Search No More for a Book for Adoptive Parents to Adore
There are as many stories of adoptive families as there are children who joined their families through adoption. And while one book can certainly never encapsulate the myriad experiences that exist, Valerie Westfall’s Searching for . . . The You We Adore (Swan River Publishing, LLC, $18.95) comes as close as any book can.
Lovingly and expertly illustrated by New York Times bestselling artist Richard Cowdrey, this book takes young readers on a journey–at the core of which is love.
From the striking cover–on which a heart made of red ribbon encompasses the earth–to each succeeding page, the tale Westfall weaves is as magical as it is inclusive. Whether a family was formed through international or domestic adoption, privately or through the foster care system, readers will find themselves in these pages.
And lest one believe that the “we” in the title is a reference to two-parent families and that single parents are being left out, it is clear that the tone of the book speaks to how the journey of adoption includes not just the parent or parents but extended family and friends as well–a support system that joins the adoptive family they love ”searching for the you we adore,” the ”you” we all adore.
The rhythmic, rhyming text most assuredly will appeal to the book’s intended audience (children ages 4-8) and the breathtaking illustrations invite readers–young and old–to linger.
This book deserves a spot on the shelf of every adoptive family and those who love them as well as those who long to understand how the universe guides us to the ones we are meant to love.




Beautiful review, Sam. This sounds like a really special book.
Thank you Samantha! You are a lovely person and I am grateful for your expertly written review of my book. It’s families just like yours who inspired me to write “The You We Adore.”
Now, I’m off to shop for an OM!
Great Book…amazing subject. I know an adoptive mother who is selfless…
Adults adopt friends who are closer than some family.
Nice choice to be adopted and to adopt.
The French, j’adore, is without translation.
Peace,
len
Great review, Samatha! This sounds like a book for all; that is, adoptive parents, those thinking about adoption, and those interested in the process too. I’m looking forward to reading it! Laura
Sounds like a great book!
What a beautiful book !! Thank you for sharing this link. I am going to share it with more friends.
I’m sure my mother, the children’s librarian, would love to read this! Great review. Thanks!
Looking forward to adding this book to my collection! I love the front cover. Thanks for sharing. Kim
Looks like I have yet another book to place on my need to read now list. I will enjoy reading this to my son, to demonstrate to him that every family is different in its composition but the same at the heart.
Thanks for the review, Samantha. The next time I am at Barnes and Noble, I will be sure to take a look at it. It sounds as though it would be a great book for all children.
Sam you are such a deserving mother, best of luck on this review!
This book sounds amazing!
Great article!!
As an adoptive mom, this sounds like one for our library!
What a great resource for adoptive families everywhere!
Looking forward to shaing this book with my boys! Thanks for the great review Samantha.
I can’t wait to read this book!
Looks like a wonderful book
I know a couple who would really enjoy this book.
What a great concept, that each and every individual child is a unique ‘you’ waiting to love and be loved!
Looks Great! Will put on my list!
Wonderful review! Many adoptive children wonder how they came into their parents lives, this book seems to encompass both the magic and love that brings new families together.
I am fortunate enough to be in the “we” category of friends and am amazed every day!
looks like a wonderful book
Sounds like an amazing book. Great review!
This sounds like a great book. Great review, Mrs. Hines. I love how passionate you are about adoption and spreading the positivity of it.
Looks amazing!
NIce, Samantha. Adoption is a crucially important step in taking care of our family unit and human family as a whole.
What a lovely review. I do intend to read this book. Thank you for sharing your wonderful “Three Sons” with all of us. We are all Blessed. Thank you, again, Samantha!
Nice job Samantha. I shared this link with my mother and father – if it were not for there selflessness and dedication to adoption, I would not be who I am today! Thank goodness the passion for adoption lives in so many!
A beautiful review! Looks like a very good book
This is a wonderful review of a book that sounds absolutely amazing. I would read it!
Sounds like a great book!
Great review, Sam. Thank you for the insight into such a powerful bond.
What a beautifully written review! Thank you for sharing! I look forward to reading this book.
sounds like a wonderful book! I’m glad that they seek to share what truly connects people together
Wonderful review as always.
Great review Samantha! Sounds like a great book. I will share this with my sister who is a school librarian.
I’ll look forward to seeing the book! Thank you!
Thank you!
Love the book!
This book sounds like a great gift choice for all of the members of any family, to understand and to be understood.
Magically, the simplest daily happenings turn into significant life lessons for your reader. You are an enchanting writer!
Sounds like a wonderful book! I’m learning first hand how wonderfully books work as teaching tools at school and at home! I’m glad someone took the time to write a book like this. Great review too!
Where can I get this book? It interests me on so many levels that I didn’t even realize until I finished reading this review.
Hi, Lisa,
You can purchase online at http://www.TheYouWeAdore.com
Happy Reading!
Samantha
I hope the book is as good as the review!
I will love to try to read it!!
I hope that one day I get to adopt a child and I will BUY that book! Looks great!
It’s great to find a book (or article or any type of media) that goes out of its way to be so inclusive of all types of family. Good find!
I know someone who this book would be great for. It sounds like a fabulous book!
This sounds like an amaizing book for children. How wonderful Sam that you were able to write a review.
Well written review Samantha. I haven’t yet read the book but your review has peaked my interest and look forward to reading it.
I, and my wife, are a part of the extended family, the grandparents, of “My Three Sons”. There is no greater experience than to share the love of these three very special boys.
Sounds like a fun book to read! I will pick it up next time I am out and about.
Thanks for a great book recommendation! Looks like a very thoughtful book.
awesome review! sounds like an amazing book!
Very well said Sam. Maybe you can help out other families who want to adopt as well.
sounds like a wonderful book
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the review Sam.
Sounds like a beautiful book!
Great review Samantha! This sounds like an excellent book.
Great review!
This would be a perfect book review to use for a dictation! (I remember those fondly). It sounds like a really beautiful book. I’ll definitely recommend it if my friends ever become adoptive parents in the future! Thanks
A very well written review on such an amazing topic.
What a great book! Thank you so much for sharing!
This sounds like a great book for any family !!
Great review! Sounds like a wonderful book, I will check it out
Simply lovely! Nice review!
Beautifully written review, Samantha! We are excited to purchase the book!
sounds like a great book
Great Review. Love the illustrations. I’m sure it will be lovely to read.
Mary
Samantha thanks for a insightful review. A must read for all families.
Excellent review.
Thank you so much for speaking up and acknowledging single parent adoption. Bravo.
Sounds like a great addition to any collection.
Samantha,your review was so well written. As an adoptive parent, I have been blessed with wonderful children. I am so looking forward to reading this book.
Wonderful text and illustrations that will resonate with parents and children. The review sums it up well!
Thanks for the lead Samantha. This is a book I should have in my office parent library. Next on my list!
What a fantastic review. I have never heard of this particular book prior to reading your blog but I am surely intrigued and will definitely add this to my list of reads! Thank you for sharing.
This sounds like a really heartfelt and sweet book. I really loved your review as well. Thanks!
Thank you Sam for this insightful review. I value your impressions from one adoptive parent to another.
The book sounds great! I know just who to buy it for….. ( or s it ‘whom’?)
Thank you for always sharing! I wil be sure to add this lovely book to my collection
and will certainly share it with my families.
Always a pleasure,
Lisa Granda
Looks great! good luck with everything.
I love stories of how families came to be, I am sure that this will be a book to add to my collection.
This book sounds great! Lovely review.
Great Review
Sounds like a lovely book! I can see many families, those who have adopted as well as those who have not, finding this book enjoyable. A great message for all.
I love when children’s books touch on difficult issues. I feel like they can make a huge difference. I passed this along to a friend who just went through the adoption process.
Keep Writing Samantha!
Sounds like a moving and special book! The review was so thoughtfully written, the tone of the book must be just as warm and insightful
Beautifully written review !
As Director of a PreSchool with quite a few adoptive parents, I am excited to suggest “Searching For The You We Adore” to them! I will order a copy to have on hand here at the school as well! Thanks for bringing this great book to my attention!
Just suggested this book to two of my families, they are off to purchase a copy!
Thanks, Bethany! That’s fantastic! They will love the book!!