Megans Birthday Tree: A Story of Open Adoption: A Story About Open Adoption - Hardcover

Lears, Laurie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0807550361 ISBN 13: 9780807550366

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company, 2005

Synopsis

Megan is adopted, but she and her parents keep in touch with her birth mother, Kendra. Every year, Kendra decorates the tree she planted when Megan was born. Megan cherishes this Birthday Tree, for it ties her and Kendra together.

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Megan's Birthday Tree

A Story About Open Adoption

By Laurie Lears, Bill Farnsworth

ALBERT WHITMAN & Company

Copyright © 2005 Laurie Lears
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-8075-5036-6

CHAPTER 1

Sometimes I wonder about my adoption. But I don't have to go far to find answers to my questions. Mom and Dad tell me what I want to know. And since I have an open adoption, I stay in touch with my birth mother, Kendra, too. Although I don't see her often, we mail each other lots of notes and photos. I keep everything Kendra sends me in a big box on my shelf.

I especially like to look at the photos of the Birthday Tree. That's the little tree Kendra planted in her yard after I was born. She says the tree reminds her of me and the way I'm growing. Each year on my birthday, Kendra decorates the tree and mails me a photo of it. And every year that tree grows taller!

One day Kendra sends me a note that says:

Dear Megan,

I have some exciting news! I am getting married in two months! I'll be moving to a different town. I'll come to see you and your family on the way to my new home.

Love, Kendra

My stomach turns upside down. All I can think of is the Birthday Tree. Kendra will have to leave it behind when she moves. What if Kendra forgets me, without the tree to remind her?

I want to ask Mom my question. But the words get stuck in my throat. Instead I say, "Tell me the story of when I was born."

Mom pulls me onto her lap like she always does when she tells the story. "Kendra counted every one of your fingers and toes," she says. "Then she kissed the top of your head and began to cry. Ken-dra loved you so much! Yet she knew she wasn't ready to take care of a baby, so she'd chosen Dad and me to be your parents."

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Megan's Birthday Tree by Laurie Lears, Bill Farnsworth. Copyright © 2005 Laurie Lears. Excerpted by permission of ALBERT WHITMAN & Company.
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Edition details

• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0807550361
• ISBN 13: 9780807550366
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32