by Carmen Martínez Jover
illus. by Rosemary Martínez
Language: Dutch
Carmen Martínez Jover, 2013.
31 p. : col. ill. ; 22 cm.
ISBN: 6070066332 ; 9786070066337
Summary: Omdat mensen nietzelf kunnen kiezen volgens welk receptzijhun kinderwens vorm geven, is begnip en respect erg belangrijk. Dit boekje is een schitterend instrument om kinderen te introduceren in de complexe wereld van fertiliteitsbehandelingen. Het ontdoet de problematiek van de taboes waarmee fertilieteitsbehandelingen vaak nog zijn omgeven en helpt inzien dat het niet uitmaakt volgens welk recept je op de wereld gekomen bent. Kortom, een aanrader voor groot en klein.
Annotation: Using the metaphor of cake-making, where milk, flour, eggs, butter and an oven are needed, the author introduces children to the ingredients for making a baby: sperm, an egg, and a tummy. While a cake takes thirty minutes in the oven, a baby takes 9 months in a woman’s tummy. When sperm and egg join, (there is no information on lovemaking), the egg is fertilized and becomes a single cell until it begins to divide to form an embryo and then a fetus, which is carried for nine months. This is the “classical recipe” for making babies. When things don’t work out this way, the book goes on to describe several other methods for making a baby, all of which require a doctor’s help. In vitro is discussed, as well as sperm donation, egg donation, embryo donation, surrogacy, and adoption, and all necessary vocabulary is introduced, “fertilization,” “embryo,” “fetus,” and “pregnancy.” One small critique I have is that for the discussion of in vitro, there is a picture of a test tube instead of a petri dish, which could be confusing to children if their parents combine this book with other books to explain IVF to their children. The description of sperm donation is also combined with the in vitro procedure, “The doctor fertilizes Mummy’s egg in a test tube with the donated sperms,” and “When the embryo starts growing the doctor places it in Mummy’s womb,” which is not always the case with sperm donation. Each procedure for sperm donation, egg donation, etc. is reinforced by accompanying pictures at the bottom of a two-page spread, showing the need for sperm, an egg, a test tube, and a womb. The book ends by reassuring children that no matter how they were conceived, one way is no better than another and that “No matter with which recipe you were born or how you came into Mummy and Daddy’s arms, they love you just the same because they had been longing for you to be part of their family.” Cartoon drawings depict nudity and lovemaking although there is no verbal description of lovemaking. Recommended for children ages 3-5.
Available: http://www.amazon.com/Receptenboekje-babys-worden-gemaakt-Edition/dp/6070066332
