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My Family Is Forever
Some families look alike, some don't. Some families are formed through birth, and some families are formed by adoption. But as the little girl in this heartwarming book makes clear, being a family isn't about who you look like or where you were born—it's about the love that binds you together. Adoptive families are sure to delight in the special story of the narrator's adoption—from her parents' excited preparations and long journey by airplane to meet her, to their life together as a family. Nancy Carlson's thoughtful, straightforward text and cheerful illustrations combine to create a reassuring look at how one little girl came into her parents' world—and made them a family forever.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 6, 2018
1. Summary: This book touches upon topics involving different types of families in one child's neighborhood. As the young girl acknowledges the types of families around her, she speaks about her own adopted family. Even though she wonders about her birth parents, she knows that her family is forever.
2. Review: Through the images, the reader is shown many different types of people. Using a broad range of ages, relationships, cultures and families, this book captures the essence of knowing that your family is always special, no matter the type.
3. Connections: All Kinds of Families by Norma Simon is a classic book about the meaning of family. Through the scope of multicutural and multigenrational families, this book holds the same message and values of My Family is Forever by Nancy Carlson.
4. Quote: "And no matter where I go or what I do, I'll always have my family by my side...because families are forever!" A great project to acknowledge the different families each child may have is by having the students do a project based on their family. He students will write and present the people within their family, traditions they may have, things they do together and other interesting facts about their families.
2. Review: Through the images, the reader is shown many different types of people. Using a broad range of ages, relationships, cultures and families, this book captures the essence of knowing that your family is always special, no matter the type.
3. Connections: All Kinds of Families by Norma Simon is a classic book about the meaning of family. Through the scope of multicutural and multigenrational families, this book holds the same message and values of My Family is Forever by Nancy Carlson.
4. Quote: "And no matter where I go or what I do, I'll always have my family by my side...because families are forever!" A great project to acknowledge the different families each child may have is by having the students do a project based on their family. He students will write and present the people within their family, traditions they may have, things they do together and other interesting facts about their families.
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February 27, 2024I adored this book! It tackles the subject of adoption and normalizes the idea that not all families look the same and often appear very different from one another. I will be adding this book to my future classroom as I think it will teach/show kids a form of compassion regarding a more "adult" style topic.
February 15, 2020
This book shows how important parents are and how they support each other. This book might not be ok to use in a classroom setting because some k't have those parent figures.
February 16, 2010
An unamed girl explains there are lots of different types of families and how her family was formed by adoption. Even though the main character does not look like her parents, she gives details on how she is still like her parents in other ways. Such as she is a good cook like her dad and a wonderful dancer like her mom. The girl sometimes wonders about her birthparents and how she is like them. She states she knows one thing for sure that is they wanted her to have a family to love and she has that a family that is forever. She explains what it means to be a forever family: helping each other and loving each other through good times and bad.
The book covers many pertinent adoption topics such as the different ways families are formed; nature vs. nurture issues (who she looks like and who she acts like); the adoption process (shows a social worker and the parents preparation); questions and fantasies that are normal for a child who has been adopted (she thinks she came to her parents on a spaceship instead of being born, wondering about her birthparents); and reassures that adoptive families are “real, normal” families, and will be a family forever. The book is positive and up beat but isn’t afraid to let some questions go unanswered and implicitly shows some potential negative feelings which can help a child who has been adopted open up about their concerns and anxieties. The characters in of themselves do not fall into stereotypes (such as the Dad cooks and the narrator who is of Asian ethnicity, needs help with math homework).
Although the characters may not be stereotypical (except she is a girl who needs help with math) the simple illustrations can be construed that way. The narrator’s eyes are drawn as slanted lines and look closed, while the non-Asian faces have large dots for eyes and look wide open.
The book covers many pertinent adoption topics such as the different ways families are formed; nature vs. nurture issues (who she looks like and who she acts like); the adoption process (shows a social worker and the parents preparation); questions and fantasies that are normal for a child who has been adopted (she thinks she came to her parents on a spaceship instead of being born, wondering about her birthparents); and reassures that adoptive families are “real, normal” families, and will be a family forever. The book is positive and up beat but isn’t afraid to let some questions go unanswered and implicitly shows some potential negative feelings which can help a child who has been adopted open up about their concerns and anxieties. The characters in of themselves do not fall into stereotypes (such as the Dad cooks and the narrator who is of Asian ethnicity, needs help with math homework).
Although the characters may not be stereotypical (except she is a girl who needs help with math) the simple illustrations can be construed that way. The narrator’s eyes are drawn as slanted lines and look closed, while the non-Asian faces have large dots for eyes and look wide open.
October 11, 2015
Title / Author / Publication Date:
My Family is Forever / Carlson, Nancy. / 2004
Genre: Fiction
Format: Picture Book – print
Plot summary:
A young Asian girl tells the story of how she came to be part of an adoptive family.
Review citation:
PreS-Gr 2-A young girl introduces herself to readers: "My family was formed by adoption, so I look just like- me!" She goes on to tell the story of her move from an undisclosed Asian country. She describes her experiences with her family, the activities she enjoys, and her thoughts about her birth parents. In the end, she says that wherever she goes she will always have her family by her side. Carlson has selected a topic that's in great demand. Unfortunately, this effort falls flat. The text is lively but sounds too adult and too preachy to ring true as a child's voice. Some will view the cartoon illustrations of the main character as stereotypical. Her eyes are drawn as slanted lines and look closed on most of the pages, while the non-Asian faces have large dots for eyes and look wide open. For more successful adoption stories depicting Asian children, try Rose A. Lewis's I Love You Like Crazy Cakes (Little, Brown, 2000) and Eve Bunting's Jin Woo (Clarion, 2001). (Rachel G. Payne, School Library Journal)
Section source used to find the material: Adoption Books | Monroe County Public Library, Indiana.
Recommended age: Ages 3-8
My Family is Forever / Carlson, Nancy. / 2004
Genre: Fiction
Format: Picture Book – print
Plot summary:
A young Asian girl tells the story of how she came to be part of an adoptive family.
Review citation:
PreS-Gr 2-A young girl introduces herself to readers: "My family was formed by adoption, so I look just like- me!" She goes on to tell the story of her move from an undisclosed Asian country. She describes her experiences with her family, the activities she enjoys, and her thoughts about her birth parents. In the end, she says that wherever she goes she will always have her family by her side. Carlson has selected a topic that's in great demand. Unfortunately, this effort falls flat. The text is lively but sounds too adult and too preachy to ring true as a child's voice. Some will view the cartoon illustrations of the main character as stereotypical. Her eyes are drawn as slanted lines and look closed on most of the pages, while the non-Asian faces have large dots for eyes and look wide open. For more successful adoption stories depicting Asian children, try Rose A. Lewis's I Love You Like Crazy Cakes (Little, Brown, 2000) and Eve Bunting's Jin Woo (Clarion, 2001). (Rachel G. Payne, School Library Journal)
Section source used to find the material: Adoption Books | Monroe County Public Library, Indiana.
Recommended age: Ages 3-8
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October 18, 2016 This story is about a Caucasian family adopting an Asian girl as a baby. It is described that her family wanted a baby to love, so they went to a far away country and adopted her. I liked the aspect of the book when it talked about how families are made in different ways, so sometimes they look alike and sometimes they don’t.
“My Family is Forever” could also relate to different types of families that are made in non-traditional ways, which is why I included it in my set. It is vital for children to be able to see themselves and their families in texts, which is why I included this book.
The book covers many aspects mentioned on the checklist. The story is interesting to children and offers them a variety of things to think about. It is age appropriate for the target audience, and the plot is basically the story of her being adopted. There really is not a problem and solution, but it uses excellent language and is realistic towards the characters.
The illustrations are mostly accurate and they correspond well to the text. The illustrations also hold the children's interest and add to the story. The characters represent a variety of cultural groups and the readers are exposed to multiple perspectives/values. There are some mild stereotypes present in the main characters appearance, but the lifestyle is genuine. The author is not a part of the group represented, and there were really not "good" or "bad" characters. There was a good amount of diversity in the text.
“My Family is Forever” could also relate to different types of families that are made in non-traditional ways, which is why I included it in my set. It is vital for children to be able to see themselves and their families in texts, which is why I included this book.
The book covers many aspects mentioned on the checklist. The story is interesting to children and offers them a variety of things to think about. It is age appropriate for the target audience, and the plot is basically the story of her being adopted. There really is not a problem and solution, but it uses excellent language and is realistic towards the characters.
The illustrations are mostly accurate and they correspond well to the text. The illustrations also hold the children's interest and add to the story. The characters represent a variety of cultural groups and the readers are exposed to multiple perspectives/values. There are some mild stereotypes present in the main characters appearance, but the lifestyle is genuine. The author is not a part of the group represented, and there were really not "good" or "bad" characters. There was a good amount of diversity in the text.
February 3, 2016
My Family is Forever by Nancy Carlson serves a comprehensive reading tool in which adoption and nontraditional families are discussed. The story begins by displaying the manner in which the young girl was adopted and how their family began to form. The young girl emphasizes throughout the story that although she doesn’t necessarily belong to a “conventional” family, her family still embodies the values each family holds. She emphasizes the strong relationship she has with her parents as well as her extended relatives. This book utilizes the theme of adoption and loving relationships to display that although her family may not have formed in a traditional manner, her family still demonstrates an everlasting love and care for each other. I closely related to this story because I have a friend who adopted a younger sister from China. The family treats her as if she were theirs from the very beginning. The love and care this family has shown the young girl is beyond belief. I would highly recommend this story for young children as it serves as a mechanism to talk about the puzzling topic of adoption and the manner in which families as such are formed. I gave this story a five star rating due to the manner in which the author presents this “newly” formed family and the explanation of adoption given throughout the story.
March 8, 2015
This book was simply amazing! My Family is Forever, by Nancy Carlson is a book about a little girl who shows that although she may not look like her mother and father, they are her family. She tells her story of how she came from a far away land just to be with her new family. She shows how her and her family prepared for her welcome, how she got to me her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She also talks about all the different things that her family likes to do. Sometimes she thinks of her birth parents and if she looks like them, but then she strongly reminds herself that her family loves her. Through good and bad times, family is forever. This book relates to the cultural topic: family, and shows that members of are family can come from all different kinds of places. Some members of our family can even be adopted. This book is realistic fiction, and includes a rich, and thick plot, but does not include any issues that need resolving. The illustrations are perfect visualizations and clear representations for what is taking place in this story. There is a lot of cultural diversity among the characters of this story, with the adopted child being of Asian decent, and her new family appearing to be Caucasian.
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June 29, 2015Not all families are alike. Families come in all different shapes and sizes, colors and forms. Some children are born into their families, other children are adopted into families. "My Family is Forever" tells the story of a little girl who was adopted by her parents. She knows she looks different from her parents but she understands that is okay. Her best friend Jeffrey got his father's ears but she got her good cooking skills from her dad and her dance moves from her mom! Nancy Carlson's book is a direct, easy read for young children to get the basic facts about adoption. Images throughout the story show different kinds of families doing different things. It gives the foundation for family and why family is important: helping each other, loving each other and being there for one another because family is forever.
October 2, 2008
My Nomination For Sharon's Award
Level: early
Genre: picture book
topics: international adoption, family
curricular use: guided or independent (introduce the topic)
social: family differences, looking different adoption, stereo-type of asian looks (slanted eyes)
literary elements: imagination: baby in a spaceship, tone of togetherness and sense of familial love, straightforward text
Strong: interaction between pictures and text: picture on majority of page mean focus, pictures show differences
Level: early
Genre: picture book
topics: international adoption, family
curricular use: guided or independent (introduce the topic)
social: family differences, looking different adoption, stereo-type of asian looks (slanted eyes)
literary elements: imagination: baby in a spaceship, tone of togetherness and sense of familial love, straightforward text
Strong: interaction between pictures and text: picture on majority of page mean focus, pictures show differences
October 31, 2008
Genre: Realistic picture book
Reading Level: Early
Topics & Themes: Families. International adoption.
Curricular Use: Read aloud or independent reading
Social: Family differences adopted child is Asian and adopted by an American family. Stereotypes of Asians in the illustrations.
Literary Elements: Imaginative. Tone of togetherness. Straightforward text.
Text & Pictures: Pictures on majority of page space and are the main focus. Interaction of text and pictures. Pictures show the differences between the adopted child and her family.
Reading Level: Early
Topics & Themes: Families. International adoption.
Curricular Use: Read aloud or independent reading
Social: Family differences adopted child is Asian and adopted by an American family. Stereotypes of Asians in the illustrations.
Literary Elements: Imaginative. Tone of togetherness. Straightforward text.
Text & Pictures: Pictures on majority of page space and are the main focus. Interaction of text and pictures. Pictures show the differences between the adopted child and her family.
May 1, 2010
Summary:
From School Library Journal
"A young girl introduces herself to readers: "My family was formed by adoption, so I look just like… me!" She goes on to tell the story of her move from an undisclosed Asian country. She describes her experiences with her family, the activities she enjoys, and her thoughts about her birth parents. In the end, she says that wherever she goes she will always have her family by her side.
Theme: Adoption
Curricular Use: Probably wouldn't use
Level: preK-2
Illustrations: Stereotypical
From School Library Journal
"A young girl introduces herself to readers: "My family was formed by adoption, so I look just like… me!" She goes on to tell the story of her move from an undisclosed Asian country. She describes her experiences with her family, the activities she enjoys, and her thoughts about her birth parents. In the end, she says that wherever she goes she will always have her family by her side.
Theme: Adoption
Curricular Use: Probably wouldn't use
Level: preK-2
Illustrations: Stereotypical
October 1, 2008
This is a picture book that deals with the issue of adoption. The girl in this book loves her family. She wonders about her birth mother also. My Family is Forever would be a good book for a emergent reader. The words in this book are easy and the sentences on the pages are short. It would also be a good choice for an independent reading. The pictures in My Family is Forever interact with the written words on the pages.
October 3, 2013
The theme of this book is a family that was formed by adoption. It is a great way to explain to children that it is okay to be adopted. You may look different from your family but you are still loved by them. The age range for this book would be about kindergarden to first grade. I liked this book and would read it to any child because it is important for everyone to understand that some people are adopted and live with parents that aren’t their biological parents.
March 24, 2012
A wonderful book from the perspective of an adopted child who is welcomed into a new family. She explains how families are formed in different ways and not all families look alike. Her family loves her in good times and in bad times, and is always by her side. The book expresses the idea that what makes a family is the love and support that they give you forever.
Want to read
April 23, 2013My Family is Forever” discusses a young girls experience moving from Asia to adoptive family. She embraces the fact that even though she does not look like her parents, she still loves them and enjoys activities like cooking and dancing with her parents. Although she sometimes wonders about her birth parents, she is so happy to be a part of this loving and supportive family.
October 19, 2016
My Family is Forever is told by a young girl who has been adopted by two loving parents. I chose this book because I felt that it would be good for young children to see that adoption is just as normal as a biological family. This book tells the story of how her family went and got her from another country and how they prepared for her.
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November 7, 2010This book is about a young adopted girl who talks about the differences in a family, she tells how family members don’t always look the same and how they are different. Great introduction to kids who need to be opened up to this blended family.
October 26, 2009
Easy book about adoption.
May 6, 2011
One of our favorites about international adoption:-)
March 3, 2016
Good, simple book about adoption and families.
March 30, 2016
My favorite adoption book! Simple without oversimplifying; upbeat without being oblivious.
March 8, 2010
Great adoption story.
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February 19, 2012Have the audio version
May 18, 2017
A good book to share with younger kids about adoption and that at the core of a family is love.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews