Embryos alive

XYZ and Me

BOOKS TO SHARE WITH CHILDREN

Embryo Donation and Adoption Books by Bonnie Bernard M. Ed,
Illustrated by June Hasselbring coming soon

"Before You Were Born...Our Wish For A Baby."

Storybooks for children conceived by alternative means.

The Story of a Frozen Embryo:

A baby conceived by in vitro fertilization using the mother's egg and the father's sperm. The embryo is frozen, thawed at a later time, then placed inside the mother. The child is genetically related to both parents. This books does not use the words sperm or egg.

Before You Were Born...Our Wish For A Baby

xyzandme.com

Mommy Far, Mommy Near : An Adoption Story
by Carol Antoinette Peacock
illustrated by Shawn Costello Brownell

Although Elizabeth, a young Chinese girl, is secure in the love of her adoptive Caucasian American family, she still has questions. Why, if China is such a big country, wasn't there room for all the babies? Didn't her mother love her? Such questions surface in games with her younger Chinese sister, in loving give-and-take with her American mother, and in hurt feelings after seeing a Chinese mother and daughter at the playground. Decorated in floral patterns and colored in lush, velvety hues, the thickly stroked, realistic artwork expands on the text while heightening the emotions it conveys. Elizabeth's misgivings are met head-on by her adoptive mother's reassurance, love, and thoughtful responses. The mother's tender support not only reassures Elizabeth but will also benefit other adoptees, especially those from Third World countries, as it reinforces the efforts of all loving, adoptive parents. ~Ellen Mandel From Booklist.

Happy Adoption Day!
by John McCutcheon

Here is a children’s book that focuses on international adoption and shows a couple flying off to get their child and bring the baby home “on that wonderful morn.” There is a song that goes with the book and many people have found great enjoyment singing the song with their children and celebrating their family’s beginning. The whole book is a celebration of family that is remembered each year on the child’s adoption day party.

Who's in a Family?
by Robert Skutch

This equal opportunity, open-minded picture book has no preconceptions about what makes a family a family. There's even equal time given to some of children's favorite animal families. With warm and inviting illustrations, this is a great book for that long talk with a little person on your lap. Pencil and watercolor illustrations. --Amazon.com

Annotated Bibliography for Children and Parents of Third Party Reproduction*

Part One: Donor Conception Children’s Books

Compiled by the Education Committee, Spring 2007
Kim Kluger-Bell, MFT, Chair
Jana Frances Fisher, Ph.D.
Jennifer Adams, Ph.D.
Mental Health Professional Group
American Society for Reproduction Medicine
(Based on the Children’s Bibliography
compiled by Elaine Gordon, Phd, and Ellen Speyer, MFT)

*For excellent lists of books on adoption for parents and children see www.pactadopt.org/favoritebooks/.

Part One: DONOR CONCEPTION CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Appleton, Tim. (2005) MY BEGINNINGS : A VERY SPECIAL STORY Published by IFC Resource Center, U.K. Available through www.mybeginnings.org.

A book for younger children that can be put together in different ways to cover IVF, IVF with ICSI, IVF with Donor Sperm, IVF with Donor Egg, donor insemination, donor embryos and frozen embryo transfers. Tells the story of a couple who lead unfulfilled lives before the birth of their child through donor conception. The latest edition of the book has a CD with more information for older children, including “I’m a Little Frostie” which refers to frozen embryos. Recommended by Donor Conception Network, especially for children created by embryo donation.

Bourne, Kate. (2002) SOMETIMES IT TAKES THREE TO MAKE A BABY (Explaining Egg Donor Conception to Young Children) Melbourne IVF, Victoria, Australia. Available through www.mivf.com.au. Email wrayjone@watrose.com for availability.

Written for 3-9 year olds. There are three sections to the book, the first is a story about donor conception to be read to the child; the second is a “My Very Own Book about Me” which can be used to fill in the child’s personal conception story; and the third section provides advice and reassurance for parents on how to tell children their stories and answer their questions. Highly Recommended by Donor Conception Network in the U.K.

Celcer, Irene. (2007) HOPE AND WILL HAVE A BABY United States, Graphite Press. Available www.hopeandwill.net.

Ages 3-7. Four-book collection includes The Gift of Egg Donation, The Gift of Embryo Donation, The Gift of Sperm Donation, and The Gift of Surrogacy. The story begins with the questions of a little boy who learns of his parent’s quest to have a child and his unique conception. One of the newest books published.

Gordon, Elaine. (1992) MOMMY, DID I GROW IN YOUR TUMMY? WHERE SOME BABIES COME FROM California: EM Greenburg Press. Available through amazon.com and through www.elainegordon.com.

Ages 4-12. Very well illustrated and sensitively written, this is one of the first books published to assist parents in talking with their kids about their unique origins--including IVF, egg and sperm donation, surrogacy and adoption. Recommended by Donor Conception Network.

Grimes, Janice. (2004) BEFORE YOU WERE BORN; OUR WISH FOR A CHILD Published in the US by X,Y and me. Available through www.xyandme.com. There are 16 versions of these story books, which can be used for children of two parent families conceived through IVF, Donor Insemination, IVF with Donor Sperm, Egg Donation, Frozen Embryo Transfer, Embryo Donation, Traditional Surrogacy, Gestational Carrier.

Grimes, Janice. (2005) BEFORE YOU WERE BORN: MY WISH FOR A CHILD Available through www.xyandme.com

These story books are good for children in single parent families and include the following: Donor Insemination, IVF with Donor Sperm, Donor Egg/Donor Sperm, or Donor Embryo, and Single dad—traditional surrogate, single dad—donor egg and gestational carrier.

Javier, Carmen Martinez. (2005) AN ITSY BITSY GIFT OF LIFE; AN EGG DONOR STORY Available through amazon.com

Ages 9-12. Endearing story book with optional toy rabbit pouch will delight younger children. Colorful illustrations, charming story.

Leicester, Mal. (2001) MAKING MIRACLES Published by Acebabes. Available through AceBabes.com.

Story book for young children. Friendship between a frog and a young boy refers to assisted onception and leaves it to parents to fill in the details.

Margolis, Amy. (2006) Butterflies and Magical Wings U.S.: Amy Margolis Publishing. Available through amazon.com.

Ages 4-8. Written by the mother of two children conceived through donor egg, this story focuses on a butterfly couple who receive help another butterfly with magical spots. Very colorfully illustrated.

Nadel, Carolina. (2006) MOMMY WAS YOUR TUMMY BIG? U.S. Carolina Nadel. Available through amazon.com.

Lovely storybook for younger children. A mother elephant explains the story of her child’s conception through donor egg and IVF. Nice illustrations and simple language will appeal to children 3-5 years and possibly older.

Schaffer, Patricia. (1988) HOW BABIES AND FAMILIES ARE MADE: THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY Berkeley, CA. Sarah Tabor Books. Available through amazon.com

Sensitively and simply addresses the differences between male and female bodies and their reproductive organs and how babies are conceived. Donor insemination and IVF are referred to as different ways of conceiving children but donor egg, and donor embryo are not mentioned. Illustrations not spectacular. Highly recommended by Donor Conception Network.

Infertility Research Trust. (1992) MY STORY Available through www.donorconception-network.

Written for children up to age 6 who were conceived through donor insemination used by heterosexual couples. Very simple language. Engaging illustrations.

Donor Conception Network. (2002) OUR STORY Published by Donor Conception Network. Available through www.donor-conception-network. Three versions of the book include children who were conceived by sperm donation, children conceived through sperm donation to single parent families, children conceived through sperm donation into lesbian families.