Embarking on a foster care or adoption journey is a unique and transformative experience, filled with both challenges and rewards. At Families United Network, we understand the importance of resources that inspire, educate, and resonate with your family’s path. That’s why we’ve curated a list of our favorite books, movies, and documentaries designed to support and uplift you along the way. Whether you’re seeking guidance, relatable stories, or simply a sense of connection, these recommendations are here to help. We hope you enjoy exploring our selections, and be sure to check back often as we continue to update and expand this list to meet your needs.
BOOKS
Books for All Ages
- All About Adoption: How Families are Made & How Kids Feel About it
by: Marc Nemiroff & Jane Annunziata
Explores the what, how, and why of adoption, addressing the feelings kids may experience as they grow up.
Books for Ages 3 & Older
- Something Very Sad Happened
by: Bonnie Zucker
A simple, age-appropriate explanation of death and loss for very young children. - Why?
by: Melissa Allen Heath
A sensitive picture book to help parents and counselors discuss a parent’s suicide with young children.
Books for Ages 4 & Older
- Once I Was Very, Very Scared
by: Chandra Ghosh Ippen
Addresses trauma and safety in a way that resonates with children. - Who Loves Me?
by: David McPhail
Simple illustrations affirm the love children receive from those around them, fostering a sense of belonging.
Books for Ages 5 & Older
- Love You from Right Here: A Keepsake Book for Children in Foster Care
by: Jamie Sandefer
A warm, reassuring story for kids in foster care, reminding them they are loved and not alone. - My New Mom & Me
by: Renata Galindo
A sweet metaphorical story about differences and new attachments, told through a puppy adopted by a cat. - The Invisible String
by: Patrice Karst
Explains the concept of love and connection that persists even when people are apart, helpful for children dealing with separation or loss. - This Is How We Became a Family: An Adoption Story
by: Wayne Willis
A heartwarming adoption story for children of all ages, celebrating their cherished place in the family. - You Weren’t with Me
by: Chandra Ghosh Ippen
Supports conversations about separations and reunifications. - Zachary’s New Home: A Story for Foster and Adopted Children
by: Geraldine M. Blomquist & Paul Blomquist
Explores the emotions and experiences of children in foster care or adopted homes.
Books for Ages 6 & Older
- A Terrible Thing Happened
by: Margaret M. Holmes
A story about a raccoon who experiences trauma and finds healing through talking. - All the Pieces
by: Hallie Riggs
Helps children understand the loss of a loved one to drug overdose. - Home For a While
by: Lauren H. Kerstein
Follows Calvin, a child who has lived in many houses but is still searching for a home. - Maybe Days: A Book for Children in Foster Care
by: Jennifer Wilgocki & Marcia Kahn Wright
Gently explains foster care, uncertainty, and feelings, making it a great read-aloud for foster families. - Maybe Tomorrow?
by: Charlotte Agell
A story about grief, friendship, and healing over time, offering emotional validation and hope. - Welcome Home, Forever Child
by: Christine Mitchell
Written in the voice of a parent, this book reassures adopted children of their cherished place in the family. - You’ll Find Me
by: Amanda Rawson Hill
A lyrical story encouraging peace and acceptance despite the absence of loved ones.
Books for Ages 7 & Older
- Families Change: A Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights
by: Julie Nelson
Addresses the reality of parental rights being terminated in a gentle, age-appropriate way. - Murphy’s Three Homes: A Story for Children in Foster Care
by: Jan Levinson Gilman
Follows Murphy, a dog in foster care, through his journey of placements, anxiety, and hope. - Real Siblings
by: Seamus Kirst
Explores what it means to be a “real” family through the story of adopted siblings Harper and Wyatt.
Books for Ages 9 & Older
- Finding the Right Spot: When Kids Can’t Live with Their Parents
by: Janice Levy
A story for children who can’t live with their parents, regardless of the circumstances. - Maybe Days
by: Jennifer Wilgocki & Marcia Kahn Wright
Discusses stepping into foster care and navigating change.
Books for Ages 10 & Older
- One for the Murphys
by: Lynda Mullaly Hunt
A heartfelt story about foster placement and finding belonging.
Books for Ages 11 & Older
- The Great Gilly Hopkins
by: Katherine Paterson
Follows Gilly, a foster child navigating difficult placements and emotional challenges.
Books for Teens & Older
- White Oleander
by: Janet Fitch
A more intense portrayal of multiple foster placements and emotional challenges.
Books for Adults
- Another Place at the Table
by: Kathy Harrison
A memoir about fostering, parenting challenges, and hope. - Counting Down: A Memoir of Foster Parenting
by: Deborah Gold & Michael M.
A real-life account of long-term foster parenting, with its joys and heartbreaks. - Foster Parent Handbook
by: Mary Rapshaw
A compact, quick reference guide covering the basics of foster parenting. - Foster Parenting Matters
by: Julie Bagamary
Focuses on creating a caring, attachment-based environment for children. - Foster Parenting Step By Step
by: Dr. Kalyani Gopal
A trauma-aware, stepwise approach to nurturing children who’ve experienced adversity. - Foster the Family
by: Jamie Finn
Offers encouragement, hope, and reflections from a fellow foster parent. - Safe: A Memoir of Fatherhood, Foster Care, and the Risks We Take for Family
by: Mark Daley
A memoir exploring the challenges of foster care and fatherhood. - Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare
by: Dorothy Roberts
A systemic look at race, class, and foster care. - Success as a Foster Parent
by: Rachel Greene Baldino
A general guide covering legal, emotional, and relational aspects of foster parenting. - The Connected Child
by: Karyn Purvis, David Cross, & Wendy Sunshine
A guide about healing and connection strategies for children in care. - The Foster Parenting Manual
by: John DeGarmo
A comprehensive guide combining practical advice and case management nuances. - Understanding Looked After Children
by: Jeune Guishard-Pine, Lloyd Hamilton, & Suzanne McCall
Explores the psychological, behavioral, and systemic needs of children in care.
MOVIES and DOCUMENTARIES
Here’s an alphabetically sorted list of the movies and documentaries, along with brief notes for each. This organization makes it easier to navigate and highlights the unique aspects of each title:
Movies & Documentaries for Ages 6 & Older
- Annie (multiple versions)
Rating: PG | Run Time: 1 Hour 58 Minutes
Classic story about an orphan seeking a home and family. - Kung Fu Panda 2
Rating: PG | Run Time: 1 Hour 35 Minutes
While not strictly about foster care, it includes themes of adoption (Po’s adoptive father) and belonging.
Movies & Documentaries for Ages 7 & Older
- It Takes Two
Rating: PG | Run Time: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
A lighthearted family film about a girl in foster care who switches places with another girl to find better lives. - Zion
Rating: PG | Run Time: 12 Minutes
The inspiring story of Zion Clark, born without legs, growing up in foster care, and pursuing wrestling.
Considerations: May touch on neglect or identity issues.
Movies & Documentaries for Ages 8 & Older
- Angels in the Outfield
Rating: PG | Run Time: 1 Hour 43 Minutes
A boy in foster care wishes for a family, with a magical/sports angle. - My Four Children
Rating: PG | Run Time: 54 Minutes
Documentary about a committed foster mother caring for children with special needs, focusing on love, rehabilitation, and resilience.
Considerations: Some emotional material.
Movies & Documentaries for Ages 10 & Older
- Martian Child
Rating: PG | Run Time: 1 Hour 50 Minutes
A man considers adopting a boy with trust and abandonment issues, exploring what it means to build a family.
Movies & Documentaries for Ages 12 & Older
- Unadopted
Rating: PG | Run Time: 33 Minutes
Documentary exploring the challenges older youth face in achieving permanency and the struggles of feeling “too old” to be adopted.
Considerations: Includes emotional storylines about loss and abandonment.
Movies & Documentaries for Teens & Adults
- Feeling Wanted
Rating: Not Rated | Run Time: 14 Minutes
A short film about a young child navigating life in foster care and familial grief.
Considerations: Emotional material. - Placed: The Journey Through Foster Care
Rating: Not Rated | Run Time: 22 Minutes
Highlights personal stories about the realities of foster care.
Considerations: Raw narratives.
Movies & Documentaries for Ages 13 & Older
- The Davion Effect
Rating: Not Rated | Run Time: 1 Hour 12 Minutes
Documentary tracing one youth’s plea to be adopted and the systemic struggles in foster care.
Considerations: Includes themes of trauma and system critique. - The Blind Side
Rating: PG-13 | Run Time: 2 Hours 9 Minutes
A true story dramatization of a teenager adopted by a caring family after being in foster care. - Instant Family
Rating: PG-13 | Run Time: 1 Hour 59 Minutes
A couple fosters three siblings and navigates the challenges and joys of becoming a family.
Movies & Documentaries for Ages 16 & Older
- A Place Between: The Story of an Adoption
Rating: PG-13 | Run Time: 1 Hour 14 Minutes
A cross-cultural adoption story exploring identity, loss, and reconnection.
Considerations: Mature themes of identity, abandonment, and emotional complexity.
Movies & Documentaries for Adults
- Love & Diane
Rating: Not Rated | Run Time: 2 Hours 53 Minutes
Documentary about a mother and daughter reuniting after years in foster care, addressing generational trauma and recovery.
Considerations: Heavy emotional content.
To view these lists in a printable PDF please click on the link or links below.