Early Praise for Just Really Joseph
"For every child who has ever felt different, for every family who has ever longed for them to feel loved...this beautiful book is for you."
-Glenys Nellist “Kayla Craig’s Just Really Joseph deals with one of the most difficult real-life questions adopted children are asked: “Who’s your REAL mom?” Kayla’s response to Joseph’s would-be interrogator is beautiful, tender and whole. With lively illustrations and a relatable text, Just Really Joseph will resonate deeply and warmly with any adoptive family."
-Dandelion Magazine "What a delight to see a children’s story sharing simply about the hard questions that are many times asked. It speaks the value of God's view of family and the joys within. This book will bring an ease in conversation to a potentially hurtful situation, positioning one’s heart to see the opportunities to embrace others and to be further secure in His design for each of our families.
This will be a treasured book; bringing confidence and security, opening doors for discussion and tools to use. Powerful words are shared and spoken within this story, showcasing the simple joys of family, God's love for each of us, and the overflow of this into our 'real' families." -Sheila De Jong, adoptive mother "Just Really Joseph is a story filled with warmth and welcome, a book that gently reminds children and their parents that God knits families together in many beautiful and unexpected ways. The tender narrative and gorgeous illustrations are perfectly rendered, and the message is clear: love makes a family."
-Nicole Baart "Just Really Joseph is a beautiful story about two boys learning what truly makes up a family. This book is a good reminder for all children that real families come in all shapes, sizes, and colors."
-Tiffany Castleberry, "What a great book to read over and over with our sons but also great to share with other families who may look different than ours. A great conversation starter and a book filled with love!"
-Liz Moss, |
"Just Really Joseph is the sweet story of a little boy who has questions about his place in his family after other children ask him why he doesn't look like his mother. This is a hard, yet common thing that transracially adopted children face, and this book very sweetly affirms and reassures children who have these types of questions. I highly recommend this book, both for adopted children, and for the other children in their lives."
-Mary Ostyn, adoptive mother "A beautifully written and illustrated book that celebrates many wonderful aspects of transracial adoption in a child friendly manner. As a mental health counselor and adoptive parent, I believe "Just Really Joseph" encourages positive conversations that help strengthen an adopted child's identity. I look forward to reading this to my daughter, and I'm certain that it's a story she'll ask to hear again and again."
-Jennie Karnish, L.M.H.C. "I was fortunate to be part of Joseph's story at the beginning, though in a very little way. Just Really Joseph is a true living story and a powerful testimonial that will help lots of people like Joseph and his family find inner peace and joy -- the Joy that surpasses all understanding."
-Eric Idehen, founder and president of Cornerstone of Hope Orphanage, Nigeria "Just Really Joseph is a must-read for families touched by transracial and international adoption. This beautifully written and illustrated children's book positively reinforces varying family structures in a heartfelt and age-appropriate way."
-Shelley Skuster "This book gets to the heart of a home who loves without boundaries. A safe place where honest discussion has room. This book allows questions to be asked and empathy to lead to true identity. I love this book and know it will be a book asked to be read over and over by little tender hearts."
-Stephanie Fast, adult adoptee "This is such a sweet children's book about interracial adoption. Reading it to my adopted little ones will allow us to have important conversations before curiosity from others makes them more difficult."
-Kristin Van De Griend, Ph.D., M.P.H. |
"I love a book that opens up conversation on transracial adoption. This book perfectly illustrates and discusses the topics that adoptees and adoptive parents come across so frequently. Just Really Joseph is a book not only for adoptive families, but for biological families as well. What a great read to help our children understand that families don’t have to match. This book is a must-have."
-Courtney Lott, “Beautifully written and illustrated, capturing the language of family love in a thoughtfully written story that is true to the experiences, relationships, and strains in the life of an adoptive family."
-Laura McBrayer, Created for Care Retreat "Just Really Joseph is a sweet depiction of the unique and wonderful ways families are formed. Our skin tones do not need to match, and some of us grew inside of first mommies before coming to our permanent families. The book does not use ambiguous terms or concepts and instead clearly lays out one little boy's experience in his adoptive family. The story could be used as a great tool for parents looking for words to discuss race and first families. Just Really Joseph is a great addition to the library of any family with ties to adoption!"
Natalie Seitz, M.S.W "Coming from a family of multiple adopted children, I know that family is a family regardless of how you may look. A family is built on love. Just Really Joseph helps parents put this in perspective and helps parents teach their children - even at a very young age - so they can begin to understand what love and family can mean. "
-January Sanborn "A thoughtfully written and much needed dialogue about transracial and international adoption. Adoption is hard. Looking different can be hard. Just Really Joseph is a beautiful example of tackling the hard questions and emotions and helps to explain love and worth to any child. A must-read for all loved ones in the adoption world."
-Whitney Runyon, |