Gabriela wonders about her biological family when she struggles to complete a school family tree project. Her grandma uses the process of grafting apple trees to illustrate how children like Gabriela may experience adoption. Gabriela learns her family tree may not look like others’, but it is whole and complete—just like Gabriela and her story.

Written by an adoptee who became an adoptive parent, it is the author’s hope that reading The Little Scion helps spark bonding conversations that might be difficult to start: discussions about your own family trees and the people who have shaped you (in wombs, hearts, and arms). Children have an innate desire for family and belonging. They are naturally curious about where they come from. It is our job as parents, educators, and caregivers to listen, provide a safe space for questions and discussion, and love them for who they are.