How we became a family
written by Teresa and Bernard Villegas
illus. by Teresa Villegas
Language: English
Heart and Mind Press, 2013.
32 p. : col. ill ; 21 x 21 cm.
ISBN: 0988450119 ; 9780988450110
My amazon review: A couple falls deeply in love and wants to expand their family very much but they are not successful and they realize they must visit a doctor to see what they need to do in order to start their family. First they need two things: enough love to share with a child and enough trust and respect for each other in order to work together to be the best parents possible. They have both in abundance. The book goes on to explain that three other ingredients are also necessary to make a baby: sperm, an egg, and a uterus. Correct terminology is used throughout this book, also introducing children to the terms zygote and embryo, as well as the term "donor" for the woman who provided the egg the couple needed in order to have their babies. This book is lovingly written in the second person, addressing the child/ren directly: "Not a single moment passed while you were growing inside your mother that your parents didn't long for you to join their family." It is currently available in two versions: for children of sperm donors and for children of egg donors, both for parents of twins, although parents of singletons and triplets could easily apply this book to their family constellation as well. Books for parents who adopted embryos and for parents who used surrogates in order to have their children will be available soon according to the authors' web site. This is a beautiful and loving look at how much donor-conceived children are wanted. The illustrations are professionally rendered by the author who is also a professional children's book illustrator. The binding is excellent and it is a very polished book overall. Recommended.
Library of Congress Subject Headings:
- Fertilization in vitro, Human -- Juvenile fiction
- Fertilization in vitro, Human
Available: http://howwebecameafamily.com/
Pupujuttu ja muita vauvasatuja
by Outi Hovatta
illus. by Maija Ranta
Language: Finnish
Helsinki : Väestöliitto, ©1993.
35 p. : col. ill. ; 25 cm.
ISBN: 9529605005; 9789529605002
Summary: Pupujutun avulla vanhemmat voivat kertoa lapsille siitä, mistä vauvat tulevat. Asiahan kiinnostaa jo useampia alle kouluikäisiä ja alaluokkalaisia.
Eläinmaailmaan sijoitetut tarinat kertovat perinteisellä tavalla alkunsa saaneen lapsen syntymästä ja vaihtoehtoisilla tavoilla saaduista lapsista. Sadut lapsettomuushoitojen avulla alkunsa saaneista vauvoista, ottolapsista ja lapsettomista aikuisista avartavat lapsen maailmankuvaa ja auttavat häntä hyväksymään erilaisuutta.
Lapsettomuushoitojen avulla lapsensa saaneista vanhemmista useat ovat sitä mieltä, että lapsen on hyvä tietää syntytapansa. Tällainen avoimuus vähentää salattujen asioiden määrää perheissä. Perheet voivat käyttää vauvasatuja itse sopivasti muunnellen apuna lapsen syntytavan kertomisessa.
Available: http://www.vaestoliitto.fi/nettikauppa/lapsettomuus/?num=187839&upotusURI=/nettikauppa/lapsettomuus/&x198550=Select/Card
So that's where I came from
by Gina Dawson
illus. by Beth Norling
Language: English
Fitzroy, Vic. : Black Dog Books, 2010.
1 v. : col. ill. ; 23 x 25 cm.
ISBN: 9781742031019; 1742031013
Annotation: This comprehensive book from Australia about reproduction introduces children to the proper terminology for all terms related to human reproduction. It introduces children to the words, "penis," "vagina," "vulva," "uterus," "womb," "scrotum," "testicles," "sperm," "egg," "vas deferens," "urethra," "sexual intercourse," "ovaries," "fallopian tubes," "fertilisation," "conception," "pregnant," "amniotic fluid," "umbilical cord," "midwife," "breech," "Cesarean Section," "umbilical cord," "breasts," and "pubic hair." One way in which this book aims for comprehensiveness is its brief mention of infertility although surprisingly, given the book's large vocabulary for all things related to reproduction, does not introduce the word "infertility" for the concept of a couple being unable to conceive. "Sometimes a couple wants a baby very much, and although they have sex often, the egg and sperm don't meet." But unfortunately it stops there when it continues, "There are many reasons for this, but we don't have space to explain them all here." However, the book does go on to introduce the concepts of IVF and the use of donor gametes, as well as the need for a couple to visit a doctor in order to receive help in conceiving a baby. But on the next page the author warns children that they should not share this information about how they were conceived with other people: "The way you began and became a part of your family is personal, which means that you don't talk about it with people until you've discussed it with your mum or dad." For children conceived through ART, this could imply that there is something secretive or shameful about how they were conceived. Although the book aims to be comprehensive, and it is quite thorough in anticipating any and every question a child might have, it does not account for those who are gender nonconforming or transgendered in the way that Cory Silverberg's What Makes a Baby aims to do. This is clearly a book for primarily heterosexual parents to use with their children even though the book mentions different types of families which might include two mums or two dads. Cartoon drawings depict mixed race families and include nudity and visual and verbal depictions of lovemaking. Recommended for children ages 5-8.
Library of Congress Subject Headings:
- Sex instruction for children
Available: http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/book/so-thats-where-i-came-from/9341799/
Online article about the book: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/childrens-sex-education-book-updated-after-more-than-30-years/story-e6frfkp9-1225862260255
Here I am
written and illustrated by Kath D
2010
Available online: http://kathd2000.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/here-i-am-comic-book/
How we became a family 
