Life Story Books for Adopted Children of related interest FirstStepsinParentingtheChildwhoHurts TiddlersandToddlers CarolineArcher ISBN9781853028014 NextStepsinParentingtheChildWhoHurts TykesandTeens CarolineArcher ISBN9781853028021 NurturingAttachments SupportingChildrenwhoareFosteredorAdopted KimS.Golding ISBN9781843106142 BigStepsforLittlePeople ParentingYourAdoptedChild CeliaFoster ForewordsbyDavidHoweandDanielA.Hughes ISBN9781843106203 GreatAnswerstoDifficultQuestionsaboutAdoption WhatChildrenNeedtoKnow FannyCohenHerlem ISBN9781843106715 TheChild’sOwnStory LifeStoryWorkwithTraumatizedChildren RichardRoseandTerryPhilpot ForewordbyMaryWalsh,co-founderandChiefExecutiveofSACCS ISBN9781843102878 ConnectingwithKidsthroughStories UsingNarrativestoFacilitateAttachmentinAdoptedChildren DeniseB.Lacher,ToddNicholsandJoanneC.May ISBN9781843107972 NewFamilies,OldScripts AGuidetotheLanguageofTraumaandAttachmentinAdoptiveFamilies CarolineArcherandChristineGordon ISBN9781843102588 Life Story Books for Adopted Children A Family Friendly Approach Joy Rees Foreword by Alan Burnell Illustrated by Jamie Goldberg Jessica Kingsley Publishers London and Philadelphia Firstpublishedin2009 byJessicaKingsleyPublishers 116PentonvilleRoad LondonN19JB,UK and 400MarketStreet,Suite400 Philadelphia,PA19106,USA www.jkp.com Copyright©JoyRees2009 Forewordcopyright©AlanBurnell2009 Illustrationscopyright©JamieGoldberg2009 Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedinanymaterialform(including photocopyingorstoringitinanymediumbyelectronicmeansandwhetherornottransientlyor incidentallytosomeotheruseofthispublication)withoutthewrittenpermissionofthecopyright ownerexceptinaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheCopyright,DesignsandPatentsAct1988 orunderthetermsofalicenceissuedbytheCopyrightLicensingAgencyLtd,SaffronHouse, 6–10KirbyStreet,LondonEC1N8TS.Applicationsforthecopyrightowner’swrittenpermission toreproduceanypartofthispublicationshouldbeaddressedtothepublisher. Warning:Thedoingofanunauthorisedactinrelationtoacopyrightworkmayresultinbotha civilclaimfordamagesandcriminalprosecution. LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData Rees,Joy. Lifestorybooksforadoptedchildren:afamilyfriendlyapproach/JoyRees;forewordbyAlan Burnell;illustratedbyJamieGoldberg. p.cm. Includesbibliographicalreferences(p. )andindex. ISBN978-1-84310-953-2(pb:alk.paper) 1. Adoptedchildren--Familyrelationships.2. Diaries(Blank-books) I.Title. HV875.R362009 362.734--dc22 2008040884 BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData ACIPcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary ISBN9781843109532 ISBNpdfeBook9780857001900 PrintedandboundinGreatBritainby AthenaeumPress,Gateshead,TyneandWear To my mother – always such a loving, playful and skilful storyteller! Acknowledgements Many thanks to my husband Gwyn, my sister Janet and my favourite niece, Jo. Their enthusiasm, support and advice have been invaluable. Much gratitude also goes to my ex-colleagues in the Adoption SupportTeamatSurreyfortheirencouragement,andtoAlanBurnellat FamilyFutures,whoreadthefirstdraft,sawthepotentialandsuggested publication. A big thank you to Jamie for his illustrations. Last, but certainly not least, I am indebted to the many adopted adults,adoptiveparentsandwonderfulchildrenIhaveenjoyedmeeting over the years. They have been truly inspirational! Contents FOREWORD 9 Introduction 11 1. A New Approach 13 2. A Life Story Book is Not… 16 3. A Different Perspective 19 4. The Inner Child and Subliminal Messages 21 5. Involving Adoptive Parents 27 6. Compiling a Life Story Book 29 7. Sample Life Story Book: Danny’s Life Adventure 41 8. Final Thoughts 86 REFERENCES 89 FURTHER READING 90 INDEX 92