Oliver, A Story About Adoption - Updated

by Lois Wickstrom

Oliver is related to his family by love and law. Oliver is Adopted. Oliver is angry with his parents. Oh, if only he still lived with his birthparents! What could he do if he were with them? Be a scientist? Or a trapeze artist? Do other people wish for other parents when they are angry with their own? What should Oliver do? Language updated to the 21st century. All children get angry with their parents. Help yours talk about anger by reading this book.

Genres: Adoption, Childrens, Family

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story shines a light on adoption and bringing one into the fold of a family. What child adopted or not wish for or think about having different parents whenever they are told off. Lois’s stories always have messages/learning tools in them. Kids between the ages of 4 - 8 will like Oliver even if they don’t understand the message.

This hit home as we have been fostering a cat and he is finding his place in the family and after his surgery today, we are adopting him.

It also made me smile because when Oliver is sulking it reminds me of my dog when sulking who turns away so he is facing the other way and will not even acknowledge us.

[Rachel Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a really cute read for children! Not only is it inclusive for kids that have been adopted but it also paves the way to talk about anger issues and how to handle things when they don't go your way. I loved the illustrations and thought they were adorable and fit the story very well. I would definitely recommend this to parents who have adopted or are considering adoption.

[Torey Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver is the story of a young boy who was adopted. After getting in trouble, he is angry at his parents which leads him to wonder about his birth parents and why they did’t keep him. He thinks about his life and what it could have been like had he not been adopted.
I think this is a wonderful story that helps validate feelings and work through emotions that kids might have in this situation. I have two children that are not mine biologically and I am glad to have a book to read to them that they can relate to and that might help them work through some of these feelings. My 7 year old is already starting to question why she doesn’t just have a normal family and is starting to feel a sense of rejection from her bio mom. It is important to validate those feelings while also making sure they know they are loved and help them work through it. This book is a great resource to help us do just that. While adopted children are the target audience, I think this book is beneficial for everyone, just to help us understand each other better, and help us be more empathetic to people in different situations. I definitely recommend this book.

[Jaimie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great teaching book for younger kids. Being adopted has many struggles that can come up. It teaches kids that many people imagine different lives when they are in trouble and/or upset and that it is normal. Especially when you've been adopted and don't know much about your birth family. The book follows an adopted lizard named Oliver. Oliver is playing and climbs a little tree that he is pretending is a pirate ship. The tree is young and because of Oliver's weight and the tree's flexible branches he falls overboard onto the grass and hurts his hip. As he's in his room upset and thinking about how to play more safely he thinks about his birth parents. He imagines many different things. He thinks about a different life that he could be living if he wasn't in his room upset. It's a cute book and the pictures are fun. My now 7 year old enjoyed the book very much when we read it together at bedtime. It was also a great book to read and then talk about adopted families and how other kids may feel.

[Anya Davies-schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver was playing pirates and fell out of a tree. He could have gotten really hurt, but didn’t. However, his daddy told him to stop playing in the tree because it wasn’t strong enough. This made Oliver mad and started to question where his real parents are, Oliver is adopted. Oliver thinks about all the places that his parents may be, but ultimately decides that it was for the best because they couldn’t take care of him. After cooling off, he makes his way to the kitchen where his parents are baking cookies - he got to lick the batter. He tells his parents that he could have had a completely different life. While that may be true, his parents reassured him that he was very much wanted by them and that made Oliver feel better. I love books on a diverse subject. This would be great for those who were adopted to be able to read about it. While I think the animal chosen for the book is a little weird looking I am sure kids won’t mind.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweet story is about Oliver, who is adopted. Oliver has quite the imagination and likes to play pirate up in the maple tree. The tree he picks is not strong enough to keep him up and he falls. Oliver’s daddy tells him he needs to go to his room and think about how to play safely. Oliver is so disappointed having to go to his room, he begins to cry and feel sorry for himself. While in his room, he imagines what his life would be like if he hadn’t been adopted. Oliver goes through many scenarios and at the end, he realizes that he is lucky to live with his adoptive parents after all.

I really enjoyed the story of Oliver. It is a relatable story. I raised three boys and while they aren’t adopted, I could see them thinking that when they were in trouble that their “real” parents wouldn’t treat them that way! The illustrations are beautiful and go nicely with the story. I think this book is for any young reader or any young one being read to - whether adopted or not.

[Book Magic · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Oliver gets in trouble he goes to his room upset. In his room he starts thinking about what life would be like if he was still living with his biological parents instead of being adopted. He ponders what it would be like to have a different family and how much that would change his life. Would he have brothers and sisters? Would he get in trouble like he did now? Would he live with one parent or both parents? So many questions and different possibilities compared to his life now.

This is an amazing book about different kinds of families and the thoughts that go through a child's imagination. This book would be wonderful for anyone dealing with adoption. I also think any kid who gets in trouble would also enjoy this book, because they can see that even if they get in trouble and dream they were somewhere else in some other family, that in the end their family loves them no matter what. It is a really great and powerful message!

[Tara Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver is a lizard-like creature who is sent to his room after being scolded by his adoptive parents. In his room, Oliver sulks and wishes he had a different life. He wonders how different things would be if he were with his “real parents”. Would they treat him differently? Would his “real parents” have scolded him? After Oliver has spent some time in his room his parents talk to him and explain to him that his feelings were normal and that all children feel like that at some point. After his parents share stories with him of their own childhood experiences with those same feelings Oliver decides to stay.

This book was written in simple language that was easy to understand and the illustrations really pull together the message being delivered. I feel that the use of language in reference to “real parents” is quite accurate in how an adopted child would feel, or any child for that matter, when feeling angry or upset after being scolded by their parents.

[Roxsanne Lesieur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver is a young boy who lives with his mummy, daddy and goldfish and he likes to play pirates in his street, but one day when he decides to climb the maple tree which looks like a mast, the branches aren’t strong enough to hold him, so he falls down onto his hip. When his daddy comes out to see if he is ok, he talks to Oliver about playing safely and send him up to his room to think about what has happened. While he is up there Oliver dreams about what it would be like if he was living with his birth parents, what would his life look like? Would it be exciting like a trapeze artist, or a scientist? Do other people wish for another life and what should Oliver do with all these thoughts?



This is a story which talks about a challenging subject in a fantastic way, which children of all ages can understand whether they adopted, or not.

[Anantha Rusum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book primarily focuses on issues faced when a child is adopted. The child always tends to think that if he/she were with their real parents things “could” have been better.
Oliver lives with his adoptive parents, and one day, after getting scolded by his dad on a silly mistake, he goes into his room and sulks if things would have been better if he was with his real parents. Would they have scolded him? Or would they have loved him better.
But then he comes downstairs with his parents baking cookies and being very loving to him. They are very understanding and tell him that the emotions he is going through are normal and they have to work out a solution with love.
This is a book which will sensitize children on the topic of adoption. It is tackled in a subtle and gentle way. I quite liked the book.

[Micalah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver I think would be a great book to use as a teaching tool for younger children with anger issues or that have been adopted. It’s entertaining and has well done illustrations but it shows children that it’s okay to be upset or mad but through Oliver’s actions when he’s feeling that way shows that you can work through those feelings and emotions and come out better on the other side of them. I also like how the author portrayed adoption and let children know that even children living with their birth parents still often dream that they were adopted too. They imagine they would live much more exciting lives than the current maddeningly, mundane situation that they are currently experiencing. A child’s imagination is a wild and wonderful thing that plots adventures and creates magic in the normal everyday. I enjoyed this book very much and I would definitely recommend it.

[Brandy L Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about adoption from a child's view point. Nice illustrations. I like how in the book there's a sentence taking about being related by "love and law," which is an interesting way to describe adoption. The description isn't one I would have thought to use! It would be nice to have some kind of phrase like the to describe birth parents. The book reads like poetry and the text is the right amount to keep kids engaged with the story. Oliver thinks about his birth parents the way a young child might fantasize in real life. I think this is a strong point of the plot. The explanation of why he was adopted from Oliver's point of view show a health acceptance and is age appropriate. I would recommend this book for kids who have questions about adoption but not able to fully understand the situation in an adult way.

[Janel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver, A Story of Adoption by Lois Wickstrom - Review by Janel Bernotas

Another adorable story by Lois Wickstrom! On this one, Oliver is the main character and knows he is adopted. He gets in trouble and sent to his room for climbing a tree. He’s upset and angry at the fact that he’s being punished. He imagines what it’d be like to have other parents, what it’d be like if his birth parents kept him, why his birth parents gave him up for adoption. In the end, he goes back downstairs and chats with his parents about adoption. This is a cute and explanatory story that I think would be helpful in explaining adoption to young children. I love the black and white sketched illustrations too! Very well done, yet again, Lois Wickstrom!

[Dawn Daughenbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
Oliver, A Story of Adoption by Lois Wickstrom

Oliver, A Story of Adoption is a children’s book about adoption and we absolutely loved reading it. This is for ages 3 to 9 but honestly I think any age would enjoy it. There’s a great message to be learned from this book. I have three niece’s and nephews that my brother and sister in law adopted and I love them just the same if not more then if they were blood related. They are now old enough to seek out their real mom if they choose. My four year old learned from this and asked lots of questions. I love Oliver and my son did to. This is a short book and I highly recommend reading this cute book and we look forward to reading more from this Author.

[Caralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book that helps explain about adoption. The author does a wonderful job of writing about this subject. The characters are good and the subject matter is handled really well. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to explain to their child that they are adopted. The book has a very creative and unique style and the characters are very natural.

This is just a great example of how the adopted child might feel and what questions maybe on their minds. It can be a difficult conversation to have for parents and I feel that this book maybe just an easier or creative way to try and have the talk. The author really has brought the characters to life as well with a very imaginative writing style. I would definitely read more from this author in future.

[Christen Ware · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wholesome story about a little reptile that tackles two very big themes for children - handling the fact of adoption and their biological/adoptive parents, and how to handle and work through their feelings of anger. A torn pillowcase and imaginative scenarios where Oliver imagines what his adoptive parents did, and as a result, what a big difference his life could have had.

Overall, a simple story with good illustrations that show how a young individual would work through their thoughts. It is cute and heartwarming but has very significant meanings at its roots that would be good for all children - both who have adoptive or biological parents to help understand the concept.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver is a sweet lil one who has several questions. The biggest one is why he was adopted and what it might have been like to stay with his original family. He gets in trouble with his dad and has some time to reflect on his emotions. There is a lot going on at once in his little mind! Ultimately, Oliver realizes that he is loved and cared for right where he is.

This is a super cute book to read with the littles in your life (or have them read it to you!). The illustrations are good but I would have liked to have seen a little more color. This is a great way to have conversations about the different types of families, as well as how to deal with different emotions one might be feeling.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a grand story for children of all ages. Children who are adopted as well as those not. This story shows Oliver's train of thought when he was angry. Not at the tree he climbed, but at the parents who care for him. Sometimes books explain things better than the adults who love us. This is one of those. The author really looked at adoption from a child's eyes. The story is well written as well as the illustrations that help tell the story. This is a must have in your library and on your child's shelf of books. This author has many help books that open the eyes of our children. She is definitely a must have in my library. I hope it is yours too.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only able to give a 4 because I feel like this book should have had more closure in the end, but I still thought the life lesson here about adoption is relevant and real.

I did think that the story was very believable for what adopted children will do and go through when hardships arise with their adopted family.
It’s easy for adopted children to think of “what if” and all the questions of “why” or “who.” when it comes to their birth parents. I did appreciate that Oliver’s adoptive parents confirmed that they loved him dearly and wanted him as their son. There was no question about that.

I thought the artwork was very well done. I loved the black and white scheme the illustrator used.

[Barbie England · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver has been adopted. After he get in trouble one day, he starts thinking about the reasons his birth parents could not be the ones who are taking care of him. He also contemplates what his life could be like with out his adoptive parents. I think this book would be a good resource for kids who may need help to start a conversation about adoption. It brings up reasons for adoptions in a way that a child would be able to understand. The illustrations are not in color though. Visually, it might appeal to a child's eyes more if it was more colorful, but the content of the words is quality.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this children’s story. This is a story about how you feel when you are made by your parents. A story that had Oliver question what his birth parents would be like and the things he could do. It is a great story that has engaging illustrations that will keep your children interacting with the story. I enjoyed how the story had parts that would keep the child’s attention. Oliver is a great character. He is likable and added so much to the story. This is a great book for any child. I highly recommend this book.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story for kids to read! It normalizes struggles that people who are adopted go through and lets you know that strong feelings are normal! We need more books like this where people can see themselves and acknowledge that everyone has a different life story but we can all help to make the best of the situation we are handed. There are things both in our control and out of control that can affect the way we react and being able to see that represented in a book is very therapeutic. I would love to read more stories by this author!

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver is a great children’s story about adoption. Adoption is not talked about enough today, so I think this book is a great conversation starter for our little ones to learn more about it. I also love how it touches on the adopted and their expressions and feelings, which in turn makes it a great book for any adopted child. This adorable story was written well, and the illustrations were perfect! This is a well written book for a wide range of adoption perspectives that I believe every child should read.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story and would be a great read for children whether they are adopted or not. I’m pretty sure everyone at some point has wished their parent weren’t theirs so I think that this story would help the see that that’s ok to feel that way at times. I have no experience with adoption but I can imagine this being a nice story to read to younger children to help them express their feelings. The language is simple and is easy for children to follow and understand. It did finish a little abruptly I felt however it’s still a good 4 star read.

[Anna Hirsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver, A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
4 Stars

I think this is a great book to teach children how to deal with their feelings. It is hard for children to express how they feel maybe even harder for children who are adopted. It is normal fir them to imagine how their life may have been with their birth parents. The language is simple enough for young children to understand. The book normalizes the feelings that children who are adopted struggle with. I think this is a great read for children who are in this situation.

[Erica Fish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good children’s story. The plot of the story is engaging. I could see reading this to a young child through 2 grade. The characters are engaging and tell a story about feelings. You see Oliver is adopted and he starts to question where he would be if he stayed with his birth parents. Oliver has been sent to his room by his dad, His punishment made Oliver start thinking about his birth parents and what he could be doing. I really enjoyed this book. It was a great way to talk about adoption and how it has made Oliver feel. I highly recommend this book.

[Katie Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a wonderful story for any child to read I read it with my niece who’s 8 years old and not adopted but she still learned the lesson being presented with the story. And I think it’s absolutely wonderful for those who are adopting to have something to show them that what they feel is totally fine. It’s short sweet and to the point and a very easy read for children. I highly recommend it for the age group intended and for adopted and non adopted children. Four big stars and highly recommended!

[Mandy Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars

Oliver, A Story About Adoption by Lois Wickstrom

Not my first book I've read by the author. The author knows how to get kids' attention and keep them for a short period of time. My daughter absolutely loves these little books I read to her.

Oliver is an alligator that is adopted. When he hurts himself and gets sent to his room he starts thinking. What if he wasn't adopted? What would his life be like? The quote I chose for Oliver is: "Then I guess I'll stay with you two. But first I want to mend my pillowcase."

Highly recommended for Kids and Family lovers.

[Christina Gran]

SUCH a cute book. Loved the illustrations throughout the book and the message. Both my 10yr old son & 18 month grandson enjoyed the book and wanted me to reread! A true “feel good” story for the littles and would be a perfect gift for an adoptive family!
In the story, Oliver demonstrates that everyone, adopted or biologically birthed to the family, often reflect on what it might be like to belong to another family.
Best quote of the book is located in the opening paragraph: “he is related to his dad & mom by love & law”. Magnificent way to sum up the term adoption

[Felicia Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read Oliver to my six year old daughter and she and I both really enjoyed the story. Before the book she had not heard of adoption so it was a great opener to any questions she might have had. I personally liked that the author made it a point of acknowledging and making it known to the main character was not any less loved or cherished because his parents were “in love and law”. The only critique my daughter had was that the family “looked like alligators.”
I definitely recommend this book, my children and I love reading this author and I look forward to reading more.