therapeutic Responding. 8430 The Needle on the Record- (Changing our responses)8531 The Plane Crash Part 2- (Unable to calm)8732 ACE Detective- (Working out what is behind the behaviour)9133 The Frightened Dog- (Connecting in a crisis)9434 Sharing the PIE- (Sibling rivalry)9635 The Shame Pit- (Overwhelming shame)10036 The Escalator - (Natural and logical consequences)1036 WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?!10637 The Trap Door -(Triggers)10738 Trauma Pancakes- (Multiple issues surfacing)11139 The Jigsaw Child- (Why sabotage happens)11440 The Smoke Detector- (Unexpected behaviours)11741 The Monster in the Cupboard - (Difficult quiet times)1197 THE OVERWHELMING NEED.. 12242 The Two-year-old Psychopath- (Lack of empathy)12343 The Pet Spider- (Being controlled)12644 Memory Beach- (Memory issues)12945 The Hand-Grenade- (The 'trouble-maker')13246 The Car Crash- (Feeling overwhelmed)1348 FILLING THE CUP. 13547 The Empty Cup- (Exhaustion)13648 The Boring Place- (Getting a break)13849 Eeyore Parenting- (Losing hope)14050 The Rabbit- (Isolation)14251 The Empathy Bowl- (Effective listening)1449 HOPE. 14652 The Twisty Turny Steps- (Fear for the future)14753 The Diet Fail- (Having a bad day)14954 Slides and Ladders- (Overcoming obstacles)15155 The Trauma Lake- (Foundations for change)15356 The Hidden Path- (Inspiration)154

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Book SynopsisThis is the go-to guide for practitioners, parents and carers who want to expand their understanding and skills for therapeutic parenting - a deeply nurturing parenting style particularly effective for children who have experienced trauma or adversity.It provides an easy to understand explanation of the latest theory and research in trauma and neuroscience, and explains how these relate to everyday parenting strategies. It provides clarity on complex areas, such as early developmental trauma in children, and insights into key challenges, including managing transitions, sibling relationships, challenging behaviour, the teenage years, and how to find time and space for self-care.With experience, professional expertise, and text features to aid learning throughout, this book is the one-stop shop for everyone wanting to truly understand every aspect of therapeutic parenting and trauma.

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Book SynopsisAll children need love, but for troubled children, a loving home is not always enough. Children who have experienced trauma need to be parented in a special way that helps them feel safe and secure, builds attachments and allows them to heal.Playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy (PACE) are four valuable elements of parenting that, combined with love, can help children to feel confident and secure. This book shows why these elements are so important to a child's development, and demonstrates to parents and carers how they can incorporate them into their day-to-day parenting. Real life examples and typical dialogues between parents and children illustrate how this can be done in everyday life, and simple stories highlight the ideas behind each element of PACE.This positive book will help parents and carers understand how parenting with love and PACE is invaluable to a child's development, and will guide them through using this parenting attitude to help their child feel happy, confident and secure.Trade ReviewThe conversational tone between the authors, Kim and Dan, softens the book and makes it very readable... whether you're a parent trying to use this approach, or a therapist looking to increase their clinical skills, reading this book will lead to a better understanding of PACE. -- Youth in MindCreating Loving Attachments is a great guide for parents struggling to address attachment with their children and for families who may be raising foster or adopted children. Almost like looking in a mirror, readers may be able to find elements in their parenting that are on track and others that might need to be tweaked to encourage healthy attachment. This book may work well for families already in therapy with their children so they can get a great understanding of the relationship and attachment building that needs to take place. Easy-to-read, Creating Loving Attachments is a great book for families looking to enhance relationships with their children. -- Adoption TodayThis is a book that permeates with love and compassion for traumatised children. Many Cafcass staff will be familiar with Dan Hughes' work, and Golding has developed this following her experience of his training and integrated it into her own career, which includes developing services for looked after children in Worcestershire. -- CAFCASSCreative Loving Attachments" is a great guide for parents struggling to address attachment with their children and for families who may be raising foster or adopted children. Almost like looking in a mirror, readers may be able to find elements in their parenting that are on track and others that might need to be tweaked to encourage healthy attachment. This book may work well for families already in therapy with their children so they can get a great understanding of the relationship and attachment building that needs to take place. Easy-to-read, "Creating Loving Attachments" is a great book for families looking to enhance relationships with their children. -- Adoption TodayWritten in a deceptively simple and readable way, this book conveys some of the deep truths of close human relationships: above all, the importance of accepting and validating emotions as they are. The examples of parent-child dialogue bring the theory alive and will help many parents to practice parenting in a more effective and mindful way. -- Sue Gerhardt, psychoanalytic psychotherapist and author of Why Love Matters: How Affection Shapes a Baby's BrainKim Golding and Daniel Hughes have written a jewel of a book. One stellar quality of the writing is the way in which the authors give voice to parents throughout, and also highlight the significance not only of conversations but also attitudes, wording and body postures. In doing so, they carefully show progression into more sensitive, attuned parenting. The authors are compassionate as they address parent's shame and their fears for their children, and they build models that help parents and children achieve resonance, hope, and sharing of their inner worlds. The insight gained by parents and professionals will be invaluable as they read the book. I felt a renewal in my own professional and personal life as I read. Thank you, Dr. Golding and Dr. Hughes for this excellent offering. -- Deborah D. Gray, MSW, MPA, Founder, Nurturing Attachments, and author of Attaching in Adoption and Nurturing AdoptionsTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Preface. Introduction. 1. Love: The Essential Ingredient. Story: A Mummy Finds Out How to Look After Her Baby. Section 1. Play. 2. The World of Play. 3. Playful Parenting. Story: The Naïve Buccaneer. Section 2. Acceptance. 4. Acceptance of the Inner World of the Other. 5. Parenting with Unconditional Acceptance. Story: Stripes and the Herd of Wild Horses. Section 3. Curiosity. 6. Curiosity: Finding a Different Perspective. 7. Staying Curious Within Parenting. Story: The Boy with All the Knowledge of the World in His Head. Section 4. Empathy. 8. Empathy: Connecting in the Emotional World. 9. Joining your Child with Empathy. Story: The Farmer and the Queen. 10. Brining it all Together and an Additional Ingredient. References. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisFinally, a parenting book which demystifies the latest thinking on neurobiology, physiology and trauma and explains what the research means for the everyday life of parents of children who hurt.As experts on adoption and fostering who are adoptive parents themselves, Caroline Archer and Christine Gordon explain how this knowledge can help parents to better understand and care for their child. They explain why conventional parenting techniques are often not helpful for the child who has experienced early trauma and explore why therapeutic reparenting is the only way to help repair the unhealthy neurobiological and behavioural patterns which affect the child's development. They do not shy away from how difficult reparenting is, acknowledging how hard it can be to recognise our own fallibility as parents and to change our own parenting patterns. The authors also offer hard-won advice on a range of common parenting flashpoints - from defusing arguments and aggression to negotiating bedtimes and breaks in routine, and making sure that special occasions are remembered for all the right reasons.Reparenting the Child Who Hurts is a humane, no-nonsense survival guide for any parent caring for a child with developmental trauma or attachment difficulties, and will also provide information and insights for social workers, teachers, counsellors and other professionals involved in supporting adoptive and foster families.Trade ReviewThis book provides a useful resource full of relevant information for current adoptive parents and those who may be considering offering a home to a troubled child. -- Young Minds MagazineThis book is full of enthusiasm, written by people passionate and knowledgeable about their subject. The content is excellent, and it is a thoughtful book full of wise and useful advice. -- Youth in MindCaroline Archer and Christine Gordon have clearly researched the most recent literature in neuroscience, trauma, human development, and developmental parenting. [The book features] theoretically sound and well researched information presented in a manner that will be palatable to frustrated and challenged parents.It also provides explicit details of how parents may respond to difficult situations--complete with examples of verbal responses that may be helpful in ameliorating extremely intense situations. -- Extracted from a foreword by Gregory C. Keck, Ph.D., Founder/Director of the Attachment and Bonding Center of Ohio; co-author of Adopting the Hurt Child, Parenting the Hurt Child, and author of Parenting Adopted Adolescents.This exciting new book by the authors of "New Families, Old Scripts" starts from the latest findings on brain development from the field of neuroscience and how this information is central to understanding the principles of "developmentally reparenting" children who have experienced a traumatic start in their early life.The book is both informative, presenting scientific information in an accessible format and instructive, giving countless practical examples and scenarios which can be used by parents and professionals alike.The principles of "developmental reparenting" are spelt out throughout each chapter of the book. Adoptive parents and foster carers are encouraged to look at their own attachment history to make sense of their relationship with their children.Readers are encouraged to "practice" changing their mindset to PARCEL (being playful, accepting, responsive, curious, empathetic and loving) when parenting traumatised children.This book is a great resource for both parents who are parenting vulnerable traumatised children and those professionals who are supporting them. -- Fiona Lettice, adoptive parentThe authors, Caroline Archer and Christine Gordon, are both adoptive parents. The also have years of experience working professionally in adoption services and therapeutic teams... The book is primarily aimed at adoptive parents but would equally be of use to anyone who works with children who have experiences difficult and disrupted early stats to life, such as social workers, teachers and psychologists... The insights provided, which are linked to research, are offered in a way that are positive and reassuring for adoptive families... The appendices and resource section are a veritable gold mine of information... including contact details for organisations that can offer support, practical strategies, hand-outs and a glossary... The text give a comprehensive and insightful view into many of the unique aspect of parenting a child that has experienced trauma and is then place for permanence with an initially unfamiliar family. -- Laura Dunstan, EP * Debate - British Psychological Society *Table of ContentsPart 1. Stepping Forward: Understanding the Foundations. 1. Knitting Your Kid! Patterns of Knitting and Nurturing. 2. Fitting the Pieces Together. Part 2. What Can We Do? 3. Key Concepts. 4. Information: The Need to Know. 5. Laying the Foundations: Co-regulation for Self-regulation. 6. Rocking and Rolling. 7. Seeing Eye to Eye. 8. Object Permanence and Constancy. 9. Talking, Telling, Timing. 10. Loose Connections. 11. The Child Within the Child. 12. Taking, Borrowing and Difficulties with the Truth. 13. Making Changes, Managing Changes. 14. Special Occasions. 15. Holidays. 16. Siblings. 17. Taking Care of Ourselves. 18. Getting Help. Appendices. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisI love you, no matter what.'An uplifting true story of an ordinary couple who build an extraordinary family, No Matter What describes how Sally and Rob Donovan embark upon a journey to adopt following a diagnosis of infertility.Sally Donovan brings to life with characteristic wit and honesty the difficulties of living with infertility, their decision to adopt and the bewildering process involved. Finally matched with young siblings Jaymey and Harlee, Sally and Rob's joy turns to shock as they discover disturbing details of their children's past and realise that they must do everything it takes to heal their children.By turns tragic, inspiring and hilarious, Sally and Rob's story offers a rare insight into the world of adoptive parents and just what it takes to bring love to the lives of traumatised children.Trade ReviewThis book should be compulsory reading for potential adoptive parents and for those professionals who touch their lives and pretend to understand what the whole experience is about. Sally Donovan's account touches upon the depth of despair, unbearable strain on a small family unit, incompetent or insensitive professionals, and fairly non-existent support. And yet it is full of optimism and hope for the human spirit. -- Young Minds MagazineFor those who already know the author through her adoption blog the brilliance of this book will come as no surprise... Sally Donovan seems to write as naturally as the rest of us breathe, with an eloquence and honesty that makes "No Matter What" totally absorbing. She has a fantastic story to tell that not only speaks to those who have their own adoption experiencer but to any reader who has an interest in rich, articulate personal stories and wants an insight into the life of a normal adoptive family... Much of what Sally writes will be all too familiar to other adoptive parents by the humanity, intelligence and humor of the writing captures the reality of adoptive family life in a truly enthralling way. -- Adoption TodayAs a post adoption social worker, who has also recently worked in a children in care team, this book struck a chord as to how our role impacts on children and adopters... I cannot recommend this book highly enough - it travels with me in my handbag and I sing its praises to whoever will listen! I urge everyone involved in adoption to read this book and to be inspired. -- Community Care Children's Services blogIf you've ever wondered what it's like to adopt, this book holds the answer: it's hard, sometimes traumatic, and far from "normal family life". It's also special, joyful, and utterly transformative - for parents as much as children. Yes our families are different; this book explains in both a moving and matter-of-fact way why we are proud to be so. -- Baroness Oona King, adoptive motherHonest, refreshing, heart-breaking, thought-provoking and inspiring - this is a valuable insight into adoption and the devastating effects of trauma. -- Lorraine Pascale, television presenter, chef and former model, adoptee and TACT patronThis book is sheer therapy for an adopter and enlightenment for anyone who comes into contact with adoption in any way. A must read for parents, schools and authorities. -- Carrie Grant Vocal Coach/TV Presenter, adoptive mother and BAAF adoption championSally Donovan has written a warm, humorous, hard-hitting and compelling story about her own adoption journey. What she says will resonate with the majority of those who have adopted children from care. Ultimately this is an overwhelmingly positive celebration of the transformation that adoption can bring to society's most damaged and vulnerable children, but it also clearly sets out the realities of parenting children affected by early childhood abuse and neglect. Every adopter will be able to recognise some aspect of their own experiences in Sally's story and I would urge every professional working with adopted children -- including health visitors and teachers, as well as social workers - to read this so they know what understanding and support those parenting adopted children need. -- Hugh Thornbery, Chief Executive, Adoption UKNo Matter What is by a long way the best account ever written of the experience of being an adoptive parent and carer of children traumatised by maltreatment. With heart-wrenching candour, it tells the story of a couple's journey through the pain of childlessness, the adoption process, and the lived experience of caring for Jaymey and Harlee whose early lives were 'almost unbearable to read about'. Sally Donovan evokes brilliantly the commitment, energy, therapeutic skill and humanity required to care for and heal children whose past abuse has left them distressed, feeling unworthy and acting out in often chaotic ways. This remarkable book is not only a major contribution to work on child welfare; such is the sheer power and brilliance of the writing that it triumphs as a work of literature, as art. Utterly compelling and humane, No Matter What is essential reading for all those who care for and about vulnerable children, adoption and fostering and who are open to being inspired by the healing power of love. -- Harry Ferguson, Professor of Social Work, University of NottinghamI found this book almost unbearably moving and, ultimately, uniquely uplifting. I have never before read, in a single book, such a compelling portrait of the horrors of child neglect and its consequences, alongside a portrait of the historical inadequacies of adoption assessment and post adoption support. This is a staggeringly vivid account of a heroic struggle by heroic adopters to heal the deep scars of neglect and abuse. I cannot recommend it warmly enough. -- Sir Martin Narey, Government Advisor on Children's Social Care and Visiting Professor, Durham and Sheffield Hallam UniversitiesEveryone should read this funny and deeply moving account of modern adoption: the highs, the lows, the risks and the rewards. Sally's writing is honest, insightful and beautiful to read.I am, and will remain, totally in awe of Sally and her husband Rob. Their empathy and resilience is sure to inspire anyone who reads this book, particularly those thinking about adopting a child.In the most modest, refreshing and unassuming way, Sally gives a voice to everyone struggling with infertility or learning to parent traumatised children. This book is a triumph in so many ways. -- Camilla Pemberton, Children and Families Editor, Community CareWith great humility Sally shares her journey of courage, hope and persistence in boldly loving her children despite the odds, no matter what...Throughout the book I laughed and cried, experiencing the highs and lows of loving children who have lived the unthinkable. For too long adopters walked this journey very much alone. We must now accompany them on this journey, in our neighbourhoods, communities and cities, and within our education, social care and health services. Together we can make a difference; each life is precious, however fragile and different. No Matter What communicates this truth, and is an important contribution at this time of policy change. -- Louise Michelle Bombèr, Adoption Support Teacher for Brighton and Hove, Attachment Support Teacher Therapist for The Yellow Kite Attachment Support ServiceIn No Matter What Sally has written about her adoption journey in a way which enables us to walk in her shoes and those of her children and which is informative and humbling. Anyone associated with children in the care system in any capacity could only benefit from reading this outstanding book. -- Jane Evans, Trauma Parenting and Behaviour Skills Specialist and TrainerNo Matter What pulls no punches in describing Sally and Rob's moving journey of adopting two siblings and the challenges of parenting them in great detail. It is beautifully written with humour and understanding.We learn from Sally that adopting children who have suffered neglect and abuse, requires not only resilient parents but expert advice, support and understanding from a range of professionals and from family and friends.This book is required reading for professionals such as social workers, health professionals, teachers and early years staff. It is also a must for those who want to adopt and for their families as it provides an honest account of the challenges but also the joys of falling in love with your adopted children. We can all learn so much from Sally and Rob's story. -- Sherry Malik, Director of Children and Adult Services in HounslowIt should be compulsory reading for all contemplating work within adoption, or indeed for any moving towards work with young children and their families, whether in social work or education, where children's behaviour can sometimes seem so hard to understand, by where change can only come about through real compassion, intense resilience and unending patience. -- Helen Bonnick, Practice Educator n East London * Professional Social Work *This book is a first-hand narration by Sally Donovan of her and her husband Rob's journey through infertility and the adoption... It is intensely individual story, but this story speaks to very many wider themes... In this book, we see the need for ongoing support for the family, both formal and informal...this book is not only recommended for adopters, social workers, teachers and health professionals (and I recommend it strongly for those groups), but for everyone. -- Sally Holland, CASCADE Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre * British Journal of Social Work *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements. Author's Note. Part 1. Revelations: In the Bad House. Chapter 1. Part 2. Keeping Secrets: Hope and Disappointment. Chapter 2. Chapter 3. Part 3. Planning a Future: Flip Charts and Handouts. Chapter 4. Chapter 5. Chapter 6. Part 4. In the Family Way: Early Days. Chapter 7. Chapter 8. Chapter 9. Part 5. Extreme Times: Life and Loss. Chapter 10. Chapter 11. Part 6. Getting Educated: Learning the Hard Way. Chapter 12. Chapter 13. Chapter 14. Part 7. A Time for Healing: No Matter What. Chapter 15. Chapter 16. Chapter 17. Chapter 18.

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Book SynopsisThe ideal first book for prospective adopters.When you decide to adopt a child, you might assume that all the important work begins when the child comes to live with you. In fact the preparation stage before is crucial in ensuring that the adopted child will arrive to a safe and secure family. Preparing for Adoption provides clear advice on how to prepare for your adoptive child and create a strong foundation for a healthy and loving relationship. Julia Davis explains how many different factors can shape preparations for adoption, such as finding out about your child's history and using this information to establish a family environment which will meet your child's specific attachment needs. There is also advice on how to prepare your home to create a sense of safety for your child and how to prepare your family to support you as adoptive parents. Primarily for adopters, foster carers and professionals supporting adopters, this book offers ideas and strategies to help parents prepare a happy and settled home for children before their arrival and ways to parent them in the early days of becoming a family that addresses their attachment needs.Trade ReviewJulia Davis' book fills a big gap - supporting professionals, families and particularly children through the transition from foster care into an adoptive placement. She leads all those involved carefully and with real thought through the process with particular focus on what this transition means and may feel like for the child. The book contains plenty of practical suggestions around preparing children for a move into an adoptive family and helping them to settle and bond once they are there. She doesn't gloss over the challenges that this momentous time can present, but guides everyone involved with compassion and sensitivity. She also includes information on the special considerations required when siblings are transitioning, which isn't always covered in other texts. I strongly recommend this book for anyone involved in a child's transition from foster care into an adoptive family. I wish it had been around when our family was starting out. -- Sally Donovan, adoptive mother and author of No Matter What and The Unofficial Guide to Adoptive ParentingPreparing for Adoption breaks down the fraught build-up towards an adoption into calm, manageable and well-informed chunks, all of which are backed up with perceptive references to recent theory and shining examples of good practice. Each stage - preparing yourself, your future child, your family and friends and even their birth family - for the enormous forthcoming change in all their lives - is enlightened by extremely useful suggestions and invaluable insight gained from Julia Davies' personal and professional experience. Best of all, there is real empathy for all those involved in this complex and often lengthy process. I would thoroughly recommend this wonderful book to prospective adopters and their friends and family, as well as foster carers and social work practitioners. I only wish it had been written earlier. -- Ali Redford, adoptive parentI thought adopters couldn't be prepared for everything... until I read this book! It is tremendous - jam packed with practical advice and case studies that bring the real issues to life together with an excellent overview of the theory. I think all prospective adopters should be required to read it before children can be placed with them. -- Mark Owers, CEO, Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) UKThis is the book I wish I could have read before we became foster parents. It manages to walk the fine line between being realistic about the trauma and corresponding issues that the children may face, without making them seem impossible to parent...Adoptive parents, even if you think you've read everything there is on bringing a new child into your home, I urge you to pick this book up...This is a hard job. Don't do it alone. -- Erin Kirchoefer, foster parentTable of ContentsCh1: Making Sense of it All. Ch2: Other ideas to consider. Ch3: Getting Ready. Ch4: Preparing Family and Friends. Ch5: Preparing Children. Ch6: When Everyone is ready. Ch7: Now you are Home. Ch8: Challenges and How to Meet Them.

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Book SynopsisThis is not just another book about adoptive parenting. This is the real stuff: dynamic, messy, baffling adoptive parenting, rooted in domestic life.Award-winning columnist and adoptive parent Sally Donovan offers savvy, compassionate advice on how to be 'good enough' in the face of both day-to-day and more bewildering challenges – how to respond to 'red mist' meltdowns, crippling anxieties about new routines and, most importantly, how to meet the intimidating challenge of being strong enough to protect and nurture your child. Full of affecting and hilarious stories drawn from life in the Donovan household, The Unofficial Guide to Adoptive Parenting offers parents a refreshing counterblast to stuffy parenting manuals -- read it, weep, laugh and learn.Trade ReviewSally Donovan seems to write as naturally as the rest of us breathe. -- Adoption Today magazineIn this new book Sally Donovan communicates powerfully the messy lived experience of daily family life with her two adopted children. In her hopeful, intelligent, moving, witty and psychologically sound reflections adoptive parents will gain a lot of comfort. This book will be an invaluable resource for both parents, extended family and friends and professionals. -- From the foreword by Dr. Vivien Norris, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, DDP Practitioner, Certified Theraplay® Therapist and Trainer, The Family PlaceWhen Sally Donovan asked me to read the draft of her second book I was both delighted and anxious. Delighted because I've come to know Sally - first through Twitter, then personally - and I have a high regard for her ability to tell it how it is, to support others and to write so engagingly. Anxious because I loved her first book , No Matter What, so much. When she told me that her second book was a guide to parenting adopted children I must admit to thinking that this had been done before by so many others and that it wouldn't come close to the power of her first book. I needn't have worried. The Unofficial Guide to Parenting Adopted Children is brilliant; it's Sally at her best and a must-read for all those involved in adopting children from care. Sally takes us through the reality of modern day adoptive parenting in a frank, hard hitting and ultimately uplifting way. She pulls no punches, but what is so good about this book is the hope that it offers. Sally takes us in to her world, and provides the reader in a very matter-of-fact way sound advice from her own experience and research into therapeutic parenting. Any adopter reading this will know that they are not alone, that they can forgive themselves for not being the perfect "elite" parent, and that with love, knowledge, support and determination very damaged young lives can be transformed. Some may worry that this 'warts and all' description of 21st Century adoption will put others off from adopting. I don't. Because Sally shows us that it is so worthwhile; it's probably the most impactful and all-consuming voluntary effort than anyone ever makes in our society. The risk to successful adoptions is the lack of support for adoptive families, not supportive books like this. -- Hugh Thornbery, Chief Executive, Adoption UKSally Donovan gives us a book that is honest, real and down-to-earth. The satisfaction and the pain of parenting traumatized children is here along with many practical suggestions for therapeutic parenting. Writing from the perspective of an adoptive parent of two children this book has the compassion and reassurance that can only come from having been there. Thank you Sally for helping us to understand what it is like; for showing us that therapeutic parenting can work even though the journey is a long one and for the wisdom that says give it a go and if you don't always follow the model that is okay too. -- Dr. Kim S. Golding, Clinical PsychologistEven at this early stage in my own adoption journey...reading this book was a great way of re-reminding myself of some of the things I should be either doing or considering doing. This is a warts and all book, and probably funnier for it (and it is often funny). Probably the best recommendation I can give this book is to say that I will be keeping it close by so that I can get to it when I need it. Not only that but I will also be picking up a couple of extra copies for my family members too, to help with their understanding of the reality of our wonderful situation. -- Scott Vine, www.informationoverlord.co.ukIf we had had this book to refer to many years ago it would have helped us to parent our children more easily. It is not a text book and it is not prescriptive. It is a practical guide, easy to read, full of helpful advice and strategies to try for children where traditional parenting methods fail because our children have not had a traditional childhood experience. It is a must read for all adoptive parents. Read from it, get ideas from it, but above all smile at it and use it to help you smile again with your family. -- From the foreword by Sue and Jim Clifford OBEAward-winning columnist and adoptive parent Sally Donovan offers savvy, compassionate advice on how to be "good enough" in the face of both day-to-day and more bewildering challenges - how to respond to "red mist" meltdowns, crippling anxieties and most importantly, how to meet the intimidating challenge of being strong enough to protect and nurture your child. Full of affecting and hilarious stories drawn from life in the Donovan household, this book offers parents a refreshing counterblast to stuffy parenting manuals - read it, weep, laugh an learn. -- Families NW London MagazineTable of ContentsIntroduction, 1. It's All About Us: Shaping Up to be a Therapeutic Parent, 2. Establishing the Basics, 3. This is Meant to be Fun, 4. Leisure Time, 5. Repetitive Strain, 6. The Hard Stuff, 7. Brothers and Sisters, 8. The Outside World, 9. Life Story Work, 10. Self-care, 11. Practical Techniques

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Book SynopsisFor children who are adopted families can get complicated, and that's very true when it comes to brothers and sisters, or 'siblings'. Today The Adoption Club are exploring the confusing world of siblings. Some children have half-siblings, adopted siblings, step-siblings. Michael has a birth sibling, his sister Angela, who he lives with, but many other children who are adopted are separated from their brother or sisters. The Adoption Club talk about their feelings about their own siblings.Written for counsellors and therapists working with children aged 5-11, as well as adoptive parents, this workbook is designed to help explore sibling relationships. It is one of a set of five interactive therapeutic workbooks featuring The Adoption Club written to address the key emotional and psychological challenges adopted children often experience. Together, they provide an approachable, interactive and playful way to help children to learn about themselves and have fun at the same time.Trade ReviewThe Adoption Club series by Regina M. Kupecky, is a novel concept for helping adopted children share their stories. This therapeutic tool will help adoptees find and use their voices. Thank you, Regina! -- Sherrie Eldridge, author and speaker in the field of adoptionTable of ContentsIntroduction. Story. Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisMeet Chelsea - a young girl who was adopted. Chelsea invites you to learn about adoption from her perspective and introduces us to two friends of hers who were also transracially adopted. Chelsea and her friends help children understand what it means to be adopted, the experiences and challenges that follow the adoption process, and how they can help. Accessible and informative, this illustrated book is an ideal introduction to adoption for children aged 7-11 and is a great tool for encouraging discussions for families, teachers and professionals working with adopted children.Trade ReviewThis useful, accessible book is written from the perspective of a young girl (,...) Chelsea's perspective, it invites the reader to understand adoption from the young person's point of view; what adoption is like, the questions, worries and fears adoptees may have and ways o open up communication about these issues... At the end of the book, there are sections specifically for parents and teachers offering advice about how they can help adopted children, and to inform parents and teachers. -- Youth in MindThe overall tenor of this book is upbeat and I can envisage it being a great help both to adopted children and those with whom they have regular contact - teachers and children - at school. -- Red Reading Hub by Jill BennettI love the honest and clear way this book tells how children come to be adopted. This explanation will be useful for adopted children trying to understand their own story, as well as informing those around them. I can definitely see the benefits of this book being used in schools as well as at home, and I will be recommending it to teachers I know and work with. -- Sarah Hill, adoption blogger and adoptive parentI think many adopted children will appreciate the straight talking on some of the emotional issues they face. -- Sally Bell, adoptive parentCan I tell you about Adoption?' is an illustrated book accessible to children aged seven+ that invites the reader to explore the thoughts and feelings that can surround adoption through the eyes of Chelsea, a young girl who wasadopted... Throughout the book Chelsea acknowledges thoughts and feelings connected to birth parents, foster parents, adopted parents and the adoptee themselves that may never go away. Helpful suggestions of how to ask an adopted child questions are given as well as a valuable insight into ways of empathically understanding how anadopted child may feel... Straight talking on emotional issues and difficult questions runs throughout the book. This makes it a useful tool for opening up discussions for parents, families, teachers and professionals who work with adopted children as well as adopted children themselves. The end of the book provides advice sections for teachers and parents which is followed by a list of helpful reading resources and organisations. -- Play TherapyThe slim publication is likely to prove a useful tool for young adopted children to enable them to raise and discuss issues they may have about their life-story with their adoptive parents and to gain confidence in discussing issues surrounding their adoptive status with their friends. It is also likely to be of value to professionals, including social workers and teachers, working with children who have been adopted, or are about to be adopted.The illustrations included in the book will help engage young readers and help to get the message home about some rather complex issues. -- Dr Darshan Sachdev, Independent Research Consultant * NAPCE Journal: Pastoral Care in Education *Overall, this book is a worthwhile read and it would help to open up discussion within a family who have an adopted child...in summary, this book sets out to help others to understand what it feels like to be adopted and I think it achieves this objective very well. -- Denise O'Neill * Irish Association of Social Workers *Table of Contents1. Introduction. 2. Introducing Chelsea. 3. My Adoption Story. 4. Meet my friends Adilu and Kira. 5. Difficult Questions and Feelings about being Adopted. 6. Good Things about Being Adopted. 7. Notes for Parents. 8. Notes for Teachers.

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Book SynopsisThe author’s account of being abandoned by her mother as a young child and her life in homes and institutions will captivate any reader. The mystery of her search for her mother and constant rejections will leave the reader wondering what demons drove her to be so elusive. “Call Me Auntie” was the best her mother could offer but this was just the start of a bizarre sequence of events. After discovering she had a brother and looking for her long lost family in Barbados the author finally came to understand she “may be a princess after all”. Call Me Auntie is a story of survival, resilience and changing attitudes to racism and ethnicity as the author forged a successful career beginning as a Woolworth’s shop girl before joining the police, then moving into social work. Extract: ‘Our new house-parents were Harold and Dora … He was a big guy who always looked angry. She was a little mousy figure but with a steel will underneath … Overnight, the household regime changed. As controlled as our lives might have been in the [previous houseparents’] time, the changes were shocking. Chores had to be performed to much higher standards, and there were new ones … There were new rules, routines, and responsibilities. But this was not all. With the new chores and new rules, our fear set in.'Trade Review‘Anne’s story is a compelling account, not just of her search for her birth mother but of her extraordinary journey from being a child in care, then qualifying as a social worker and finally becoming a magistrate … I read it at a sitting and could not put it down. Her account of life in a children’s home in the 1960s and 1970s deserves to find a place on every social work training course’— Retired Judge Robert Zara; ‘A must-read for anyone who wants to make a difference for children and their lives. Make it compulsory for all social work students’— John Bolton, Visiting Professor, Institute of Public Care, Oxford Brookes University, and a former Director of Social Services.

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Book SynopsisHow do you teach a mother to love her child, when she's still a child herself?Jeanie Doyle nurtures, teaches and cares for young and dysfunctional mums, showing them how to care for their newborn babies, sometimes even taking the mother into foster care before the baby is born.The first in a brand-new series of books by the 'foster super-gran', Wicked Girl is the shocking true story of the very first case Jeanie dealt with: a baby girl who was found abandoned on the steps of a church just before Christmas. While the 14-year-old mother was tracked down, Jeanie took her little daughter into her own care. But while she tried to help the two of them heal and bond, the terrible truth about the baby's father was revealed...A twist on the standard Cathy Glass books, Wicked Girl offers Jeanie's rare perspective of fostering young women alongside their babies. Will mother and daughter be reunited for good, or will the vulnerable young mother make the heartbreaking decision that they are both better off apart?

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Book SynopsisFor anyone considering or going through Fostering for Adoption, this book gives you a detailed, personal account of the process which takes you through all the stages and prepares you to cope with the highs and lows. Fostering for Adoption is a relatively recent initiative (Children and Families Act, 2014) in the adoption legal landscape, seeking early permanence for babies and young children where adoption is most likely to be the plan for the child. This is often cited as a route to be in the best interests of the child, enabling secure attachments and stability. However, for adopters it is inherently risky, it is the adopters who take on the risk in this situation, accept the placement on a fostering basis and hope that the final outcome will be adoption. There is currently a knowledge gap on experiences of Fostering for Adoption which this book tackles. Written from an adopters’ perspective of the risks and challenges, as well as the benefits that it brings, it is perfect for those who are considering the process as well as their friends and family. A book on Fostering for Adoption can’t just focus on one story and one outcome so we’ve included case studies which cover the key experiences adopters may face when agreeing to accept a baby on a Foster to Adopt placement such as: Caring for a baby a few days after birth The paperwork, rules and fostering process The uncertainty and risk Meeting with birth parents Contact Looking after a withdrawing baby A termination of placement Written in an engaging and friendly style, this book is perfect reading for anyone looking to adopt a child and for adoption professionals seeking to understand the experience of the adopter more profoundly. Praise for Fostering for Adoption "As someone who has been through a similar journey this book resonated with me. It is honest about the ups and downs and is a great, informative book for anybody thinking of taking this route or who have family or friends that are. I can say that this book will help anyone at the beginning of their journey, to help them through the process and – start the lifetime of learning about how we can support our children." Lisa Faulkner, Author, Meant to be "Alice’s book will be a great companion to anyone considering or starting on the foster to adopt process. It is well-researched and written and doesn’t shy away from the many complexities and the considerations that adults must make in the best interests of children." Sally Donovan, Author of No Matter What, and Editor of Adoption Today "I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I found myself laughing and getting emotional throughout. As someone who has themselves been adopted, but who is also a social worker who has now adopted a child, this book is brilliant from every angle. A must read for anyone considering Fostering for Adoption." Jo, Social Worker, Midlands “This book gives a balanced and honest view of the whole Fostering for Adoption journey. It gets to the emotions and seriousness of decisions being made about children's lives. This is an important read for any potential adopter and will be on our book lists for sure” Angi, Social Worker, Adoption Tees Valley Trade Review"As someone who has been through a similar journey this book resonated with me. It is honest about the ups and downs and is a great, informative book for anybody thinking of taking this route or who have family or friends that are. I can say that this book will help anyone at the beginning of their journey, to help them through the process and – start the lifetime of learning about how we can support our children." -- Lisa Faulkner * Author of Meant to be *"Alice’s book will be a great companion to anyone considering or starting on the foster to adopt process. It is well-researched and written and doesn’t shy away from the many complexities and the considerations that adults must make in the best interests of children." -- Sally Donovan * Author of No Matter What, and Editor of Adoption Today *"I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I found myself laughing and getting emotional throughout. As someone who has themselves been adopted, but who is also a social worker who has now adopted a child, this book is brilliant from every angle. A must read for anyone considering Fostering for Adoption." -- Jo * Social Worker, Midlands, UK *"This book gives a balanced and honest view of the whole Fostering for Adoption journey. It gets to the emotions and seriousness of decisions being made about children's lives. This is an important read for any potential adopter and will be on our book lists for sure." -- Angi * Social Worker, Adoption Tees Valley *Table of ContentsCh 1: Introduction and background to Foster to Adopt Ch 2: Where our story begins: The first training session and Stage 1 Ch 3: Expressing our story: Stage 2, the home assessment and panel Ch 4: Who will join our story? Matching, tracking and the emotional rollercoaster Ch 5: The story continues: Being matched and more waiting Ch 6: Our story gets real: Transition and placement Ch 7: Documenting the detail of our story: The early days of and everyday life of F2A Ch 8: Retelling our story as a family of three: Preparing for panel Ch 9: Formalising our story: Applying for the Adoption Order and everyday life-in-between Ch 10: Our story can continue: Legally part of our family

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Book SynopsisCelebrating Fifty Years of Picador BooksYou think adoption is a story which has an end. But the point about it is that it has no end. It keeps changing its ending.From the moment when, as a little girl, she realizes that her skin is a different colour from that of her beloved mum and dad, to the tracing and finding of her birth parents, her Highland mother and Nigerian father, Jackie Kay’s journey in Red Dust Road is one of unexpected twists, turns and deep emotions. In a book remarkable for its warmth and candour, Kay discovers that inheritance is about much more than genes: that we are shaped by songs as much as by cells, and that what triumphs, ultimately, is love.Taking the reader from Glasgow to Lagos and beyond, Red Dust Road is a heart-stopping story of parents and siblings, friends and strangers, belonging and beliefs, biology and destiny.‘Like the best memoirs, this one is written with novelistic and poetic flair. Red Dust Road is a fantastic, probing and heart-warming read’ – IndependentPart of the Picador Collection, a series showcasing the best of modern literature.Trade ReviewA clear-eyed, witty and unsentimental account of the push and pull between nature and nurture. Happiness shines through * Sunday Times *Wonderful, humane . . . This is a book with resolution, determination and honesty * Scotland on Sunday *It is Kay’s abundant wit that makes Red Dust Road such a moving, spirited work. This is a terrifically easy, evocative, and often amusing read . . . A remarkable, soul-searching journey * Sunday Herald *

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Book SynopsisAngie, 6, and sister Polly, 4, are utterly distraught when they arrive to stay with foster carer Cathy Glass. Their older half-sister Ashleigh has accused their father of something horrible, and the two young sisters have been removed from home to keep them safe.Cathy tries to comfort the girls, but they are inconsolable. They just want their mummy and daddy, whom they love dearly.The girls appear to have been well looked after, but as they settle and start to talk of life at home, it becomes clear something is badly wrong. Then a chance remark sets in motion a chain of events that eventually changes everything.

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