10+ Adoption Picture Books Featuring Animals Instead of People

Representing adoptive families on our bookshelf is important! I love picture books about adoption, and these are some great adoption picture books for all ages.

Sometimes it is hard to represent all families in picture books. A solution for this can be to include picture books that feature animals instead of people. This way children can see themselves represented in the story, instead of focusing on how they might look different from the character in the picture.

On this list I have included information that is important to adoptive families picking out picture books: which parents are shown, whether adoption is due to infertility, and if the story has any religious themes.

Some of these picture books about adoption do an exceptional job honoring birth parents, and I have noted that in the description of the book. I hope you find some books that are just right for your family.

If you are interested in my personal favorites, they are Rosie’s Family: An Adoption Story, The Littlest Family’s Big Day, and God Found Us You. However, all of these books will be right for some families but not for all. As with all books dealing with sensitive subjects, I recommend a thorough preview before reading aloud.

Happy reading!

10+ Adoption Picture Books Featuring Animals Instead of People

Rosie’s Family: An Adoption Story by Lori Rosove

I love this adoption book. However, it is no longer being published. I’m still including it in the list so you can be on the lookout for a used copy – it’s that good! The story is spot on with what is appropriate to tell a child. Plus there’s a biological sibling in the family, which is somewhat rare in the adoption picture book world. Did I mention the family is schnauzers adopting a beagle? Yes. I love it.

A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza

Type: picture book
Age recommended by publisher: 2 – 5 years
Shown parents: adoptive mother
Infertility: no
Faith based: no

Choco the bird needs a mother! Mrs. Bear does everything that a mother does, but Choco doesn’t think she can be his mother since they look so different from each other. But then Mrs. Bear introduces Choco to her children: a hippo, an alligator, and a pig! Choco joins the family, forever. This is a very sweet picture book about adoption.

The Littlest Family’s Big Day by Emily Winfield Martin

Type: board book
Age recommended by publisher: preschool and up
Shown parents: adoptive mother, adoptive father
Infertility: no
Faith based: no

This book isn’t really about adoption at all. In fact, it never once says that the baby is adopted. However, since he is a baby fox, and the rest of the family is bears, I think it’s safe to say he is. I love this darling story because the pictures are GORGEOUS and it’s about finding home. The publisher recommends preschool and up, but I think that’s a little old. I think you could easily read this to a 2 or 3 year old.

My New Mom & Me by Renata Galindo

Type: picture book
Age recommended by publisher: 3 – 7 years
Shown parents: adoptive mother
Infertility: no
Faith based: no

This picture book features a single mother cat adopting an older puppy. It tackles a lot of good topics, like looking different, and what makes a family. There is no mention of the birth family at all. It is unique in portraying an adoption of an older child, instead of an infant.

I Wished For You: An Adoption Story by Marianne Richmond

Type: picture book
Age recommended by publisher: 2 – 5 years
Shown parents: adoptive mother
Infertility: unclear
Faith based: yes

I like the way this picture book about adoption talks about birth mothers. The story is sweet, and the pictures are beautiful. The story sounds more like an international adoption, because the child came from “far away.” They also talk about how the bears look different, and that different is ok.

God Found Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Type: picture book
Age recommended by publisher: 4 – 8 years
Shown parents: adoptive mother
Infertility: overt
Faith based: yes

Mama Fox tells little fox about the day that he was adopted. This adoption picture book does an excellent job talking about birth parents in a respectful way. It also brings in the way God brings families together.

I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb

Type: picture book
Age recommended by publisher: 4 – 8 years
Shown parents: mother
Infertility: unclear
Faith based: no

This book is not overtly an adoption picture book. However, it does talk about the mom and child finding each other, and Kotb has said it was about adopting her daughter. It is about a mom loving her child. It is not my favorite (I don’t love the idea of telling my kids that “our stars found each other”) but the pictures are beautiful, and if you have a more poetic soul than I do, I think you’ll love it. Heads up that there is very little text in this book. For that reason, I think that the age range recommended by the publisher is a little old.

No Matter What: A Foster Care Tale by Josh Shipp and David Tieche

Type: picture book
Age recommended by publisher: 3 – 8 years
Shown parents: foster parents, adoptive mother, adoptive father
Infertility: no
Faith based: no

This picture book about foster care and adoption from foster care features a small squirrel. He is eventually adopted by a loving elephant family. This could be confusing to some children who were not adopted from foster care, as the squirrel moves from foster family to foster family several times. However, for older children who have been adopted from foster care, this is an ideal picture book about adoption. I highly recommend you read first, before introducing it to your children.

Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman

Type: picture book
Age recommended by publisher: 4 – 8 years
Shown parents: adoptive mother, adoptive father
Infertility: no
Faith based: no

Wolfie is a wolf. He is adopted by a family of bunnies. His new bunny sister is not thrilled about that. Most of this story focuses on her, and how she comes to love her new brother. It’s cute, and certainly the most lighthearted picture book about adoption on this list.

And Tango Makes Three by Judith Caseley

Type: board book
Age recommended by publisher: 2 – 5 years
Shown parents: adoptive fathers
Infertility: no
Faith based: no

This is an adoption picture book about two dads adopting together. Also, they’re penguins. While this book may not be right for all families, it is one of the most popular adoption books featuring animals. (Also, I have feelings about “banned books,” like this one. You ever want to talk about that, hit me up.)

A Blessing From Above: Little Golden Book by Patti Henderson

Type: picture book
Age recommended by publisher: 3 – 7 years
Shown parents: birth mother, adoptive mother
Infertility: overt
Faith based: yes

A kangaroo would really like a baby. One day a baby bird falls into her pouch from his nest. The mama bird knows her nest is too small, so lets the baby bird stay with his new kangaroo mom. My thought is, “Girl, just make the bird a bigger nest so she can keep all of her children…” I am all about keeping families together. But the kangaroo and bird seem happy, so… Not my favorite because of the way it portrays the birth mom, but it is a very popular adoption picture book.

Related: Here are the best picture books to give as baby shower or adoption gifts!