It's Okay to Wonder

by Rhonda Wagner

"I'm excited to be a sister in our foster family,
but I'm worried about new rules.
I feel happy and sad at the same time.
What about when our help isn't needed anymore?"

'It's Okay to Wonder' is a story about Avery, a loquacious girl whose parents have decided to become foster parents. While Mom and Dad attend another foster training class, Avery shares with her Nana and Pop about her mixed-up feelings. She and her grandparents learn together what it might be like to become a foster familly -- that's it's okay to feel two emotions at the same time and that it's okay to wonder!

'The Joy of Avery' series offers resources for foster care families and brings the world of foster care to life by exploring Avery's feelings as her family welcomes foster children into their home. 'It's Okay to Wonder' is the first book in the series.

40 pages, Hardcover

Published September 26, 2019

Reviews

[Lisa Robertson]

It’s Okay to Wonder is a beautiful introduction to foster care as told through a child’s eyes. When we stepped into foster care, our daughter was just 3 years old. There were no resources or books for her out there like this one to help her understand how our family structure would be changing. I love how the author takes serious topics related to foster care and makes them relatable and easy to talk about with a child. The conversation starters in the back of the book are invaluable and such a great addition. I also love the thoughtfulness of including kitty cats throughout the pages for young readers to go back and find. Our daughter has always enjoyed books that include seek and finds! What an amazing resource for the foster care community!

[Christine Miller]

Read this book, and it was exactly what our family needed! With a 2 1/2 yr old bio son, entering the world of foster care, I myself was nervous of how he would handle the transitions of kids in and out of our home via foster care. How would it all affect him? What did he think about it? It’s Ok To Wonder does such a brilliant job at explaining the beginning process of what it looks like to open your home to foster children, and what questions your forever children may have ahead of time. It gives you a glimpse in to the precious minds of what your little one(s) may be thinking along the way as your family adapts to home studies, training, and new terminology in foster care. I love that it touched on the topic of birth order, as that has been something we have always wanted our son to know, he will always be the Big Brother.
The Conversation Starters at the back of the book were a wonderful added touch, and a great place to start those conversations your kids may be wondering about. Definitely highly recommend this book to families that are in the foster care process, foster community, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbors and the list goes on. Everyone can take away something from this book! Great read, will definitely be purchasing several copies to hand out!

[Amber Reynolds]

As a foster family we wade through some heavy topics super early in life. We want to be a source of knowledge to our children, where they know we are safe to ask the big questions to. It’s Okay to Wonder is a beautiful and honest book about the big questions children have. In this book, big and silly topics are tackled through the eyes of a little girl as she watches her parents take classes to become foster parents. Often times, children don’t have the tools to communicate the fears they are feeling. Through It’s Okay to Wonder, Avery can give children a voice, and let them know what they are feeling is Okay, even normal! What an amazing resource this is for soon-to-be foster families! If you are a teacher, foster family, maybe some day foster family, grandparent to a foster family, pastor, librarian, or friend...I highly recommend reading and sharing this resource.

[Tania]

Thank you for writing this!

As a foster mom who started the fostering journey with biological kiddos 5, 7, and 9 years of age I can only say how much I wish I had this book (and the future series) available as we prepared our kids for everything they were wondering about.

It’s probably the question I hear most from families inquiring about fostering, “What about my kids, how can I prepare them?”

This book is such a gift and useful tool. Definitely one that I will keep copies on hand to gift to families beginning on the fostering journey.

It’s so true, we need more foster families like Avery’s to step into this role and we have needed more helpful tools to prepare them as a family (parents on down to the kids) for this ministry.

[Leonna Elam]

This is a great book to start the conversation with your children about becoming a foster family. Or if you're already fostering it's great to help children as they grow to understand why you're fostering and open for questions they might have as they get older and understand more. I love that this book is written from the perspective of a little girl with all her questions and concerns.

As a foster mom I'm always on the lookout for book's to help my children process the world of foster care and adoption. To have an open continual conversation with them and I'm happy to have this book to help keep that conversation open. I also like that it's the first book in a series with more to come. I look forward to reading the other books as they come out

[Brittany Taylor]

This book is an excellent resource for foster families. It is the perfect way to help bio children understand the foster process and what changes to expect, how they might feel, and what new things their parents will get to do now that new children will join their family.

“It’s Okay to Wonder” will be joining our family’s library even though we are not a foster family, because it is important to us to teach our children that every child matters and needs love and a family.

This would also be excellent in the classroom because many foster/bio students will be able to connect with the main character of the story. What a great way to reach those students!

[Jamie Sandefer]

This book is a wonderful resource to help families prepare their children for incoming foster placements. The point of view from the child's character is very relatable to all children who are wondering what foster care will look like to their family. The story line provides opportunities for foster families to have healthy conversations about foster care. This book is a must have if you have children and are waiting on a placement, and it's a great gift to give families that you know are preparing to foster.

[Nicki Deem]

This book is such a desperately needed asset for foster and adoptive families! I, as a foster and adoptive mama, am so excited to share it with all of our kids! Little Avery is so very curious as many children are and I love how the book ties in her questions about foster care along with her curiosities just with life in general. Amazing and fun and I’m just excited to get my copy in the mail!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[Becky]

This book/series is a much needed resource for foster families. Our own children can read about the life and story of Avery and identify with her feelings about welcoming foster kiddos into her family. Discussion guide in the back of the book also helps parents to have a spring board for conversation with their children. We are thankful for this book and are excited for the rest of the series too!

[Alli Krystine]

This is such a simple, profound, and needed book! It explains foster care through the eyes of a soon-to-be foster sister. Our world needs to read this book and understand what our kids face in a foster family. My 7 yr old daughter was so excited to see a girl like her on the pages in this book! I can’t wait to read more in the series!

[Kim Acord]

This book is going to be such a blessing to our biological children as we begin the process of becoming foster parents. It could not have come at a better time! So many good conversation starters. It is going to be a great way to keep connecting with our kiddos over and over again!

[Jessica Bostic]

This is such a wonderful book. As foster families we all ask so many of the questions that Avery does, and I love that it is from the perspective of the little girl. It will be such a blessing to the kids in our families, and every other family who gets it!

[Norma Miller]

I loved this book! I wish I would have had this for my kids when we started our foster care journey. It addresses lots of great questions and concerns that our kids may have. There is a great section with conversation starters in the back of the book. Definitely a must read!

[Jeff Barnes]

Love this! I love the discussion about two feelings at once, the glossary, and the Q and A. This will be an invaluable resource for foster families. Wonderful job!

[Helena Dyck]

A wonderful resource to anyone that is fostering or even thinking about it.

[Paula Richardson]

This book is a perfect gift families jumping into the world of foster care! It’s also perfect for current foster families to explain foster care to all the little ones in your life!

[Odessa]

Such an amazing resource for anyone trying to explain foster care to young children. I wish this book existed several years ago when we started our foster care journey. This can be a confusing topic to cover with your young children, but the book explains the basics of foster care in simple terms. I love that it allows for “Avery” to question, worry and wonder. Giving her space to process emotions about this new, but unknown journey with her family. The conversation starter questions are great for anyone, not just children! Worth the read if you’re considering or starting your foster care journey!!

[Jen]

We have been foster parents for a few years and have 3 biological children as well. Our bio kids were fairly young when we first started fostering and a book like this would have been perfect to help introduce them to the concept. I especially appreciate the talking points at the end of the book. We have encountered many hard conversations with our kids as we foster and this would be a valuable resource for helping get through those!