Books (and more) for Parents Adopting from China

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China
by Jung Chang
This is THE MOST recommended book that I have seen. For good reason! It is fascinating!  
The story of 3 generations of women in 20th century China.  It has been over two years since I read this book and I still think about the people in it all the time.  
See details and/or buy it now at Amazon

China Wakes
by Nichols D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn
The most recommended follow up book to learn more about "modern" china.  Excellent information, but a somewhat "drier" read than Wild Swans.
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A Passage to the Heart
Edited by Amy Klatzkin.
This book is derived from articles in newsletters from FCC (Families with Children from China) chapters. It reads like a "best of" the APC list. Very, very, useful information and much of it is warm and entertaining too. Absolutely REQUIRED reading.
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The White Swan Express: A Story About Adoption
Jean Davies Okimoto, Elaine M. Aoki, Meilo So (Illustrator)
Newly (10/2002) released book.  Looks interesting...Reading level: Ages 4-8
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The Lost Daughters of China: 
Abandoned Girls, Their Journey to America, and the Search for a Missing Past
by Karin Evans, Anchee Min (Preface)
Loved by many people that I know. I was not as thrilled, but it is worth reading. 
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Raising Adopted Children
by Lois Ruskai Melina.
This book is required reading by our agency. I have read it and it is full of good, practical, advice.
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'Are Those Kids Yours?': American Families With Children Adopted from Other Countries
by Cheri Register.
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Talking with Young Children About Adoption
Watkins & Fisher
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Child of My Heart, A Celebration of Adoption
by Barbara Alpert
Short stories. Contributors consist of Michelle Pfeiffer, Pearl S. Buck, Rosie O'Donnell, Magic Johnson, Mia Farrow,...
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Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5
The American Academy of Pediatrics
Our pediatrician gave us this book as a present.  We used it a lot during Melissa's first year home.  If you are also a new parent, you probably will too.  What should she be eating at this age?  How do we discipline her?  How do we get her to sleep?  How much sleep should she get...  A very useful book!
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What to Expect the Toddler Years
Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff (Introduction), Sandee E. Hathaway
This is the other book we turned to a lot in our first year as parents.  It is nice to have a second opinion on the above questions.
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Lonely Planet China (China, 8th Ed)
Damian, Harper, Marie Cambon, Katja Gaskell

An excellent travel guide.  We have this one and like it a lot.
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The Joy Luck Club.   See/Buy it now
The Kitchen God's Wife.   See/Buy it now
The Hundred Secret Senses.   See/Buy it now
by Amy Tan.

Red Azalea
by Anchee Min
A memoir of growing up in Communist China during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s.
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...coming soon...

• China Connection site book list

Chinese Lullabies
Beijing Angelic Choir
This is beautiful, mesmerizing, music.  I highly recommend it.
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Chinese Character Stamps and Book
Barbara Aria
These 20 rubber stamps are illustrated with Chinese characters representing universal and timeless qualities such as peace, beauty, honor, and wisdom. The stamps are accompanied by a companion booklet describing the spiritual symbolism and literal meaning of each character-an interactive cultural journey and kit all in one.
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Tiny Travel Camera

Pentax Optio S

What could be better for travel than a really tiny digital camera.
This $399, 3 megapixel, digital camera fits insides a tin of Altoids!
I got this immediately after it was released in late March, 2003. As of this writing I have only had it about two weeks but so far I'm happy.
It is so very cool to be able to carry this in any pocket and not even notice it is there!
Amazon sells a 256mb memory card for about $70. Holds about 250 pictures at default settings, over 100 at the highest quality settings. Also takes video with sound (not camcorder quality, but better than a still image for some situations), and voice memos. I plan to bring this camera with 2 or 3 memory cards with me on our next trip to China.
One other recommendation - get a Sandisk Cruzer. This very small device, a little bigger than my thumb, allows you to plug your memory card into the USB port on any newer computer and directly access your pictures for emailing home. About $82 including a 256MB memory card.
See/Buy Optio S now