"An Adoption LifeBook records a foster/adoptee’s life that uses words, photos, graphics, the child’s artwork, and memorabilia.  An Adoption LifeBook includes information about the child’s birth parents and reason for separation.  It always starts at the child’s birth and often includes the fun part of when the adopted child joined a family.

An Adoption LifeBook tells more than a life story.  It represents a unique opportunity for parents to honor every minute of their children’s lives.  It acts as the single most meaningful piece of "paperwork" that any social worker can complete.  As for foster parents, this is their chance to give an adoptee/foster child a sweet childhood memory.

What are some of the benefits of an Adoption LifeBook?  An adoption LifeBook provides:

	A concrete tool for meaningful conversation
	An adoption security blanket
	Attachment rituals
	Structure for difficult material (such as reasons for the relinquishment)
	Ways to normalize adoption language
	Ways to reduce fantasy about birthparents (could this help with paying attention in school?)
	A front-load for adolescence
	Opportunities to create positive identity and ethnic identity
	Space for future events

Birthday Weather
http://www.wunderground.com/
Find the weather for any state or country.  If you want weather for a historical date, i.e. your child’s birthday, go to the country/city you want and enter that date.  Free!

Beth O'Malley's Website:  www.adoptionlifebooks.com
Created by an adoptee & new adoptive mother.  Tons of free resources, articles, monthly newsletter, success stories, Q&A section, schedule for Beth’s live presentations, and the LifeBook Shoppe (books, workbooks, & special E-reports).

Time Capsule Website:
http://dmarie.com/timecap/step1.asp
Discover what happened the day you were born. Headlines, toys, movies, or even famous people born on same date. Free!

Lifebook Articles
www.adoptionlifebooks.com/
lifebook_article.htm
Want to learn more?  Need handouts for training?  Check out articles written by an adult adoptee (that would be me--Beth O'Malley).Interested in finding a map? Google it.

Go to www.google.com and type in “maps—name of country or state/province.”  There are many sites which have downloadable maps, geography facts, etcetera.  Very helpful tool for showing where children are born and where they live now.

Karen’s Adoption Links
Perhaps one of the best adoption sites---it contains tons of resources related to both LifeBooks and adoption.  IT IS A NON COMMERCIAL WEBSITE.  Newly added are International birth, family search resources, and Sibling Registries for both adoptive parents and adult adoptees.
http://www.karensadoptionlinks.com/
Day of Birth
http://www.dayofbirth.co.uk/
Learn what day of the week you were born on.  Discover how many days until your next birthday, how many seconds old you are, plus other links.  Free!

Welcome Books

Adoptive parents make the Welcome Book as asimple way to introduce a child to his or her immediate family and surroundins, including their pets, car, yard, and house.  

The Welcome Book consists mainly of photos and short descriptions (whew—no tough text like that Life Book).  The length varies between 5-9 pages. Details about the importance of the book and how to make it can be found below.