I wanted to share a new children’s book about Adoption this book focus on adoption which a lot of people deal with on a daily basis. This book is called The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise: An International Adoption Story isn’t that the cutest title ever? This new book is written by Julie Gianelloni Connor.
When I was working one of my best friend Jo was adopted. I always remember her wondering who her bilogical family was and why they chose to put her up for adoption. Because of this Joe was able to connect with my Ex-brother-in-law Greg who along with his sister Tammy who was adopted. I remember them talking about being it felt when there were picked up from the Orphanage. As well as how they would like to meet their birth parents.
In both mine and David’s family I wish I could say no, one was adopted. Although that might not be true. At one time my dad said we had a brother who was given away by my mom before my dad and her began dating. I hate knowing my mom is gone and there is no, way for me to know if this is true or not.
Before you say ask your mom’s family which I did do. All of my mom’s cousins say they do not they know anything about my mom giving a baby away. Which may or may not be true because they might be protecting my mom’s memory. Which I will never know which I hate. Then I asked my dad’s sister Sue. She said she hadn’t ever heard of my mom having another child.
What I would like to say to you is if you or someone you know is adopted, please share The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise with them. Your children should also read this book because they may run into someone who is adopted one day and now, they will know how to act and what to say to them. One day one of you might be gone and you wouldn’t have the chance to answer the questions the children might have if you don’t prepare them.
As your reading and sharing The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise remember you can change the facts to you and your family which is what the Author wants you to do. Did you pick up The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise is about the Author and her family which is amazing.
There is enough love to go around. If you have a child that is adopted don’t be afraid to make his birth parents and Country a part of there life as it gives them that many more people to love and watch out for them. If you want a closed adoption and not know anything about the parents as well that is fine its your choice. Either way the child is going to be loved.
About:
The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise is a children’s book designed to be read by adoptive parents to their child as soon as the child is old enough to begin understanding. Experts urge that children be made aware from the earliest possible age that they are adopted, and this book sets out the complex story of an adoption in an easy-to-understand way. Most children’s books about adoption feature as characters animals, and most such books focus on the adoptive mother and the child.
The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise is unique in focusing on people, not animals, as the characters in the story and also unique in expanding the story to include other actors in the adoption journey, including foster parents, social workers, U.S. consuls, and grandparents.
In her remarks about the book, the author urges adoptive parents to adapt the book when reading it so as to make it their and their child’s own, by changing names, Countries, and other details. She remarks, “Adjust the book to make it as different and as personal as your own adoption experience has been. The author is smiling as you are adapting her book.”
About Julie Gianelloni Connor
Julie Gianelloni Connor started out thinking she would be a writer, detoured into the U.S. Foreign Service, and after retirement returned to a writing career. She is the owner and editor of Bayou City Press in Houston, TX, which focuses on writing about travel, Houston, history, and international affairs.
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Julie finished prep school at The Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts, before heading to Houston for Rice University. Her undergraduate B.A. in English and history was followed by an M.A. in creative writing from the University of Houston. She also studied journalism at Louisiana State University, during which time she interned at the “Baton Rouge Morning Advocate.”
Among her jobs in her 20s, Julie taught English as a Foreign Language in Lisbon (Portugal), Barcelona (Spain), and Wimberly (England); was a Teaching Fellow at the University of Houston; and worked in the private sector for a law firm and an audio company.
In 1981 Julie began her diplomatic career with the U.S. Information Agency, principally working overseas at embassies on press, cultural, and exchange issues. In 1999 USIA was absorbed into the U.S. Department of State, and Julie continued her diplomatic career there until her retirement. During a 33-year career, Julie rose to the senior Foreign Service while serving overseas nine different times in seven different Countries: Israel (twice), Paraguay, Guatemala, Indonesia, Colombia (twice), Malaysia, and Chile. She worked in fields as diverse as anti-narcotics, nuclear nonproliferation, and women’s issues.
Julie received an M.S. in National Security Strategy from the National War College in Washington, DC., in 1995, and served as the Diplomat-in-Residence at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin from 2012-2014.
She was the recipient of numerous awards from USIA and the Department of State, including four Superior Honor Awards and USIA’s Equal Employment Opportunity Award. She was a co-founder and the first president of Executive Women at State (EW@S), an organization begun to promote the advancement of career women at the Department of State.
Julie writes travel columns for the Bayou City Press website and has published two books so far: “Savoring the Camino de Santiago: It’s the Pilgrimage, Not the Hike” and “The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise: An International Adoption Story.” Both of her books have won multiple awards.
Julie has one son and two cats. She is active in the Houston writing and publishing community.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
