I wanted to take a minute today and highlight one of the great books we have here at AJ Panda. The adoption process is long and complicated and nothing can help calm your nerves more than advice and stories from others who have already gone through the process.  While AJ Panda offers a large selection of books on Chinese adoption, culture and language, there is one that everyone seems to always love. A Passage to the Heart: Writings from Families with Children from China comes highly recommended for waiting families. It is a collection of 100 articles and stories regarding all aspects of adopting from China. It includes personal accounts from adoptive parents about both the joys of adoption and the challenges of parenthood.

One customer review on our site described it as “a compilation of stories related to the adoption process and experience; some of the stories are difficult and gut-wrenching and some are joyful and heart-warming. This balance in perspective helped prepare us for the many emotions and experiences that we encountered during our adoption process.”

No matter what step you are at in the adoption process or if you are just starting to explore adoption, AJ Panda has great resources for you. Or if you have already adopted, we have many great children’s books to help your little one learn about and celebrate their culture.

The start of AJ Panda can be traced back to November 2, 2006. That is the day I was handed a picture with the faces of two beautiful Chinese girls, who two months later would become my adopted twin daughters. While in China to complete the adoption process I was moved and inspired by the experience. People were beyond friendly and willing to forge bonds based on our common connections, and the history and tradition of my daughter’s birth country was awe-inspiring. I knew from that trip forward that our family would be committed to learning about China and celebrating its rich traditions and culture. Knowing I was not alone in this passion, AJ Panda was started to help both my family and others learn about and celebrate Chinese culture.

I am often asked about the meaning of our company name… AJ Panda. The initials, A and J, are a tribute to my daughters, AnMei and JiaLi. And since panda bears are a national symbol of China, Panda was chosen to honor China, who honored and blessed my family by allowing us to be the proud parents of two amazing daughters.

AJ Panda is a site dedicated to helping families celebrate Chinese culture and traditions. It is our goal that anyone who is interested in Chinese history, customs, and culture, can come to AJPanda.com and find what they are looking for. We are primarily dedicated to families who have adopted from China and want to be a one-stop resource for adoption information, Chinese gifts, and information on China, especially holidays and festivals.