One of my teachers told me about how his adoptive son came home crying after being teased. He told his son that there was nothing wrong or shameful about his origins. Superman was adopted by the Kents, he pointed out. And so was Jesus, by Joseph!

Stories have power. They can help teach us empathy and encourage us to reflect on important issues without being preachy or boring. That’s why reading about characters who have been adopted or have gone through the adoption process can help kids understand this topic. Check out this list of local children’s books about adoption that you can read with your child or on your own!

I Love You Anak! (2013)

The “I Love You Anak” website is an effort of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Inter-country Adoption Board (ICAB) to address the stigma of adoption in the Philippines.

As part of their adoption advocacy campaign, 7 ebooks focusing on adoption and the theme “Love Sees Beyond Differences” were made available for free to read and download: “Baby Circle”, “The Case of the Missing Smile”, “Destiny’s Delivery”, “Juju, Looloo, and Baby Wuwu”, “Juana Bee”, “Mummy and Hunny Bunny”, and “Room Full of Gifts”.

The ebooks were published by McCann Philippines in collaboration with Flipside Publishing Services Inc. You can read them online or download them here.

Happy Home 1: Coming Home (2016)

The main characters of the Happy Home series are Ped and his adoptive family, the Zambranos. The first book in the series, “Coming Home” is about how Ped comes to live with Atty. Zambrano, his wife, and two children, Sam and Abby.

The book was written by Grace Chong and illustrated by Leo Kempis-Ang. Hard copies are available at OMF Literature’s physical and online bookstores, while the ebook is available on Amazon.

Ipinaglihi sa Labanos: White as Radish (2016)

The blurb goes: “Monica always believed she was conceived with the help of her mother’s liking for radishes. That’s why her skin is different from the rest of the family. But she soon discovers the truth behind this mystery.”

The book is by Dr. Luis P. Gatmaitan and illustrated by Ray Sunga. It has both Filipino and English text, as well as a study guide. It was published by Anvil Publishing and can be ordered from their website. You can also purchase an ebook version from Amazon.

Jodie’s Journey (2018)

“Jodie’s Journey” is about Jodie, a young girl who lives at an orphanage. One day, her life changes when she learns that she will be going to Spain to meet her new parents. It’s a book that tackles inter-country adoption.

The book was written by Alexis Lopez and illustrated by Ray Sunga. It contains both English and Filipino text. You can read more about the book here.

Unfortunately, “Jodie’s Journey” is not commercially available but it has been distributed for free at the Hospicio de San Jose, Saint Rita Orphanage, and White Cross Orphanage.