Book Reviews
"A book for children and their parents that confronts the fact that sometimes the answer to the question “Where did I come from?” isn’t that simple.
Many parents tell their children, “You grew in Mommy’s tummy,” while others tell about their adoptions. However, well-meaning parents of children who were conceived through in vitro fertilization, or with an egg or sperm donor, may stumble over technical terms as they search for words that are honest, clear and simple enough for children. This book, part of a series from Bernard Villegas and Teresa Villegas (Golemito, 2013, with Ilan Stavans, etc.), offers a helping hand. It explains assisted reproduction in spare, restrained language that allows plenty of leeway for parents to deliver their own messages, and it also preserves the beauty and magic of a child’s birth. The story, told in the second person, as if a parent is speaking directly to a child, begins with two people who love each other so much they want to form a family: “They trusted each other, and they helped each other become the best person they could be.” But, when they try to make a baby, they can’t, so they see a doctor. The doctor explains that the couple has most of what they need to make a baby—particularly love and mutual respect—but they also need seeds, eggs and a nest: “Your father had the seeds and your mother had the nest, but she didn’t have any eggs.” It’s an elegant explanation that most children will grasp easily, and, of course, they already know the book’s happy ending. The story features muted, folk art–inspired illustrations, and although most are abstract (the parents have birdlike heads and humanlike bodies), one page has tastefully explicit anatomical drawings of a man and a woman, with the vulva, vagina, penis and scrotum labeled. As with everything else in this book, the drawings and the words are graceful and matter-of-fact. (This version of the book is written for egg-donor twins, and versions for single egg-donor babies and children conceived using donor sperm are also available.)
An engaging book that will likely fulfill a need for some parents."
Source: Kirkus Review
“These books are beautiful and are a wonderful resource for donor conceived families. Parents and their children will benefit tremendously.”
— Dr. Madeline Licker Feingold, Ph.D. Psychotherapist and Reproductive Counselor MadelinFeingoldPhd
"This is an excellent book for parents to read to their young children who were conceived through donor sperm or donor eggs. The illustrations are colorful and playful for children ages 2-10 to enjoy. The stories are simple and easy to understand, which helps both the parents and the children feel comfortable.
If you are a parent who is feeling anxious or uncertain about how to talk to your child about donor conception, this is the resource for you. Keep it by your bedside table to read often with your child. It will be the foundation to build from as your child is able to developmentally and cognitively understand more about their conception over the years. This book gives you the tools to openly discuss with your child how conception began.
- Carol Fulwiler Jones, MA. Infertility Counselor and Author of Managing The Stress of Infertility: How To Balance Your Emotions, Get The Support You need, And Deal With Painful Social Situations TheInfertilityCounselor.com
