Books about foster care for children under 12

Whether you’re already caring for foster children, or just want to learn more about what it’s like, you might be wondering how you can educate yourself or your child (biological or foster) about foster care and families.

At Beacon Fostering, we support families who want to teach their children about foster care in Liverpool and other North West areas, so here are some books for children under 12 that explore this topic.

What is Foster Care? For Kids (for ages 6-9) by Jeanette Yoffe and Devika Joglekar

This book, written by a psychotherapist who lived in the foster system, explains to children how the foster care system works, exploring the reasons why children enter it and how children may feel about leaving their families of origin for new carers.

Delly Duck: Why a Little Chick Couldn’t Stay with His Birth Mother by Holly Marlow and Suzie Garland (for ages 2-6)

Part of the Delly Duck series, this book is about a goose who struggles to take care of her egg, before and after it hatches, without help from a neighbouring goose. This is a discussion starter for children and their families regarding fostering and familial struggles. Also available in a sibling group edition.

Maybe Days: A Book for Children in Foster Care by Marcia Kahn Wright, Jennifer Wilgocki and Alissa Imre Geis (for ages 4-10)

The authors provide basic, essential information to children on foster care and the process, from how long they live with their foster family to when (or if) they will be reunited with their biological parents, as well as who they can go to for help.