Why don't I have a daddy? : a story of donor conception

Why don't I have a daddy? : a story of donor conception 
by George Anne Clay
illustrated by Lisa Krebs 
Language: English 
Bloomington, Ind. : Author House, 2008. 
[28] p. : col. ill. ; 22 x 22 cm.
ISBN: 142599587X; 9781425995874
My annotation: Written by a mother whose desire it was to help her son understand his origins, this story begins when a lion cub notices the many different families around him on the African plain: zebra families, elephant families, and monkey families. He also notices that they all have two adults in their families, a mommy and a daddy. When he asks his mom why he doesn’t have a daddy, she begins to explain how a “kind and generous” “donor lion” gave some of his “special seed” so that she could have a cub of her own. After hearing the story of his conception, the little lion asks his mother, “Mama, what am I supposed to say when other cubs ask about my daddy?” To which she replies that it may be hard for other cubs to understand why he doesn’t have a daddy if they themselves have a daddy who they love, but that he could simply say that his family just consists of him and his mama. When he gets older, she adds, he might want to tell his friends if they ask, that his father is a sperm donor. This book introduces children to the concept of sperm donation as something simple you go to the doctor for, but also uses the term “father” to describe the donor who gave his sperm, as opposed to a “daddy” who is a part of the family. It’s possible the term “biological father” might have been more accurate, but as with many of these books written by mothers, these are the personal stories that they wish to tell their children, using their own vocabulary, and in their own way. Because the mama lion consistently refers to their twosome as a family, this book takes a family-building approach and employs “the helper” and the "labor of love" scripts. It also includes an insightful “note to the Grown-Ups…” written by a licensed clinical professional counselor at the end. There are full color illustrations and the book is recommended for children ages 3-5.
Available: http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000574312/Why-Dont-I-Have-A-Daddy.aspx