Sioux City, Iowa – Dr. Jessica Pleuss, Professor of Psychology at Morningside University and experienced foster parent, releases her debut children’s picture book, “Sharing My Family / Compartiendo Mi Familia.” The bilingual English-Spanish book, which she both wrote and illustrated, is designed for children ages 4 to 10 and explores the experience of welcoming foster children into a family through a child’s perspective. Translation into Spanish was done by Sioux City resident Christian Supiot Pérez. 

Drawing from her background in child psychology and personal experience as a foster parent in Sioux City, Dr. Pleuss created this story to help children understand and navigate the emotions that come with expanding their family through foster care. The book addresses the joys, challenges, and adjustments that occur when foster children join a household, providing young readers with relatable scenarios and emotional guidance.

“Fostering affects entire families, including the children already in the home,” says Dr. Pleuss. “This book gives voice to those experiences and helps families have meaningful conversations with their children about sharing their home and family with children who need care.”

“Sharing My Family / Compartiendo Mi Familia” has been published by Expanding Circle Press and was released on September 1, 2025. The book is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats for online purchase, with pre-orders available before the release date. Additional bilingual versions are planned, including English-French and English-German, for release later in 2025. Libraries and bookstores can order the hardcover edition through Ingram’s catalog. Individuals can purchase copies through links on the Expanding Circle Press product page a https://expandingcirclepress.com/products 

Dr. Jessica Pleuss brings both academic expertise and lived experience to this project. As a Professor of Psychology at Morningside University, she combines her educational background in child psychology with her hands-on experience as a foster parent in the Sioux City community. Her unique perspective allows her to address this important topic with both sensitivity and

Authenticity. The book addresses a significant need in children’s literature, as foster care touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and families across the United States. Most children’s literature about foster care focuses on the foster child’s perspective, rather than the perspective of children already in the home. By providing age-appropriate content that normalizes and explains foster care experiences, “Sharing My Family / Compartiendo Mi Familia” serves as a valuable resource for families, educators, social workers, and community organizations.

Morningside University will host a book signing with Dr. Jessica Pleuss on Saturday, October 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Hickman-Johnson-Furrow Learning Center. The event will feature a reading at 11:00 a.m., crafts and snacks for attendees, and books available for purchase. All community members are welcome to attend.