We Love You Hundreds and Thousands: A Children’s Picture Book about Foster Care and Adoption

We Love You Hundreds and Thousands enables children who are fostered and adopted to frame their identity in a positive way from a very young age. Written by an adoptee who is now a mother, this vibrant and touching story is about belonging and having a strong sense of self.

The book aims to promote a strong sense of security and self confidence in children who are fostered and adopted. Embedded in it is a special message for them ─ you are loved enormously.

This unique children’s picture book is also a window into the life of a diverse family and an insight into the special bond between a child and their foster or adoptive parents. It will support parents, families, friends, classrooms and communities to talk about adoption and foster care in an open and loving way.

Why does Jasmine always have hundreds and thousands at her birthday parties and what makes her super special? You’re invited to some of her best birthday parties to find out…

In We Love You Hundreds and Thousands , Jasmine shows us that it’s the simple things in life that make you extra happy and that being fostered or adopted is a wonderful thing!

Jasmine is super special and so is this book ─ it will delight children and adults alike. So come on a fun-loving romp through Jasmine’s birthday parties and see what makes them so awesome!

About the Author

Dara Read was born in Australia in the 80s and was adopted by her mum and dad who love parties as much as she does. Did we mention that Dara loves parties? She does, especially if she can dance! Dara now lives by the beach in Sydney with her family. Her favourite things are cuddles with her kids, being in the ocean and almost anything that sparkles. On the more serious side, Dara is a writer and social justice lawyer. She has worked as a children’s lawyer and youth worker. She has also been a senior ministerial adviser for children who are adopted and in out-of-home care. For more info, see www.dararead.com

Praise for this book

“When I first read We Love You Hundreds and Thousands I was overwhelmed. Never had I read a book which spoke to contemporary adoption and permanent care so well. Through my networks of foster and adoptive parents I often hear of primarily school children struggling with telling their friends that they don’t live with their birth parents. These children see themselves as being just like all of the other children at school and they are proud of who they are. But their friends often don’t know how to react. This book speaks to those children. It speaks to their friends. It speaks to the parents of those friends. It is a book I love to read with my adoptive and biological children and a book I share with my family and friends who have connections with adoption or permanent care.” – Kelly – mum of Hope (age 6), Abigail (age 3) and Stevie (age 3)

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