2009-2008

News Release

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DATE: October 21, 2008

           A book about adoption that is geared towards young children will help caregivers, family members and educators as they broach the subject with preschoolers and primary-aged children.
          Sonya Corbin Dwyer, an associate professor of psychology at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, is the author of An Adoption Alphabet, which she has created with photographer Dean Peckford. Her hope is that the book will help parents and others establish an atmosphere in which adoption is discussed openly, honestly, and naturally. Beautiful black and white portraits of children of all ages will help engage young listeners and readers. The text may provide a foundation for later elaboration as children get older. 
           “Adoption is one of the many ways in which families are created and extended,” said Dr. Corbin Dwyer. “We wanted our book to reflect this diversity. Not all of the children pictured in this book are adopted as our goal was to be inclusive, showing sibling groups and children of different ages and races.”
          Published by Benchmark Press, all proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the Children’s Bridge Foundation (http://www.cbfoundation.com/), a Canadian charity registered in 2003 by a group of adoptive parents; the foundation provides educational and developmental enrichment for orphaned and abandoned children. They have helped children in China, Vietnam, South Korea, Kazakhstan, India and Ethiopia.
          At Memorial’s Corner Brook campus, Dr. Corbin Dwyer conducts research on issues related to transracial adoption. She began this research after she became a mother; her two daughters were born and adopted in China.
          Mr. Peckford is a self-taught photographer. He is the biological father of three children and uncle to Sonya’s daughters.
          A public book launch for An Adoption Alphabet will be held on Thursday, Oct. 30, 4-5:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts atrium of Grenfell College. Dr. Corbin Dwyer’s recent publication Surviving and Succeeding in the Ivory Tower: A Woman’s Guide to Negotiating Graduate Studies will also be launched at this event. All are welcome.

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