Note: I’m writing about this book on adoption because I think it will be useful to hopeful adoptive parents considering international adoption. This book is from my personal collection, and is one I’ve had on my bookshelf for the past few years.

How to Adopt Internationally—A Guide for Agency-Directed and Independent Adoptions was most recently published in 2003. While it’s not uncommon for rules and regulations to change with international adoption, the book still provides good information on the international adoption process. Additionally, many of the websites listed in the book are still active, and provide updated information for visitors.

Chapters in this book include:

• Is International Adoption Right for You?
  
• Parents’ Journals
  
• Understanding International Adoption: An Overview
  
• Choosing the Right Agency
  
• Obtaining State Approval: The First Steps
  
• Preliminary INS Approval
  
• Application to a Foreign Source
  
• Preparing for the Referral
  
• Filing the Orphan Petition
  
• The Adoption Trip
  
• Meeting Your Child
  
• Preparing for the Trip Home: Adoption, Emigration and Immigration
  
• Health Problems of Orphans from Developing Countries
  
• After Your Return Home: Postplacement, Readoption and Citizenship
  
• Parenting the Adopted Child
  
• Compendium of Adoption Information for Participating Countries
  
• Appendix: Resources and Contacts
  
• Bibliography of Recommend Reading
  
• Index

As you can see by the chapter listing, How to Adopt Internationally covers a wide range of topics on international adoption. You’ll see examples of the many forms involved, which allows you to become familiar with them before starting the process.

You’ve probably come across some books on adoption that are hard to read and understand. However, this book is laid out in an organized matter, with many charts, forms, and easy to read chapters. It honestly feels as if the authors are in your living room with you, personally guiding you through the process, while sharing tidbits of their own personal international adoption experience.

Authors Jean and Heino Erichsen have quiet the experience in adoption. In addition to being adoptive parents themselves, they ran a successful adoption agency for thirty years.

I would suggest this book to anyone wanting to learn the ins and out of international adoption. As I mentioned before, it may not be the most recent book on the market today, but it still holds accurate and valuable information.