Navigating life’s journey can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when you can’t always relate to the people around you. This is even truer for children. Growing up is filled with many challenges, and it’s often hard for them to express their feelings or understand the world around them. At Kamalii, we deeply understand this. We believe that books can be a beautiful way to open up new worlds for children, giving them a chance to see life through different lenses while discovering more about themselves in the process. Books have the power to heal, inspire, and provide a sense of belonging, especially for children who are navigating foster care.
Children absorb everything around them like sponges, and when they are introduced to stories that resonate with their experiences, it can make a lasting impact on how they grow and see the world. The right book can be a lifelong companion, offering comfort, understanding, and hope. At Kamalii, we are passionate about providing children with stories that not only entertain but nurture their hearts and minds, knowing that this can truly shape the way they develop and face life’s challenges.
Here are our top 5 book recommendations for children in foster care, as well as for the incredible parents who are embracing the joys and challenges of being a resource parent. These stories have the potential to create meaningful connections and inspire growth for everyone involved.
For the Parents
- Connections Over Compliance by Lori Desautels
Traditional disciplinary systems often retraumatize children, and they frequently fall short in effectiveness. Grounded in neuroscience, this book provides practical strategies for fostering regulation by first learning to regulate ourselves. It offers a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to bring about long-term, relationship-based behavioral change that helps children truly heal and grow.
- The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family by Karyn B. Purvis
Written by research psychologists, this powerful resource addresses the unique challenges of fostering children who may come from difficult backgrounds, have special emotional or behavioral needs, or are navigating a new culture. It offers guidance to help parents bring healing and hope to their adoptive families by understanding and meeting these children where they are.
- To the End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care by Cris Beam
Cris Beam, a foster mother herself, provides a deeply personal and empathetic look at life within the foster care system. While this book doesn’t shy away from shedding light on the much-needed reforms within the system, it also shares inspiring stories of ordinary people making extraordinary differences in the lives of foster children. It offers a realistic yet hopeful perspective on foster care.
- How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
“I was a wonderful parent before I had children…” This relatable and engaging book tackles parenting challenges with a lighthearted tone while providing practical, straightforward advice. It emphasizes open communication over punishment and includes interactive workbook sections to help parents internalize the lessons. It’s a great tool for building stronger, more empathetic relationships with children.
- My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem
This eye-opening and empowering book dives deep into the lasting impact of racial trauma, not just on individuals, but across generations. Menakem offers a path to healing, showing how trauma is stored in our bodies and provides tools for personal and collective healing. It’s a transformative read, especially for those seeking to understand the role of racialized trauma in fostering and caregiving.
For the Children/Young Adults
At Kamalii, we understand how important stories are in helping children and families process their experiences. Here are some of our favorite books that provide comfort, understanding, and hope to children in foster care and the parents who care for them:
- Stellaluna by Jenell Cannon (ages 2-8)
Stellaluna’s journey as a young fruit bat separated from her mother and taken in by a family of birds beautifully mirrors the experience of children who find themselves in foster care. As she adapts to her new environment, Stellaluna learns that while she may be different, she is still deeply connected to the family that took her in. This timeless story reminds us that love and family can be found in the most unexpected places, even when things feel temporary.
- Free Verse by Sarah Dooley (ages 10-14)
After losing her brother, Sasha feels completely alone and trapped in her foster care situation. Grief overwhelms her until she discovers the power of poetry. Sasha’s story reflects the raw emotions many children in care experience—grief, anger, and the struggle to find a sense of belonging. “Free Verse” is a moving exploration of how creativity and self-expression can be a lifeline, helping children in difficult circumstances find hope and healing.
- Forever, or a Long, Long Time by Caela Carter (ages 8-12)
Flora and Julian have only known uncertainty, bouncing from one foster home to another, but they’ve always had each other. Now with a new family, Flora isn’t sure how to trust that “forever” can be theirs. This heartfelt story touches on the insecurities that come from a life without stability, while also showing the strength of sibling bonds and the healing power of a stable home environment. It’s a gentle reminder that trust and family take time to build, but they are worth believing in.
- The Quiet You Carry by Nikki Barthelmess (ages 12+)
Victoria’s story is a powerful and emotional journey of a girl thrown into foster care after enduring abuse from her father. As she navigates the challenges of foster care, school, and her own traumatic memories, Victoria’s resilience shines through. Though the themes are heavy, the story offers a path to hope, emphasizing the importance of kindness and honesty. It’s an important read for older children who may be dealing with similar challenges and for parents who want to understand the emotional landscape of foster youth better.
- Far From the Tree by Robin Benway (ages 13+)
This novel brings together the stories of three siblings who were separated in foster care and unexpectedly found each other. Each teen is dealing with their own challenges—feelings of abandonment, identity struggles, and difficult family dynamics—but their reunion helps them build new connections. “Far From the Tree” paints a vivid picture of the complexities of foster care, adoption, and family, giving voice to the emotional journeys of teens trying to understand where they come from and where they belong.
These books offer a window into the hearts and minds of children and families navigating the foster care system. We hope they bring comfort, insight, and inspiration to both children and the resource parents who care for them. Happy reading from the Kamali’i Family to you!!
