The "Billy Says" series is a set of 6 books designed for children that covers issues relating to fostering and adoption. The series takes you through the experiences of a five year old girl called Kirsty and her magic doll Billy. Billy talks to Kirsty and helps explain what is happening to her and explores her feelings during her journey from an abusive home to a loving adoptive family.

I enjoyed reading them and sharing them with my children
and I would recommend them as a tool for talking to
children......... it allowed us all to talk about our feelings
in a safe and non-threatening way (review by adoptive mum
of 4 children..... Adoption Today, April 2004)

“Billy Says – It’s not your fault”

This book explores children’s feelings when they are living in neglectful families. The emphasis is on explaining to children that it is not their fault when there are problems at home.

Click here to listen to this story.

“Billy Says – You should be taken care of”

This book explores children’s fears around moving in to foster care, and stresses the importance of them being properly looked after.

“Billy Says – Foster Carers can help”

This book explains what happens when children move in to foster care, and covers issues of assessments and family contact.

“Billy Says – What you think matters”

This book covers Courts and the planning process.

“Billy Says – Waiting can be hard”

This book is all about waiting for your adoptive family and the feelings connected with this. It also covers life story books and adoption panels.

“Billy Says – Living as a new family member takes practice”

This book is about living with your adoptive family and the realities of having to work things out together.

All About Mummies and Daddies

This interactive work book is aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 7. It is designed to help prepare them for moving from foster care in to an adoptive family. The book explains the different families children can live with. It also covers emotional issues linked to not living with their birth parents.

The books were reviewed by an adoptive parent of 4 children, for the National paper “Adoption Today”.

She wrote, “These books are short, well written, easy to read and well thought out”. She said they provide, “Lots of scope for discussion about your own child’s beginnings”. She adds, “I enjoyed reading them and sharing them with my children and I would recommend them as a tool for talking to children.” She said that all her children, aged 7, 9, 11 and 12 enjoyed listening to the books and, “it allowed us all to talk about their feelings in a safe and non threatening way.”

Dr Miriam Stoppard reviewed the books in January this year. She wrote, “they’re beautifully produced and very child friendly.”

The books can be bought from Fosterplus on 01525-405281
at cost of £6.99 each or the full set for £32.00 plus postage.

Children’s Guides to Adoption

Adoptionplus can supply Local Authorities with “Children’s Guides to Adoption”, designed to individual Local Authorities specification. Each guide explains to children the facts and emotional issues around adoption. This is done via a conversation three children have in a playground, where one child explains to the others about their adoption. The books include a summary of each Local Authority’s statement of purpose and are produced in the Local Authorities corporate colours. Additional changes can be made to personalise the guides to local areas if the Local Authority wishes.