Bend, Ore. -- The High Desert Museum is hosting a free, special program for the Rainbow Club of Central Oregon, an adoptive families group, at 4 p.m. on Nov. 10.
The program includes Totally Touchable Tales, a sensory-filled storytelling experience about an owl of the High Desert, a fun owl craft activity, and a special guest appearance from a live owl!
The event is in conjunction with National Adoption Month of November. Families are sharing what it means to have been touched by adoption by reading the newly released book, "Forever Fingerprints, An Amazing Discovery for Adopted Children." by Sherrie Eldridge. The readings are sponsored by EMK Press, the book's publisher. Members of the adoption agencies, support groups and religious groups are using this event as a way to educate communities about adoption.
One of the readings is set for 1 p.m., Nov. 17, at Deschutes Public Library. The event, sponsored by the Rainbow Club, will include a special fingerprint activity and offers a way for adoptive families to meet, and for families to find out more about adoption.
Eldridge is an adoptee and author of the bestseller "Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew," which encourages children to share how they feel about their birthparents, adoption and loss.
It is the story of Lucie, whose aunt's pregnancy opens the door for Lucie to talk about babies and the bittersweet feelings she has about her adoption. Lucie's parents answer her questions with honesty and transparency. The story concludes with Lucie's discovery that her uniquely created fingerprints connect her to her whole family. "Forever Fingerprints" shows children how they can discover their own fingerprints through a fun, hands-on fingerprinting activity.
More than 1.5 million adopted children live in the United States and 60 percent of the American population has personal ties with someone who has been touched by adoption as an adoptee, birth or adoptive parent. "Forever Fingerprints" transcends racial and cultural differences to offer a simple tool of connection for these families and the families that know them.
EMK Press is a publisher of adoption-themed publications for families. Its ground-breaking book,
"Adoption Parenting; Creating a Toolbox, Building Connections" (July 2006) has become an adoption agency requirement and parenting bible for adoptive families. EMK Press offers tools that help parents and children better understand the complexities and nuances of adoption. The website (http://www.emkpress.com) contains a wealth of parent-oriented resources.
