Megan's Birthday Tree

A Story about Open Adoption

Plot Summary

Megan is adopted, but she and her parents keep in touch with her birth mother, Kendra. Every year, Kendra decorates the tree she planted when Megan was born and takes a picture of it to send to Megan. Megan cherishes this Birthday Tree, for it ties her and Kendra together. But one day Kendra writes that she is getting married and moving to a different town. Will she forget Megan, without the tree to remind her?

Reviews

"...as more adoptive families move toward sustaining 'ongoing, meaningful contact' between children and birth parents—now widely preferred by adoption agencies—the story's poignant mesage will find a growing audience." Booklist

"Lears captures perfectly the child's anxiety about being forgotten, as well as her delight when Kendra reveals that even though she does not need a reminder to keep Megan in her heart, she has dug up the tree to replant at her new home. Accomplished full-color paintings complement the text by depicting Megan's emotions--thoughtful, worried, surprised, and joyful. In a helpful note, a social worker explains the benefits of open adoption. This book presents a sensitive portrayal of a complicated situation and is an excellent way to introduce the topic." School Library Journal

Associated Keywords
adopt, adoptive, parents, parent, birth mother