Recognizing the emotions of adoption grief and loss Discover the emotional journey of adoption in How I Wonder Where You Are . Carla, adopted from Colombia, grapples with her emotions and feelings. Adoptees often struggle to discover their own identity while fearing the disapproval and abandonment of the adoptive family. When assigned a family tree project at school, Carla deals with her self-acceptance and self-image as she thinks about her birth mom. With themes of empathy and understanding, this sensitive children’s book explores the hidden grief of adoption. A heartfelt letter to parents offers essential reminders for adoptive, foster, and blended families, How I Wonder Where You Are is perfect for story time, family reading, or quiet reflection. For fans of The One and Only Ivan , this poignant tale is a must-read. Grab your copy now and embark on Carla’s journey of discovery and love. 2023 1st Place Purple Dragonfly Book Award - Family Matters The Purple Dragonfly Book Award Contest is a worldwide book competition celebrating stories that are original, innovative, and creative "DiDio's children's picture book encourages families to make space for all the emotions that accompany adoption. She prompts adoptive parents to allow their children to give a voice to their innermost thoughts and feelings." Quinn P. Cummings, For The Love of Children's Books; Home of the Parenting & Bonding with Children Books Show & Creators of the E.N.G.A.G.E. Method "A great book for those who have adopted children and want them to know it's ok to wonder about their past. This book covers feelings of belonging, not looking like other family members, questions about birth mothers and accepting that wondering about your past is a part of life. Another beautifully written and illustrated book for adoptive parents." Liane Joly, Children's Book Author @fostercare.adoptionbooks "As the adoptive mother of two now-young adults adopted as babies from Guatemala, I...admire the way How I Wonder addresses the complexity of adoption— how triggering the "dreaded family tree project" ...can be for kids who may not know their whole stories. A lovely addition to the adoption library." Jessica O'Dwyer, author of "Mamalita: An Adoption Memoir" "Very helpful to address ambiguous grief from an adoptee's viewpoint, and also to stress the importance of adoptive parents cultivating a sense of openness, curiosity, and trust so that they can walk alongside their adoptee. This book acknowledges the BothAnd of adoption— both its gains and its losses, which resonates for so many with the actual experience of being adopted." Lori Holden (Lavender Luz), author of " The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption ." "Anna Maria has a definite understanding of both adoptee and adopter (as do I) which is rare in an author. Having read both to myself and to my son I think they will become invaluable in his ongoing understanding of his own adoption and his feelings around it." Black Sheep, transracial adoptee, adopter, author of "Black Sheep Sweet Dreams Adoption Journal" Anna Maria DiDio, MSW, is an adoptive mother, speaker and author of multiple best-selling children's and middle-grade books. She is a baker, quilter, and washed-up athlete who is addicted to thin and crispy chocolate chip cookies. Her L.I.F.E.* Adventures Series of children's books feature stories appropriate for all blended families through adoption, divorce or foster care. She resides in The City of Brotherly Love. *Love Inspires Families Everywhere