Wunschkind
written and illustrated by Lilli L'Arronge
Language: German
[Germany]: Jacoby & Stuart, 2012.
p. : col. ill. ; cm.
ISBN: 3941787675; 9783941787674
Summary: Alle bauen Nester, dann liegen Eier darin, und glückliche Familien werden gegründet. Auch Eichhörnchen und Rotkehlchen hätten gern eine Familie. Lilli L'Arronges lebensfrohe Bilder erzählen auf liebevolle Art von der Begeisterung und bedingungslosen Freude des ungleichen Paars, das zusammenhält, komme was da wolle. Und dessen größter Wunsch sich schließlich erfüllt ...Eichhörnchen und Rotkehlchen müssen sich in Geduld üben. Denn obwohl sie alles richtig gemacht haben und ihr Heim nicht schöner sein könnte, ein Ei will einfach nicht kommen. Zusammen hoff en und warten sie sehnsüchtig. Und eines Morgens ist der große Wunsch dann in Erfüllung gegangen: Ein Ei liegt im Nest! Eichhörnchen und Rotkehlchen sind überglücklich, auch wenn das Ausbrüten nicht immer einfach ist und eine Familie zu sein ganz schön anstrengend sein kann. Einfühlsam und liebevoll beschreibt Lilli L'Arronge das oft lange Warten auf das Wunschkind und die Freude, die ein solches bringt, selbst, wenn es weder Papa noch Mama so recht ähnlich sieht.
Available: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/3941787675/
Di mamma ce n'è una sola
by Isabella Paglia
Language: Italian
Casalecchio di Reno (BO) : Fatatrac, 2012.
1 vol. (non paginato) : ill.
ISBN: 9788882222765 ; 8882222764
Summary: La parola mamma all'orecchio di ogni bambino suona magica. Ma chi è una mamma? Quante mamme può avere un bambino? Quanti modi esistono per venire al mondo? Una storia tenera, che scalda il cuore e fa sorridere e riflettere sulle diverse maniere che esistono per "arrivare" in una famiglia: il concepimento naturale, quello in provetta e l'adozione. Il tutto spiegato ai piccoli uditori da buffi bambini coloratissimi usciti dall'allegro pennello di Francesca Cavallaro con linguaggio semplice e comprensibile. Un libro divertente per educare ad argomenti importanti e attuali. Età di lettura: da 4 anni.
Available: http://www.amazon.it/Di-mamma-n%C3%A8-una-sola/dp/8882222764
Karla leger "mor og børn"
by Pia Olsen og Karla Elena Olsen
illus. by Ina Korneliussen
Language: Danish
[Århus] : Siesta, 2012.
[28] sider : alle ill. i farver.
ISBN: 9788792893284; 8792893287
Summary: Hvordan laver man børn, når mor ikke har fundet en far? Det ved Karla godt, også selvom hun kun er 4 år. Karla er blevet til ved hjælp af en sæddonor. Hendes mor har fortalt, hvordan sædcellen og ægget bliver til en baby. Hun ved også nogenlunde, hvad en sæddonor er, men hun ved ikke så meget om, hvordan det er at have en far. Når Karla leger med sine dukker, leger hun mor og børn. I børnehaven hedder den samme leg far, mor og børn. Det er også en sjov leg, bare Karla ikke skal være faren - hun vil være babyen, eller moren. Karla leger mor og børner en ælle-bælle-bolle-bog for en ny type familie, der er blevet til ved hjælp af en sæddonor. Og så handler den om at vokse op i en familie uden far. Bogen kan læses som en efterfølger til Hvor er Karlas far? Bogen henvender sig til børn i alderen 3-6 år.
Available: http://www.salling.dk/shop/search-1.html?keyword=pia+olsen
Some people have two dads
by Luca Panzini and Fabri Kramer
illus. by Luca Panzini
Language: English
CreateSpace, 2012
36 p. : col. ill.; 16 x 21 cm.
ISBN: 1478383658; 9781478383659
Summary: Our society is changing. An increasing number of gay couples are having children through adoption and surrogacy. At some point you should explain to your child about same-gender parents. I have written this book as an educational tool to help people understand that families come in a variety of different combinations. If you can, please buy two books - one for your child and one to give away as a present or donation to a school or library - so that, together, we can educate parents, children and the community and make the world a better place.
Library of Congress Subject Headings:
- Children of gay parents -- Juvenile fiction
- Gay fathers -- Juvenile fiction
- Families -- Juvenile fiction
Available: http://www.somefamilies.net/
De cadeaubuik
by Marlies Slegers
illus. by Sandra Kelder-Verheem
Language: Dutch
[Nijkerk] : Van Brug, cop. 2012.
41 p. : ill. ; 18 cm.
ISBN: 9789065232571; 9065232575
Summary: De Cadeaubuik is gebaseerd op het bijzondere en waargebeurde verhaal van twee zussen, Andra & Marianne. In dit (voor)leesboek over draagmoederschap wordt op een heldere en begrijpbare wijze wordt uitgelegd dat kinderen soms uit een andere buik geboren worden dan die van hun moeder. Het is geschreven door Marlies Slegers en kleurrijk geïllusteerd door Sandra Kelder - Verheem.
De cadeaubuik is een bijzonder (voor)leesverhaal voor kinderen over draagmoederschap. Als Belle de hond van Tijn puppies krijgt vraag Tijn zich af waar de puppies heen gaan als ze geboren zijn. Mama vertelt hem dat ze voor de puppies een ander huis gaan zoeken. Het lijkt Tijn afschuwelijk voor Belle als haar kleintjes weggehaald worden.
Mama vertelt hem dan het verhaal van twee zussen die allebei graag een baby willen. Alleen kan een van de zussen geen kindjes krijgen. Daarom mag ze de buik van de ander lenen om een baby in te laten groeien- een echte cadeaubuik. Tijn vindt het een prachtig verhaal, maar wat heeft het eigenlijk met hem te maken?
De Cadeaubuik is een (voor)leesverhaal voor kinderen over draagmoederschap. Op een heldere en begrijpbare wijze wordt uitgelegd dat kinderen soms uit een andere buik geboren worden dan die van hun moeder.
Available: http://www.ivfboeken.nl/nl/product/de-cadeaubuik--marlies-slegers--sandra-kelder---verheem/
Een wijzer wondertje
by Mireille van Seggelen
illus. by Mark Baars
Language: Dutch
Budel [Netherlands] : MvS Creations, 2012.
33 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.
ISBN: 9789081114905; 9081114905
Summary: Soms ontstaan kinderen op een bijzondere manier. Janneke (7) is geboren met behulp van een zaadje van een donor. Ze vraagt haar moeder om uitleg. Prentvertelling om kunstmatige inseminatie bespreekbaar te maken. Met tekeningen in felle kleuren. Vanaf ca. 7 t/m 9 jaar.
Available: http://www.mvscreations.nl/een-wijzer-wondertje.html
Cloe quiere ser mamá
by Rosa Maestro
illustrated by Bárbara Guillén Feltrer
Language: Spanish
Madrid: Editorial Chocolate, 2012
24 p. ; col. ill.
ISBN: 9788494075605
Summary:Chloe wants to be a mother, but how? She does not have a man in her life. This is the story of a woman lucky enough to be granted a wish by a shooting star and of all the things she could have asked for, her one wish was to become a mother. One day she wakes up to find a box under her pillow containing the seed she would need in order to make a baby. With the box is also a note telling her to go see a doctor who could put the seed in her tummy. As promised by the shooting star, Chloe becomes pregnant and when Chloe’s daughter is born, she begins to tell her the story of the shooting star and how her wish to be a mother was granted. The shooting star makes one more trip back to see Chloe after her daughter is born to tell her that now that she has a family, she is not to forget that it is a “very special family,” and to tell her daughter “that she was born because you wanted her so much.” And so, this is the story that Chloe tells her daughter every night before bed. This book employs the “helper” and “families are made differently” scripts and takes both a child-conception and a family-building approach. The color illustrations are professionally rendered and it is recommended for ages 3-5. Also available in English as Chloe wants to be a mother.
Available: http://www.amazon.es/CLOE-QUIERE-MAMA-ROSA-MAESTRO/dp/B00DHQ009A/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392586386&sr=1-1&keywords=cloe+quiere+ser+mama
האבאים של גל ונועה / ha-Abaʼim shel Gal ṿe-Noʻah
by פנקס, שוש. Shosh Pinḳas
illus. by Julia Filipone-Erez
Language: Hebrew
רימונים, Ramat Gan : Rimonim, 2012.
21 p. : col. ill. ; 23 x 23 cm.
Summary: בּוֹאוּ נְשַׂחֵק בְּ'אַבָּא וְאַבָּא', אָמְרָה גַּל בֶּחָצֵר לְמִרְיָם.
"אֵיךְ אֶפְשָׁר? מַה פִּתְאוֹם? מִשְׂחָק כְּזֶה לֹא קַיָּם!"
"בֶּטַח שֶׁכֵּן! בֶּטַח שֶׁיֵּשׁ!" נוֹעָה מִיָּד קָפְצָה בְּשִׂמְחָה,
"בּוֹא נְשַׂחֵק בְּ'אַבָּא וְאַבָּא', בְּדִיּוּק כְּמוֹ אֶצְלֵנוּ בַּמִּשְׁפָּחָה."
"אֵין בָּעוֹלָם דָּבָר כָּזֶה," אָמַר בְּקוֹל זוֹעֵף, נָבוֹת,
"אַף פַּעַם לֹא שָׁמַעְתִּי עַל מִשְׁפָּחָה עִם שְׁנֵי אָבוֹת.
בָּנִים הֲרֵי לֹא מִתְחַתְּנִים עִם בָּנִים.
חֲתֻנּוֹת זֶה תָּמִיד לְכַלּוֹת וּלְחֲתָנִים."
לנועה ולגל יש שני אבות. איתי ויואב, שנקראים בשמות החיבה אבאתי ואבאיו. נועה וגל נולדו לזוג הורים גברים, בתהליך שנקרא פונדקאות, בעזרתן של שתי נשים יקרות שאפשרו את הגעתן של התאומות לעולם.
בספר ייחודי זה, מביאה שוש פנקס את סיפורן של נועה וגל, סיפור משותף למשפחות רבות, חד מיניות במדינת ישראל ובעולם כולו.
ספר אמיץ וחשוב שמקומו בספריות הגן בישראל ובבתים שיש בהם ילדים סקרנים שמחפשים תשובות למשפחות השונות והמגוונות שהם רואים סביבם.
Library of Congress Subject Headings:
- Gay fathers -- Juvenile literature
- Families -- Juvenile literature
Available: http://sifrutgea.wix.com/sifrutgea1#!__childrenbooks/vstc2=abaim
The pea that was me: an egg donation story
written and illustrated by Kimberly Kluger-Bell
CreateSpace, 2012
24 pp.: col. ill.
Language: English
ISBN: 1478149418 ; 9781478149415
Summary: A Children's Egg Donation Story This charming and light-hearted book is a wonderful way to introduce young children to the idea that a generous donor (along with a doctor and their parents) helped to bring them into the world and into their loving family. Full color original illustrations make this book a favorite for bedtime reading. It is a book your child will fall in love with.
Available: http://www.amazon.com/Pea-that-was-Me-Egg-Donation/dp/1478149418/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351509073&sr=1-3&keywords=pea+that+was+me
I felt you flutter in my heart
written and created by Choice Moms and Choice Kids
Language: English
Blurb, 2012
20 p. : col. ill. ; 17 x 17 cm.
My annotation: This is the very tender story that a single mom begins to tell her daughter of how much she felt her life “would not feel complete until you were here with me.” Teased by the new boy at the park for not having a daddy, Isabella no longer wants to go back. When her mommy asks her what’s wrong, Isabella asks her mommy for the first time, “That new boy at the park said everyone has a daddy. Why don’t I?” That’s when her mommy tells her the story of how she had always known that she wanted to be a mother but that she had never met the “perfect daddy.” Her mom tells her that she had to go to a doctor to get help but she does not explain the nuts and bolts of human reproduction or mention anything about a donor. She goes on to tell her it will always be okay for her to ask questions, to be sad about not having a daddy, and even mad, because daddies are indeed “very special people.” This book reads autobiographically and the love the mom has for her daughter is tangible. It would be an excellent springboard for all single mothers to begin the conversation with their children about why they don’t have a father in their lives and why they made the choice to have a child without a daddy. This book takes a family-building approach and employs the “labor of love” script. The full-color illustrations are drawn by various children and the book is recommended for ages 3-5.
Available: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2974967
Daddy Dog and Papi Panda's rainbow family
written and illus. by Anthony Hale
Language: English
CreateSpace, 2012.
33 pp. : col. ill. ; 22 x 22 cm.
ISBN: 9781475090888; 1475090889
My annotation: Daddy Dog and Papi Panda were just Mr. Dog and Mr. Panda until the day they received a call about a child monkey who was awaiting a family. Daddy Dog climbed aboard a plane and traveled very far in order to retrieve Mikey the Monkey and so the loving family - formally two - became a family of three. Then one day, Miss Cat announces that she’d like to carry a kitten for Daddy Dog and Papi Panda, but she did not have one kitten, or even two. She had three kittens and so their family of three expanded to a family of six. This is the story of how a two-dad family was built via adoption and surrogacy. It takes a family-building approach and employs the “helper” script. Recommended for children ages 3-5.
Available: https://www.createspace.com/3833939
Under a rainbow
by Zera Walpole
Language: English
Blurb, 2012
18 p. : col. ill. ; 17 x 18 cm.
My annotation: Told in rhyme, this is the story of two women who wanted to expand their family of two. The story is written for their son and tells of how they needed sperm and an egg in order to make a baby. They do not explain to him however where the sperm comes from or where the egg comes from, just that they themselves did not have any sperm and that they would have to search for a “special man” who would give them some of his. Their other stipulation is that this “special man” also be a “great Daddy” too. This is a tall order but they are successful and this book thus introduces the child to the concept of a known donor, although the term “donor” is not used. How much this Daddy is a part of their family is hinted at here when the author says, “you have a Daddy, so kind and so true/Who loves you as much as a Daddy could do.” Since he has a name and was also present at the child’s birth, this is a unique kind of family not represented in other children’s books. This book takes a family-building approach and employs "the helper,” “labor of love,” and “families are made differently” scripts. Computer art drawings are in full color and depict two happy women and a happy “Daddy” throughout. Recommended for ages 3-5.
Available: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3245206
A Very Special Lady: A Story about IVF, an Egg Donor and a Little Girl
by Nell Carswell
illustrated by Sarah Merrigan
Language: English
CreateSpace, 2012
24 pp.
ISBN: 9781475115895; 147511589X
$14.95
Summary: A delightfully simple story about ivf, an egg donor and the arrival of a baby girl. Fabulous pictures make it ideal for very young children and a simple story makes it perfect for older children to read. Without forgetting "the Very Special Lady" that made it possible. There is also an identical story about the arrival of a baby boy.
Available: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/147511589X/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
What makes a baby
by Cory Silverberg
illustrated by Fiona Smyth
Language: English
New York : Seven Stories Press, ©2012, 2013.
1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 24 cm.
ISBN: 9781609804855; 1609804856
Annotation: The cover of this book states that this is “a book for every kind of family and every kind of kid” and it truly is. In the most general of ways, this book begins with the sperm and the egg but in a brilliant turn asserts what has not been asserted before in a children’s book, that some bodies have sperm, and some do not, and that some bodies have eggs, and others do not. This is so undeniable and obvious that one wonders why this hasn’t been stated in quite this same way before in a children’s book on human reproduction. While other books proclaim simply that sperm come from males and eggs come from females, this book admits that this is not always the case, again, without positively stating so. Think trans individuals for example. After introducing children to the terms sperm, egg, and uterus, Silverberg, a sexuality educator, asks, “Who helped bring together the sperm and the egg that made you?” Here the book clearly veers away from all other children’s books on reproduction by implying that not every sperm and egg come from a mommy and a daddy. In fact, the words mommy and daddy are completely absent from the book, conveying to children that not all families are made up of mommies and daddies. Although there are many other children’s books on assisted conception that state the same thing, this is one book that can be used for children conceived both with and without assisted technology. In fact it would be very useful in families where each sibling could possibly have been conceived in a different way. It provides absolutely no details about how the egg and sperm come together, whether through heterosexual intercourse or assisted conception, so the book clearly leaves the area wide open for parents to fill in these details, anticipating that the child will have lots of questions about how the sperm and egg get together in the first place in order to make babies. The rather sparse text is counterbalanced by the vibrant and vivid illustrations which convey a tremendous amount of information not specifically stated in the book, for the book’s aim is clearly to delineate the barest of facts about reproduction and leave the rest for the inevitable extended discussions and explanations that develop from a close reading between parent and child. For example, Silverberg writes, “Inside the egg are so many stories all about the body the egg came from.” Smyth’s illustrations then depict the inside of an egg with an open book, movie film, puppets, and a family tree. The egg is a very busy place! The same is done for the sperm with a look inside depicting family photos, a double helix, and another opened book. The book ends beautifully with the question, “Who was waiting for you to be born?” aptly letting children know that they are here because someone wanted them to be here. The brightly colored cartoon illustrations depict genderless bodies and no nudity. Recommended for children ages 3-5 and also 5-8. This is a book that children will want to go back to again and again with a parent as a reading partner to answer their evolving questions. This book comes with a highly recommended reader’s guide which can be downloaded from http://www.what-makes-a-baby.com/readers-guide/.
Available: http://catalog.sevenstories.com/products/what-makes-a-baby
Interview with the author: http://whereisyourline.org/2011/08/badass-activist-friday-presents-cory-silverberg/
