Recommended age: 2-6
Stellaluna is a baby fruit bat, who gets separated from her mother, and falls into a bird’s nest. At first, she struggles to fit in. She does not like the food the mama bird brings, and she prefers to sleep hanging upside down. But as she gets to know the other chicks, they begin to learn from one another. By the time she is reunited with her mother, Stellaluna has made friends for life.
This story is beautifully illustrated and easy to read. Reading to a younger child, or encouraging a learner reader to read it aloud, a foster parent can use it to start helpful conversations. For example: how do you think Stellaluna felt when she first arrived in the bird’s nest? How did she learn to feel at home when she was there? What did the mama bird do to make her feel safe?
If you enjoyed this, you might also like Flap Your Wings by PD Eastman. It’s a similar story, but in this version, the bird family end up “fostering” an alligator!
Do you have a favorite children’s book which helps talk about fostering? Let us know in the comments!
