I was just sitting here reflecting on what to write about (a daily issue for us bloggers) and I was struck with how important books have been to me and my clients over the years. When I first began working in adoption, there was a real lack of books for adoptive parents and professionals. I swear I read all three that were out there. I do remember when Adoptive Families magazine, still a great, informative read, looked like it was printed at someone's house on a mimeograph machine! For those of you too young to remember, mimeograph machines used some kind of purplish highly pungent jelly to print stuff.

Now, there are so many intriguing books on adoption I can hardly keep up with them as they are published. I try to read almost everything that comes out. It's gotten to be a whole industry. I am convinced, if I could get all my clients to randomly read ten books of their choice on adoption, this self education would go a long way toward helping them make decisions and gain a deeper understanding of adoption and all its facets.

This is a blog about open adoption but that doesn't mean I limit myself to open adoption books. Reading broadly about all different types of adoption and the varieties of human experience in the adoption world enhances my work, whether the book is a first person account, research, or parenting advice for adoptive parents. I don't limit myself to reading authors I agree with either - it's important to get out of our own mindset and learn about someone else's experience. I love discussing books with my clients. It helps me to help them when I see how they react to certain books. I love hearing their thoughts and ideas. I love it when they say, "Until I read that book, I had never thought about that!"

AdoptionShop.com has a really good selection of books you can order directly on the site. You name it, they've got it. It's a good place to start on your reading journey.

Next installment of this blog; I will tell you the adoption books that have had a profound impact on me, books I can highly recommend. Stay tuned!