As a foster parent, doing your best to make the children in your care feel loved, comfortable, and cared for is an integral part of what you do. Whether it’s helping your foster children through difficult times or it’s simply just hanging out with them, figuring out what they need from you is important. One of the best ways to not only entertain children, but help them learn and grow is reading, and there are children’s books and short novels that are focused on foster care, too! Here are four top books that you should offer to your foster care children.
Stellaluna by Jenell Cannon
This children’s book, aimed at children ages 2-8, is about a fruit bat, Stellaluna, who is separated from her mother one night and learns all kinds of new things after being taken in by a bird family. Once reunited with her bat family, Stellaluna realizes that though we’re different, there are many similarities between families. This tale about temporary family is a charming story for foster children to enjoy.
No Matter What: A Foster Care Tale by Josh Shipp
Josh was a squirrel without a squirrel family, so other families tried to take him in. Between the pelicans, the leopards, the otters, the snakes, and many more, no one seemed to want a squirrel like him. Josh didn’t want a family, either, until finding the elephants. This story is a mostly autobiographical tale about finding home and has hilarious illustrations with a heartwarming message.
Maybe Days: A Book for Children in Foster Care by Jennifer Wilgocki
For many children in foster care, the answer to many questions is often maybe. Maybe Days is a straightforward look at the issues of foster care, the questions that children ask, and the feelings that they confront. This is a great option for children new to foster care, too.
Far From the Tree by Robin Benway
This young adult fiction novel is the story of three teen siblings who were separated from each other in the foster system and eventually find each other again. In addition to building relationships with each other once reunited, the teens have to navigate their unique home-life situations. Far From the Tree is an easy read and provides an adolescent perspective on the twists and turns of foster care, foster to adopt, and the added layer of family dynamics that many teens are facing both in and out of the system.
Finding books, entertainment, and learning tools for your foster kids can help to make them feel seen, heard, and cared for. With these recommendations, and the help of FCCY, your foster parent journey is made easier! Learn more about becoming a foster parent with us today.
