Product Description

From Alaska to Australia the word is spreading. Adoptive parents are discovering the enormous value of adoption lifebooks. But then the questions begin. Where do I start? What information should be included? Do I let my child bring it to school?

Beth O’Malley M.Ed. provides the answers to these and more. In her best selling book, LifeBooks: Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child Beth guides you though the process, step-by-step and page by page as if she were right there with you.

Learn about the difference between a scrapbook or baby book and a lifebook. Or explaining tough truths, dealing with secrets and which pages are essential.

Newly revised 2002

Dozens of real life stories

Lists of hard-to-find lifebook resource websites

Sample pages for international and domestic

Special waiting parent section.

If you get really stuck, there are three full-length examples in the back section, including one for China adoptions.

Her life experiences as an adoptee combined with doing lifebook seminars with adoptive parents all over the country, gives Beth a special perspective on lifebooks. Most importantly, Beth has made countless lifebooks with children in her role as an adoption specialist in Massachusetts.

Beth O’Malley has helped thousands of adoptive families give their children the answers and security they crave.

This book is an indispensable guide to making your child’s lifebook. You will refer to it for years to come!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62803 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

Review
" ...my daughter's LifeBook has only served to bring us closer and increase her trust in me. LifeBooks: Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child provides an invaluable service to adoptive families. Your perspective and guidance freed me up to pull this together." -- Mary McGuire, adoptive mother of 6-year-old Cassie, adopted from China

" I just finished my daughter's lifebook... felt compelled to send you a copy...you inspired me...thank you... -- Dianna Calfin, adoptive mom in New Hampshire July 2001

" This book is a gift for adoptive and birth families and for professionals... -- Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao, CEO Center for Family Connections, Cambridge and New York February 2000

"I strongly recommend this book for anyone involved in adoptions." -- Dr. Gregory Keck, Ph.D. Founder of the Attachment and Bonding Center of Ohio, and co-author of Adopting the Hurt Child August 2001

..."my daughter's lifebook has only served to bring us closer and increase her trust in me -- Mary McGuire, adoptive mother of 7-year-old Cassie, adopted from China

...your book helps adopted children learn to embrace their story and themselves... -- Susan Soon-keum Cox, Holt International Children's Services August 2001

From the Publisher
LifeBooks:Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child is an easy to read guide which explains all the details. Beth O'Malley offers concrete suggestions and tips on everything from tricky text to adding your precious photos.

Families from all over the world are sending thank yous and copies of their successfully completed lifebooks thanks to Beth's book.If what you are looking for is an adoption lifebook guide with a proven track record, Beth's book is the one.

About the Author
Ms. Beth O'Malley is both an adoptee and seasoned adoption worker.She spent her first five months in foster care. She believes these experiences enhance her approach to lifebooks.

Ms. O'Malley also provides workshops and trainings nationally.She and her husband live outside Boston. In 2003 they adopted an 11 month old baby girl. Beth believes that the lifebook process has benefited both her AND her daugther.

Customer Reviews

Maria
As an adoptive mother to be, I found this book enlightening. It's easy to read, informative and gives simple ideas for creating a life book. It's been a great find and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's thinking about adopting too. If you manage to read it prior to your adoptive child arriving home, you'll get lots of useful hints on what to look out for while you're still in the adoption process.

a Classic
This book has been in print for a while, and I hope the author comes out with a 2nd edition, because it is a wonderful, wonderful book, full of helpful practical information about making a lifebook. And a lifebook is an important thing for an adopted person! I'm only just beginning to understand its importance.

I made a lifebook for my daughter 3 years ago. After it was read a few times it sat on the shelf, ignored. But this year, in 2nd grade, when she was asked to bring the 5 most important things to class that say something about who she is, the lifebook was one of them. You just never know.

Not as good as I had hoped, but still helpful
I was disappointed when I was 20 pages or so into the book because it was not nearly what I had hoped for. It is a bit disorganized and feels more like a handout at a class, than a professional book. It also seems to be outdated in terms of some of the ideas (scrapbooking and film photos)and there are also some errors in the references and links. If it were cheaper I wouldn't have minded so much! But I also realized that I have been volunteering in adoption education for many years, and have many friends, virtual and IRL, who have adopted who have helped me with most of the issues this book addresses. However, if I had not had so much exposure to it I would have found the ideas in the book more enlightening. Basically, it's a fundamental idea for adopted children and if you do not have a large support base (helpful CW's, friends with experience, etc) this book will be extremely useful to you. If you are more experienced you might want to borrow it from a friend or the library if you can find it.