I'm an adult adoptee and the author of the nine-book Chosen With Love series, picture books about adoption, foster care, and the families that show up. I know how much a single word can matter to an adopted child, and how easy it is to get one wrong with the very best intentions.
Whether you're writing an adoption book for other families, or you'd love one written just for yours, I'd be glad to help.
Adoptee Manuscript Review
Before your adoption or foster care picture book goes out into the world, I'll read it the way an adoptee and an adoptive family will.
- Language that can sting without meaning to, and gentler alternatives
- How birth and first families are portrayed
- Emotional safety for the child reading it
- Whether it's age-appropriate and read-aloud friendly
- What's working well, so you know what to keep
Manuscript review
Picture book manuscripts up to 1,500 words. Written report plus notes on your manuscript, delivered within 7 days.
$65 USD
Book a reviewYour Child's Adoption Story
A one-of-a-kind story written from scratch about your family: how you found each other, told gently and with love, with room for every part of your child's story.
- A short questionnaire about your family, in your own words
- An original story written by me, not a template
- One round of revisions, so it feels exactly right
- A beautifully laid-out printable PDF, or a printed hardcover book
Printed keepsake
7.5″ square hardcover, plus the PDF. Free shipping to the US and Canada.
$109 USD
Order the bookWhy an adoptee?
Most adoption books are written from the parents' side of the story. They're full of love, and they still sometimes miss what a child hears between the lines.
I read with both hearts: the grown-up who wants to celebrate, and the little one who may also be missing someone. You can see that balance in my own books, like Chosen With Love and Counting Down to Adoption Day.
How it works
Book and pay
Choose your service above and check out securely.
Send your details
Email me your manuscript, or I'll send you the family questionnaire, at hello@larabalint.com.
Receive it within 7 days
Your review or story arrives by email, with time for questions or revisions.
Questions
Is my manuscript kept private?
Yes. I never share, publish, or reuse your work, and your story stays yours.
My manuscript is longer than 1,500 words. Can you still help?
Absolutely. Email me first with a little about your book, and I'll send you a quote.
Do you only work with adoption stories?
Adoption, foster care, and kinship care are my focus, because that's where my lived experience makes the biggest difference.
Can the custom story include my child's birth family?
Yes, as much or as little as you'd like. The questionnaire lets you decide what to include, and I'll always handle it with care.
Is this a professional or therapeutic assessment?
No. It's an honest, caring read from an adoptee and published author. For clinical or legal questions about adoption, please speak with a qualified professional.