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Maybe Days: A Book for Children in Foster Care
Will I live with my parents again? Will I stay with my foster parents forever? For children in foster care, the answer to many questions is often "maybe." Maybe Days addresses the questions, feelings, and concerns these children most often face. Honest and reassuring, it also provides basic information that children want and need to know, including the roles of various people in the foster care system and whom to ask for help. An extensive afterword for adults caring for foster children describes the child's experience, underscores the importance of open communication, and outlines a variety of ways to help children adjust to the "maybe days"--and to thrive. From the Note to Foster Parents and Other The enormity of adjustment that children in foster care are asked to make is hard to over-state. Children in foster care may experience and express a range of feelings, many of which may emerge during the reading of this book. Multiple feelings may occur at the same time and may
Relief and a sense of safety Some children respond well to verbal discussion about their feelings....Keep in mind that asking questions and encouraging activities can be useful for some children, but it is not always necessary and is never a substitute for simply listening.
Relief and a sense of safety Some children respond well to verbal discussion about their feelings....Keep in mind that asking questions and encouraging activities can be useful for some children, but it is not always necessary and is never a substitute for simply listening.
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 30, 2010
My 9 year old foster son is having so many confusing feelings about being away from his mom, being in our home, etc. It is such a terrifying and disorienting experience for a young child. I ordered this book, a little worried it would be too immature for him. Instead, he ate up every word. As we read, he asked questions and told us information we never knew about how he is feeling and what he misses about his old home and what he likes about our family. It was very moving seeing his response to this book and how it opened up lines of communication between us. It showed him he is not alone, there are other kids like him, and it is not his fault that he's in foster care. It also helped him understand that it's okay to be upset about all the "maybes" - It's become a game in our house since reading the book- He asks "will I go home to mom?" and we say "Maybe!" and we all laugh (you'll understand when you read the book). This book helps him laugh at what is a terribly painful situation, and understand that it's okay to have ambivalence. The illustrations are lovely and show a lot of diversity of families, including children of color with white foster parents, white children with foster parents of color, people of color who are of different races or skin tones living together, etc. There is a discussion guide in the back. I recommend it for any foster family, I feel like it could be useful up to about age 12.
January 1, 2024
I’ve never seen a book like this picture book by Jennifer Wilgocki and Marcia Kahn Wright, one that explains foster care at a child’s level. The book covers why a child might end up in foster care in the gentlest way possible. It stresses how important it is for children to be safe and taken care of.
This picture book covers visitation, who the adults are in the case (e.g., social worker, foster parent, lawyer, judge, therapist) and what they do. The book doesn’t promise the happy ending children might want, but it does demystify what must be a terrible, terrifying situation. What an amazing book! It made me tear up.
I don’t want to leave out illustrator Alissa Imre Geis, whose lovely depictions of children and adults of all ages and races add the perfect touch.
This picture book covers visitation, who the adults are in the case (e.g., social worker, foster parent, lawyer, judge, therapist) and what they do. The book doesn’t promise the happy ending children might want, but it does demystify what must be a terrible, terrifying situation. What an amazing book! It made me tear up.
I don’t want to leave out illustrator Alissa Imre Geis, whose lovely depictions of children and adults of all ages and races add the perfect touch.
June 21, 2021
This was OK. It's been recommended to me so many times recently that I was 3xpexting it yo be spectacular. It was...OK.
June 10, 2016
One of my favorite therapeutic books for kids in foster care.
May 14, 2024
Life in foster care means nights -- and months -- with unanswered questions.
* Will I ever live with my parents again?
* What is happening to them now?
* Do they ever think about me?
* Will I stay with these foster parents forever?
Hence the excellent title of this book: "MAYBE Days."
Clearly, much thought and care went into the creation of this book. Writing is sensitive, and honest. For instance, on Page 14:
Some kids like to tell peole that they live with their foster parents.
Some kids don't like to tell anyone.
They don't like having to explain or answser a million questions or even put up with getting teased.
ANOTHER EXCELLENT THING ABOUT THIS BOOK
The artwork isn't slick or show-offey. It doesn't offer a candy-coated view of life in foster care. Instead, the style of these illustrations is in the direction of primitive art. (I'm not an art critic. Hopefully what I'm trying to communicate here makes sense. Some of you Goodreaders might have better words to express what I'm aiming to convey.)
Differently put, to me, the drawings are more conceptual than expressing beauty or happiness. That works really well, in this context.
FIVE STARS of gratitude and admiration for everything about this important book.
* Will I ever live with my parents again?
* What is happening to them now?
* Do they ever think about me?
* Will I stay with these foster parents forever?
Hence the excellent title of this book: "MAYBE Days."
Clearly, much thought and care went into the creation of this book. Writing is sensitive, and honest. For instance, on Page 14:
Some kids like to tell peole that they live with their foster parents.
Some kids don't like to tell anyone.
They don't like having to explain or answser a million questions or even put up with getting teased.
ANOTHER EXCELLENT THING ABOUT THIS BOOK
The artwork isn't slick or show-offey. It doesn't offer a candy-coated view of life in foster care. Instead, the style of these illustrations is in the direction of primitive art. (I'm not an art critic. Hopefully what I'm trying to communicate here makes sense. Some of you Goodreaders might have better words to express what I'm aiming to convey.)
Differently put, to me, the drawings are more conceptual than expressing beauty or happiness. That works really well, in this context.
FIVE STARS of gratitude and admiration for everything about this important book.
June 13, 2025
As a trauma therapist who sees some kids navigating the foster care system, I’m always on the lookout for resources that help explain what’s going on in a child’s life in a way that feels safe and validating. Maybe Days does a solid job of that. I really liked the overall message—that kids just need to be kids, and that their job is simply to be themselves while the adults work things out. “Maybe” is such a perfect way to sum up the uncertainty of foster care, and I appreciated how the book normalized the mixed feelings kids often have…relief to be out of a tough situation, but sadness about leaving their family.
That said, there were parts that didn’t sit right with me. Some of the wording around birth parents felt off, and I wish they had used “caseworker” instead of “social worker.” The therapist gets one vague sentence, while the judge (who usually has the least contact with the child) gets a lot of focus, which felt unbalanced. It’s also pretty wordy, so I’d probably need to explain quite a bit while reading it with a client.
Overall, I’m glad this book exists, and I might use it selectively in sessions — but it’s not quite a go-to for me.
That said, there were parts that didn’t sit right with me. Some of the wording around birth parents felt off, and I wish they had used “caseworker” instead of “social worker.” The therapist gets one vague sentence, while the judge (who usually has the least contact with the child) gets a lot of focus, which felt unbalanced. It’s also pretty wordy, so I’d probably need to explain quite a bit while reading it with a client.
Overall, I’m glad this book exists, and I might use it selectively in sessions — but it’s not quite a go-to for me.
August 16, 2020
This book recognizes the reality of foster care in a matter-of-fact way that acknowledges a child's experiences and feelings and the fact that children in foster care are not at fault for this change in family structure. It also introduces the roles of different people (social workers, therapists, judges, lawyers, foster parents), and different possibilities (looking different from your your foster family, having big emotions that are hard to control, not knowing when or if you'll see your biological parents) in a way that will give a reference point for experiencing these things. The illustrations are beautiful. I liked how the book explicitly says all of the waiting and the maybes of foster care are hard, but "A kid's job is always to be a kid. It is important not to let the waiting and the maybes get in the way of other things like going to school, having birthdays" and a wonderfully long list of activities and milestones. Our kids ages 3 - 9 were all interested in it, and it was a good starting point for discussion.
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March 23, 2017This books is fiction, and it's very explanatory, so there's not really a plot. However, for children in the foster care system, it's great. It can be interesting to children (if it's applicable). It opens up discuss between the readers because it offers a variety of things to think about, question, and consider. There is no plot (since it's explanatory), but it does have a nice ending. The characters in the story represent many, many cultural groups, and the readers are exposed to multiples perspectives, which is great.
The illustrations are simple, but explanatory. They pair well with the story, and correspond with the text. The characters and the story are extremely realistic. I think this book can be very helpful in explaining the foster care system.
The illustrations are simple, but explanatory. They pair well with the story, and correspond with the text. The characters and the story are extremely realistic. I think this book can be very helpful in explaining the foster care system.
February 14, 2019
Maybe Days is an amazing title for a book about children in foster care. There is no better word than “maybe” for the experience.
Still, the book falls short to me and I’m not sure I will use this with my own foster children. Too many big words and too many easy to read words that didn’t mesh. With its superficial discussion of feelings it felt more like a middle school report than a book written to engage foster children.
The illustrations are beautiful.
Illustrations: 5 stars
Writing: 3 stars
Still, the book falls short to me and I’m not sure I will use this with my own foster children. Too many big words and too many easy to read words that didn’t mesh. With its superficial discussion of feelings it felt more like a middle school report than a book written to engage foster children.
The illustrations are beautiful.
Illustrations: 5 stars
Writing: 3 stars
June 11, 2020
I'm looking forward to reading this to my biological children in anticipation of fostering, and to my future foster children. I love the illustrations - they remind me of a mix between Aliki and Cathryn Falwell. The message was lovely and comprehensive and gentle.
August 15, 2017
The book was really factual but it did seem a little heavily worded for a book for children. I did like the artwork in it and it has a good message and a great title.
August 20, 2018
Execellent resource for kids in foster care
April 25, 2019
Does a great job capturing the complexities of foster care (big feelings, so many different adults, waiting, etc). K-4
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May 2, 2019-K-6
-This book introduces those involved in foster care and explains the process. This makes the process simpler to understand. Foster Care is confusing for adults and children. This book also touches on how the child may be feeling. Although it may be confusing there are a lot of people around them trying to protect them. For children in foster care, this book can help explain that in some situations you can be happy and sad at the same time as well as safe but scared for example. Read this book to settle an uneasy mind and add clarity to what's happening.
This book may provoke difficult questions or bring up sensitive topics. There is also information for caregivers in the back of the book.
-Allow children to anonymously submit questions into a jar to be answered. Create a chart of all the people who they have to help them.
-This book introduces those involved in foster care and explains the process. This makes the process simpler to understand. Foster Care is confusing for adults and children. This book also touches on how the child may be feeling. Although it may be confusing there are a lot of people around them trying to protect them. For children in foster care, this book can help explain that in some situations you can be happy and sad at the same time as well as safe but scared for example. Read this book to settle an uneasy mind and add clarity to what's happening.
This book may provoke difficult questions or bring up sensitive topics. There is also information for caregivers in the back of the book.
-Allow children to anonymously submit questions into a jar to be answered. Create a chart of all the people who they have to help them.
June 3, 2020
I’m super excited to be able to share this book with the foster kids I work with in my role as a CASA volunteer.
November 18, 2021
Great book to help littles understand foster care without being too explicit. It's not overly diverse. Definitely for 8 and younger. Maybe even 6 and younger
January 24, 2023
A good resource to explain foster care and open dialogue with children. There are valuable notes listed at the end of the book for adults.
May 19, 2023
Great tool for my practice
January 10, 2024
great book my kids who were in foster care at the time asked to read over and over again.
November 4, 2025
This book describes what a foster child may experience. It describes various scenarios and what a foster child’s feelings may be.
March 9, 2017
Maybe Days is a great introduction to the foster care system for children ages 4-10. The book depicts the often complex world of foster care in simple, clear, and realistic terms.
It acknowledges how frustrating it can be to only have questions answered with “maybe” and not know what will happen next in life. Each child’s journey in the foster care system is unique, which the book respects as well. A note to foster parents is included in the back, with tips from the authors, a therapist and a clinical psychologist who both work with children and families.
Overall, the book manages to balance the unknowns and vagueness of each child’s experience of foster care with reassuring children that no matter what, they can still be themselves and enjoy being a kid.
It acknowledges how frustrating it can be to only have questions answered with “maybe” and not know what will happen next in life. Each child’s journey in the foster care system is unique, which the book respects as well. A note to foster parents is included in the back, with tips from the authors, a therapist and a clinical psychologist who both work with children and families.
Overall, the book manages to balance the unknowns and vagueness of each child’s experience of foster care with reassuring children that no matter what, they can still be themselves and enjoy being a kid.
February 26, 2015
This is a book I think I need to own. It would be a good one to read to younger kids (with some text adjustments) and to have around to either read to the slightly older kids or to let them discover on their own. It talks about the frustrations and confusions of living in foster care and having all the answers from grown-ups be "maybe."
I think it's also a good book for other adults and family members around the kids to be reading too. It clearly and succinctly illustrates a lot of the conflict and confusion a foster child might be experiencing beyond the obvious. Food, for example, can be a really big deal, and on one page is an illustration of 5 people eating around a table. They each have a different lunch box and different contents from your standard PBJ to sushi, and the accompanying text reads:
The best thing about this title is that it validates a lot of confusing feelings the kids might be experiencing, and feelings which might even be causing them guilt. Kind of like living with your foster family? That's ok. Don't want to call them mom or dad? That's ok too. Want to keep it a secret that you're in foster care? Want to shout it from the rooftops? It's all ok. I think it's one thing to hear this from your caseworker, therapist, or parents (either foster or birth), but it's another thing entirely to have it in print in a book. It lends it some validity that can be missing for some kids in a one-on-one interaction.
I think it's also a good book for other adults and family members around the kids to be reading too. It clearly and succinctly illustrates a lot of the conflict and confusion a foster child might be experiencing beyond the obvious. Food, for example, can be a really big deal, and on one page is an illustration of 5 people eating around a table. They each have a different lunch box and different contents from your standard PBJ to sushi, and the accompanying text reads:
Sometimes kids and foster parents do a lot of things the same way already. Sometimes there are new things that can be fun and exciting.
Sometimes there is a lot to get used to.
And there is always something to get used to.
The best thing about this title is that it validates a lot of confusing feelings the kids might be experiencing, and feelings which might even be causing them guilt. Kind of like living with your foster family? That's ok. Don't want to call them mom or dad? That's ok too. Want to keep it a secret that you're in foster care? Want to shout it from the rooftops? It's all ok. I think it's one thing to hear this from your caseworker, therapist, or parents (either foster or birth), but it's another thing entirely to have it in print in a book. It lends it some validity that can be missing for some kids in a one-on-one interaction.
October 19, 2016
This non-fiction book talks about all the important parts and steps to foster care and adoption. Everything in this book is factional so children can understand all the parts to joining, living in, and leaving foster care. I believe that this book is important when talking about family, because to the children who are in foster care that is their family. This text uses short sentences with simple words that any child can read. Although it does not have a storyline that involves a conflict and resolution, it offers many questions for children to think about who are and are not in foster care like waitng for something we can't control is hard, or constantly hearing "Maybe" is disappointing. The illustrations in this book are diverse and most children show emotion in the drawings so children can feel what the character feels. Any child can connect with the themes that this book offers as it touches on many feelings that young children feel wether in foster care or not. I enjoyed the information and facts provided in this book, and would like to see more books that can give children an explanation to something so big in their life.
June 13, 2012
When I became a first time foster parent, this book was recommended to me to read with my foster daughter. It was my foster daughter's first time in the system and she didn't understand what was happening. She was only four and I wasn't sure this book would really help her understand.
I was extremely happy with this book. Even at four years old, she was able to understand the concepts in the book (I had to change some verbiage to 4 year old terms). She asked a lot of questions and it really opened up the communication between the two of us. We read the book many times, per her request.
I would recommend this book to any foster parent with young children. It helped my foster daughter understand & it helped me explain foster care in simple, easy to follow, terms.
I was extremely happy with this book. Even at four years old, she was able to understand the concepts in the book (I had to change some verbiage to 4 year old terms). She asked a lot of questions and it really opened up the communication between the two of us. We read the book many times, per her request.
I would recommend this book to any foster parent with young children. It helped my foster daughter understand & it helped me explain foster care in simple, easy to follow, terms.
October 15, 2015
I think this book is WONDERFUL for a foster child. It helps explain some of the roles of people foster children come in contact with and it also helps them overall. It tells children that adults often say maybe to their difficult questions but don't waste your life away on maybes."Will I live with my parents again? Will I stay with my foster parents forever? For children in foster care, the answer to many questions is often "maybe.""
It tells foster children to enjoy their everyday life and birthdays etch. While they wait for answers to their maybe questions. While it may be hard to wait, it is also ok to keep on going. I think this book can open a lot of doors for conversations with foster children that they may have not brought up before.
It tells foster children to enjoy their everyday life and birthdays etch. While they wait for answers to their maybe questions. While it may be hard to wait, it is also ok to keep on going. I think this book can open a lot of doors for conversations with foster children that they may have not brought up before.
December 7, 2013
This book has been approved by our nine yr old critic! He sat here and read it to himself making comments about it all the way through then read it aloud to me - then asked if he could check it out and take it to school so his teacher could read it to the class (saying his class needed to hear this book) when I explained his teacher may not want to read it outloud to them with having a foster child in his class he then demanded to call a foster family here in town so the mom could read it to all of her kiddos! VERY Passionate review!
September 26, 2009
A great book about the frustrations children can feel in foster care, where every question they ask about their future ends up with the answer "Maybe."
A good depiction of the different roles of adults involved in helping kids and families (social worker, judge, lawyer, counselor, foster parents, etc.)
Reinforces that a child's job is to be himself and to learn and grow regardless of what all the adults are trying to figure out.
A good depiction of the different roles of adults involved in helping kids and families (social worker, judge, lawyer, counselor, foster parents, etc.)
Reinforces that a child's job is to be himself and to learn and grow regardless of what all the adults are trying to figure out.
September 2, 2016
This is such an important book! It takes a very heavy subject and breaks it down into its simplest terms so that kids can understand what they are feeling and how foster care works. I love the discussion on the "big feelings" that kids in foster care have and how it's okay to feel conflicting emotions all at the same time. I also love the discussion on the different roles that the adults have in foster care and that it's the kid's job just to be a KID. So grateful for this book!
October 18, 2016
This book does a wonderful job in explaining the system of foster care to children. This book answers a variety of questions children may have about foster care (Like, "will i be able to go home?"). This book is related to my text set because it shows, once again, another variety of a family you might see in your day to day life at school. This book does a great job of being relatable, meaning it explains the topic is such a way the kids are able to see themselves in the book!
August 9, 2016
This is a very good book that explains the frustration and impatience of a child being in a position of waiting and waiting and getting 'maybe' as answers to all the important questions and then waiting some more. I read it to kids I talk with at work to help them understand some of what is going on with their lives.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews