Book Nook - The Heart That Found You

 National Adoption Month is a time to amplify the many layered and emotional stories of adoption—the longing, the waiting, the heartbreak, and above all, the love. This November, The Heart That Found You (The Collective Studio/November 4, 2025) brings a fresh, inclusive, and deeply resonant voice to this important conversation.

 

Written by debut author Anna Schocket and inspired by her personal experience as a single adoptive mother, The Heart That Found You is a tender picture book for children that delicately honors the complexities of adoption. Told through the perspective of “Heart,” a character who journeys through hope and discovery to find the child they were meant to love, this book offers a moving narrative for adoptive, two parent, blended, LGBTQ+, and single-parent families alike.

 

“This is the book I searched for and couldn’t find,” says Schocket. “I wanted something that reflected my experience—a solo parent choosing adoption—while also honoring the birth mother’s decision and communicating to my child how fiercely she is loved.”

 

I had a chance to learn more in this interview.

Why is it important for kids to have access to books that look at adoption from a variety of viewpoints?

Adoption is a complex experience, filled with many emotions and unique stories. It’s important for kids to have access to books that explore adoption from a variety of viewpoints because stories help them make sense of their own experiences — or those of people they care about. Whether a book shares the perspective of an adoptive parent, an adoptee, or a birth parent, it offers children a safe space to ask questions, process feelings, and build empathy. 

Why is this book worth reading for adoptive families and those that don't have experience with adoption?

The Heart That Found You tells the story of a Heart who searches far and wide for love — and finds it in a Little Heart, lovingly placed in their care by a birth mother Heart. Through this simple, heartfelt story, children see the depth of love and intention that surrounds how families are formed.

The book is purposefully not tied to any specific gender, race, or family structure, making it accessible to every parent — whether single, LGBTQ+, or part of a traditional family — to share their unique story of love and belonging. It helps even the youngest children begin to understand their adoption story in a joyful and age-appropriate way.

For families without direct experience with adoption, the story offers a window into how families can be created in many beautiful ways. It nurtures empathy, celebrates love in all its forms, and reminds every child that family is defined not by how it begins, but by the love that holds it together.

How can families use books like this to talk about some of the complex emotions that surround adoption?

Books like The Heart That Found You give parents and children a shared language to explore big emotions in a gentle way. Stories create a safe space to ask questions, express feelings, and build understanding together.

There are a few things I hope this book helps say out loud:

• That children are deeply loved by their parent — represented by Heart.

• That birth mothers make incredibly brave and loving choices.

• And that families, no matter how they’re formed, are grounded in love, care, and the deep desire to belong.

Through reading and conversation, families can revisit these themes again and again, allowing a child’s understanding — and confidence in their own story — to grow over time.

With luminous illustrations by French artist Carole Chevalier, The Heart That Found You balances gravity with whimsy, creating a gentle, affirming reading experience for children and the adults who love them.  Whether introducing the idea of adoption, foster care, surrogacy, or exploring the unique path of embryo adoption through IVF, this book opens the door to meaningful conversations about the many ways families are built and shares a heartfelt, enduring story.

 

As media, educators, and families look to elevate diverse adoption stories during National Adoption Month, The Heart That Found You offers a unique perspective—one that is emotionally honest, inclusive, and healing.

 

 

Anna Schocket, a single adoptive mother, embarked on a heartfelt journey to pen The Heart That Found You as a way to open a dialogue about adoption with her young daughter. With a career as a senior executive in talent development, Anna leveraged her learning background and her belief in the power of teachable moments to create a meaningful resource for other adoptive and nontraditional families. Anna and her daughter thrive together in Oakland, California.  For more information visit, www.AnnaSchocket.com.

 

About the Illustrator:
Carole Chevalier is a French illustrator whose vibrant, heartfelt art brings warmth and magic to children’s books around the world.