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by Chaitra Wirta-Leiker (Author), Penny Weber (Illustrator)
Marie doesn't want to go to the park anymore. Mom introduces her to Dr. Chaitra, a transracial adoptee just like Marie, who helps kids talk about tough feelings. In therapy, Marie finds the courage to share how she felt when a family at the park peppered her with hurtful questions like Why don't you look like your mom? and Why didn't you stay with your real parents? Dr. Chaitra helps Marie practice many ways to respond, including sharing what feels comfortable, setting limits, and even saying nothing at all. Marie discovers that being in charge of her own adoption story is her superpower!
Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker is an international and transracial adoptee from India. She traveled to the United States as a tiny baby, escorted in a basket with three other babies, and she's pretty sure that's why she likes her space when she sleeps now. She loves spending time with other adoptees of all ages, including her own child, because she knows about all the remarkable things that can happen when adoptees connect with each other.
Dr. Chaitra wishes that every single adopted person in the world could visit her therapy office and talk with her about what it's like to be an adoptee, but because that's not possible, she decided to invite everyone into her therapy room by creating the "Adoptees Like Me" illustrated book series to reach early readers at an age when school is relatively new and children are keenly attuned to differences, which can raise a host of challenges for young adoptees. In each story, we learn what it's like to be in therapy with a professional who understands how it feels to be adopted, and readers gain insights and tools they can use in their daily lives. The diverse set of characters, family situations, and topics in the series give every young adoptee a chance to see themselves represented, find their voice, and feel understood.
MARIE DISCOVERS HER SUPERPOWERS is the first book in Dr. Chaitra's "Adoptees Like Me" series. Learn more at AdopteesLikeMe.com.
