The Adoption Resource Book, 4th Edition: 4th Edition

I get dizzy just thinking about the amount of work that went into this resource! I like the fact that the author not only leads one through the myriad of steps toward adoption, but that she is also devoting chapters on parenting issues after the child comes home, and some important longer-term issues about raising an adoptive family. We adopted our daughter in 1969 and received neither pre- nor post-adoptive advice or help. I'm surprised we got through it all and that everything turned out well for us and our daughter. I am especially pleased that the author cautions adoptive parents not to tell their child that the birthmother gave him up because she loved him so much. I never told our daughter this either but rather the plain fact that there was no dad and the birthmother had no way of raising any child at this time of her life. Thank you, Lois, for your wonderful book.Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

We found this book to be the most comprehensive and informative book we read in preparing to adopt. We felt very prepared for all the paperwork, were able to ask questions we would not likely have even thought of on our own, and were able to make informed choices throughout the process. It is well written and speaks to the reader in a very clear manner. We no longer own our copy, as we have passed it on to a friend who is adopting. We would recommend this to everyone considering adoption. Adoption can be very confusing and stressful. This book armed us with the kind of information we needed to be prepared.

My husband and I found this a highly informative reference book that also has soul. In contrast, I found the Idiot's Guide to be insulting in its simplicity. To accompany this and other references, I recommend reading first-hand accounts of adoption, which focus on the emotional side. For example, in East Meets West, a father's story of going to China to meet and bring home his daughter, brought tears to my eyes--a wonderful reminder of why we want to head down this path.

Dear readers,I felt that I needed to respond to the most recent review of my book on this site. I appreciate your commenting on the book -- its first edition appeared in 1984. Each time I revise and rewrite the book extensively. I wanted to note that for a reviewer to comment on the 1987 book and to state that the information was incorrect seemed an unfair manner to review this book. The anecdote about Ecuador was indeed based on a real person who adopted more than 20 years ago ( and whose experience was correct for the time when that person adopted). It is, however, long gone from The Adoption Resource Book. Please see for yourself -- and make your own judgments -- as to the content of my book. Many thanks.

I picked up an earlier version of Gilman's book and used it as our 'bible' when going through the adoption process. Our homestudy case worker was astounded at all the prework we had done. We knew what she was going to ask and had already discussed our feelings about issues and had the paperwork ready for her. I have given my book to several others who were contemplating adoption. Now that we are initiating a second adoption ourselves, I am sending for the new and improved version of this book to help us out. Thank you, Lois Gilman!