Toddler Adoption: The Weaver's Craft

Rating:
Summary: Negative and poorly written!
Review: Please do not read this book if you ever plan to adopt. I was very depressed and frustrated after reading this book. According to this book the only good age to adopt is an ifant. Apparently they don't believe other children deserve a home too. I'm glad I was well informed by real professional and good friends who have adopted before I read this book. Please do not read this RUN! Toddlers deserve a loving home too!

Rating:
Summary: This is a MUST for all parents considering toddler adoption!
Review: The book is a very compassionate look at both toddlers in need of stable, permanent homes and the parents who adopt these wonderful kids. It tackles all aspects of both the problems these families face, as well as the joys, in a down-to-earth, easy to understand way. I read the book in 3 days, and loved it enough to read it again. I know that as my son grows and flourishes, I will owe part of his success, as well as a part of mine as a parent, to this book.

Rating:
Summary: A very valuable resource for parents of adopted toddlers
Review: This book is a practical, upbeat guide for parents who have adopted a child who is old enough to carry with them the weight of past experiences and the loss of former attachments (or the hurt of lack of attachments) yet are not old enough to express their emotions or memories in a way that can help their new parents help them. Hopkins-Best has helped unravel some of the mysteries that come with toddlers with a "past". I found her approach extremely helpful with our Romanian son adopted recently at the age of 34 months. I learned that some of the eating problems were actually rooted in attachment problems and that I had been handling the outbursts at the table in exactly the wrong way. Within days of changing my reaction his behavior improved dramatically. I wish I had read the book before I adopted a toddler, but I'm glad I read it soon after or we may have had a much longer struggle with attachment. I would consider this "required reading" for anybody looking to adopted a child over the age of one year.

Rating:
Summary: good, but watch out...
Review: This is a great book, but pretty heavy on the "horror stories". We were so convinced by the horror stories that we pressed for a non-trivial amount of transition time with the birth mother, and she thought we were being too much of a pain and dumped us :-(


Rating:
Summary: An eye-opener about winning trust of grieving toddlers
Review: This is an informative book that has opened my eyes to a whole new world of adoption. The author gives constructive advice on how to win the trust and affection of a grieving, raging toddler. We adopted a four-day old girl in 1969 and were spoiled by the ease of raising our daughter compared to what it might have been like to adopt her as a toddler. I do know one family that adopted four older siblings and the stress of trying to earn these childrens' trust all but broke up the marriage. I greatly admire anyone who does the right thing and adopts an older child. After reading this book, I actually feel a little guilty to have taken the easy way out. One has these dreams of adopting the cute little boy or girl next door but doesn't realize that the toddler available for adoption may have special needs.
Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

Rating:
Summary: Don't adopt a Toddler until you read this book!
Review: We adopted 2 Toddlers 15 yrs ago thru a govt agency. We spoke with their doctor,psychologist and social worker beforehand. They lied about the extent of abuse done by birth parents. We know today that children are taken from the Birth Parents only in cases of extreme neglect & abuse. If I had realized this and read this book I would have been a better parent. Bonding between the child and the adopted parent MUST take place in order for adoption to be successful.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent source of information!
Review: We looked everwhere for information on the adoption of toddlers and there was none to be found. Toddlers are a special age and need guidance that is different from infants or even older children. This resource is a valuble tool that has been referred to since the day it was received in the mail. We only wish we had ordered it sooner. The preplacement information is beneficial for the adoption of children of all ages. Thank you Amazon!

Rating:
Summary: Very negative
Review: Well, if you were thinking of adopting a toddler, this book should certainly cure you of that idea. If you already have your paperwork in, do yourself a favor and read this book AFTER the child comes home. I was looking for a book that would have practical solutions to everyday problems..for example: What are the best ways to ease the child into daycare? What have some other parents done to solve behavioral problems such as biting? How do we help build relationships amongst siblings? This book lists an awful lot of problems, but is very scant on both solutions and anecdotes.One would get the idea that most adopted toddlers are an absolute mess (in fact, it suggests that it they're NOT a mess, then there's something definitely wrong with them). When you announce your intent to adopt, you're going to get enough nay-saying from your "friends", family, co-workers (and complete strangers)! You don't need this book to add to that!