I Don't Have Your Eyes

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Written Story
Review: I find this book to be very inspiring. I wish I had A book like this when I was a child. As an adult adoptee, I feel this book touches upon the most important connections we need to make with our children. Thank you, Carrie!

Rating:
Summary: Realistic about differences; lacks birth parent influence
Review: As an adult adoptee, it bothered me immediately that just because there weren't physical likenesses between parent and child, it is implied that the adoptee is (or should be) the same in personality as the parent. We adoptees need the freedom to be who were are and have a hard enough time resolving our dual identity (birth and adoptive families) without being told that we are just like our adoptive parents in personality. A large part of our personalities are formed by the birth parents and they sadly missing.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent balance
Review: Carrie Kitz has written a wonderful story for all families to enjoy together. My girls, ages 5 and 2, ask me to read it over and over. As a mom to one daughter from China and one from Cambodia, I especially enjoy the message the book sends- we may look different on the outside, but on the inside, we are the same.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book for All Families
Review: Carrie Kitz has written a wonderful story for all families to enjoy together. My girls, ages 5 and 2, ask me to read it over and over. As a mom to one daughter from China and one from Cambodia, I especially enjoy the message the book sends- we may look different on the outside, but on the inside, we are the same.

Rating:
Summary: A New Adoption Classic !
Review: Don't be fooled by the cover. Carrie's newest creation speaks to the entire adoption and foster community. " I Don't Have Your Eyes" is the novel, one-of-a kind kids' adoption book we have needed.

Although a " feel good" book, there is nothing sterotypical about how adoption is discussed. The illustrations include and normalize all different type of families.

"I Don't Have Your Eyes" helps kids go beyond " blood" and "genes" as the only important ties between family members. Instead, Carrie gently points out, even more important, shared strengths and similarities. The book's concrete examples ( with a little dab of houmor) are delightful.

Congratulations to Ms. Kitze for carefully considering the needs of the adoption community as she publishes her 'adoption and empowerment- themed' books.

Beth O'Malley M.Ed adoptee and newly adoptive Mom ....

Rating:
Summary: Excellent balance
Review: I have found this book to be an excellent connecting point with our children who were adopted. The way that Kitze acknowledges physical differences and yet affirms the similarities that truly matter is reassuring for children who have concerns about not resembling their adoptive or foster parents. Multicultural illustrations add to the thoughtful writing.

Rating:
Summary: so affirming to see loving familes who don't look alike
Review: I just received this book as a gift. It's wonderful, filled with sweet messages affirming the value of loving, caring, giving, listening and sharing, and illustrations showing children and care givers who don't look alike sharing day-to-day life moments. I didn't realize how much I miss seeing images of diverse families in books until I read this one. The large photos are appealing even to young children and the text is accessible to a large age range of children with messages a parent won't tire of reading. Differences between family members are not denied but the commonality of the human spirit is honored. This book is appropriate not only for adoptive families (like my own) but step-families, bi-cultural or multicultural families and families where biologically related children don't resemble one or either of their parents. It's a great book for school reading projects too as it promotes positive messages and is inclusive of children who don't look like their caregivers.
Cissy White, Families with Children from China member, So. Shore, Ma

Rating:
Summary: Seeking Similarities
Review: My 8-year-old loved this book. She was fascinated by the illustrations and the idea that despite our physical differences as a racially blended family, we are very much the same inside, where it makes all the difference. Excellent source for starting a dialogue with any child.

Rating:
Summary: only for families that pray
Review: This is a great "feel good" book for young children. However, it is awkward to read for a family that does not pray, as the book assumes all do. Since it is written in the first person, it is especially hard to fit the words into our lifestyle.