Cookies and cake & the families we make
by Jennifer L. Egan
illus. by Robin K. Gulak
Language: English
Englewood, NJ: Laredo Publishing, 2011
24 pp.
ISBN: 1564923835; 9781564923837
Summary: Cookies and Cake & The Families We Make is a children's book about exposure and acceptance of the diverse families that are part of our society: single parents, multicultural parents, two moms, two dads, one of each or even an unrelated guardian. Those families, who may at first seem different are quite similar, because what really matters is the love and care they give to their children. The author uses the metaphor of the different cakes and cookies we can bake to help young readers respect, accept and welcome diversity.
Available: http://www.amazon.com/Cookies-Cake-The-Families-Make/dp/1564923835/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344741394&sr=8-1&keywords=Cookies+%26+Cake+and+The+Families+we+Make
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.
Available: http://sifrutgea.wix.com/sifrutgea1#!__childrenbooks/vstc2=abaim
This is my family : a first look at same-sex parents
by Pat Thomas
illus. by Lesley Harker
Language: English
Hauppauge, NY : Barron's Educational Series, 2012.
29 p. : ill. ; 21 x 24 cm.
ISBN: 9781438001876 1438001878
From the back cover: This reassuring picture book introduces children to families that have parents of the same sex. Whether a family has a mom and a dad, or two moms, or two dads, this book shows boys and girls that all parents love, care, and support their children in the same way. Young children can learn to respect people's differences and understand how all people should be treated fairly and without discrimination.
Available: http://www.amazon.com/This-My-Family-Same-Sex-Parents/dp/1438001878/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354738434&sr=1-1&keywords=9781438001876
The adventures of Tulip birthday wish fairy
by S Bear Bergman
illus. by Suzy Malik
Language: English
Toronto, Ont. : Flamingo Rampant, ©2012.
1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 31 cm.
ISBN: 9780987976314; 0987976311
Summary: "Have you ever wondered what happens to your birthday wishes? Funny or serious, sad or wonderful, every wish gets read by a birthday wish fairy. This year, David wished for something that his wish fairy had never read before: to turn into a girl."
Available: http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Tulip-Birthday-Wish-Fairy/dp/0987976303/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354738083&sr=1-1&keywords=The+adventures+of+Tulip+birthday+wish+fairy
Backwards day
by S Bear Bergman
illus. by KD Diamond
Language: English
Toronto, Ont. : Flamingo Rampant, ©2012.
34 p. : col. ill. ; 23 x 31 cm.
ISBN: 9780987976314; 0987976311
Summary: "For one day every year on the planet Tenalp, everything is backwards. Everything. So why didn't Andrea turn into a boy on Backwards Day this year? And why did she turn into a boy the very next day?"--Back cover.
Available: http://www.amazon.com/Backwards-Day-S-Bear-Bergman/dp/0987976311/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354736495&sr=8-1&keywords=backwards+day+bergman
Piccolo uovo
by Francesca Pardi
illus. by Altan.
Language: Italian
[Milano] : Lo Stampatello, [2012].
1 v. (unpaged) : ill ; 22 cm.
ISBN: 9788890579929; 8890579927
Summary: Piccolo uovo non vuole nascere perché non sa dove andrà a finire. Parte allora per un viaggio che lo porterà a conoscere i più diversi tipi di famiglia...
Altan presta la semplicità del suo mondo felice per descrivere come ognuna di queste possa essere un luogo meraviglioso in cui crescere.
Google translation: Small egg does not want to be born because they do not know where it will end. Part time for a trip that will take him to know the many different types of family ... Altan lends its simple happy world to describe how each of these can be a wonderful place to grow up.
Available: http://www.lostampatello.com/catalogo3.html
A very special baby (for donor conceived children)
by Amanda MacLeod
illustrated by Sam Taylor
Language: English
[Napier, N.Z. : A. MacLeod, 2010]
1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 21 cm.
ISBN: 9780473178062; 0473178060
$95.00 for the set of 5
Summary: Simple introductory stories for young children who are born with the help of egg, sperm and embryo donation.
Other books in the series:
- egg donation
- sperm donation
- embryo donation
- sperm donation to a single woman
- sperm donation to a same sex couple
Available: http://www.dreambaby.co.nz
Special man
written and illustrated by Yevgeniya Kanterezhi
Language: English
Lulu, c2012.
16 p. : col. ill. ; 22 x 28 cm.
ISBN: 9781105630033
My annotation: Special man is about two women who “loved each other very much” and wanted to start a family. The “special man” referred to in the book is the sperm donor who provided his “special seed” so that these two women could have children of their own. Throughout the book there is a strong sense of gratitude for this act of kindness on the donor’s part although the words “sperm” and “donor” are not used in the book, rather “special seed” and “special man” are used throughout. The child-like drawings depict real people, are in color and hand drawn by the author, and picture a loving family throughout.The donor is depicted as a man with a smile on his face. The book is autobiographical, written for the author’s children, specifically a boy and a girl, but would be suitable for other lesbian couples who also built their family through sperm donation. At one point in the book, the author’s son asks why he does not have a mommy and a daddy like his friend Mary, but it is explained to him that all families are “different” and “unique.” This book takes a family-building approach and employs the “helper” and “families are different” scripts. Recommended for children ages 3-5.
Available: http://www.lulu.com/shop/yevgeniya-kanterezhi/special-man/paperback/product-20077666.html
Under a rainbow
by Zera Walpole
Language: English
Blurb, 2012
20 pp.
$17.95
Summary: A simple rhyme story book for children of lesbian parents with a known 'donor' Daddy. Bright and bold colours and simple words to show how love can find a way.
Available: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3245206
Die Geschichte unserer Familie : ein Buch für lesbische Familien mit Wunschkindern durch Samenspende
by Petra Thorn
illus. by. Tiziana Rinaldi
Language: German
Mörfelden FamART-Verl. 2009
15 S. : überw. Ill. ; 22 cm, 270 gr.
ISBN: 9783981141016
Summary: Seit vielen Jahren haben lesbische Frauen den Mut, ihren Kinderwunsch mit Hilfe von gespendetem Samen zu verwirklichen. In einigen Ländern wird mittlerweile sogar davon ausgegangen, dass mehr lesbische als heterosexuelle Paare eine Spendersamenbehandlung durchführen. Ob dies in Deutschland auch der Fall ist, wissen wir nicht, da es keine Erhebungen hierzu gibt. Sicher ist jedoch, dass auch bei uns die Zahl der Regenbogenfamilien ansteigt, also die Zahl der Familien, in denen Kinder mit gleichgeschlechtlichen Eltern zusammenleben. Da diese Familien nicht nur mehr werden, sondern sich auch zunehmend in der Öffentlichkeit zeigen, ist es wichtig geworden, sowohl für die Kinder als auch für deren Eltern und für pädagogisches Fachpersonal Literatur zu entwickeln, die diese Lebensrealität widerspiegelt.
Gemeinsam mit Lisa Hermann-Green, die mit ihrer Lebenspartnerin seit über 18 Jahre zusammenlebt und die gemeinsam drei Wunschkinder im Alter von 13, 9 und 6 Jahren haben, habe ich daher mein Buch „Die Geschichte unserer Familie“ abgeändert und für lesbische Familien umgeschrieben.
Wie entsteht eine lesbische Familie? Wie bekommen zwei Frauen ein Kind? Diese und ähnliche Fragen werden lesbischen Eltern mit Kindern durch Insemination häufig gestellt. Familie wird gewöhnlich als Mutter-Vater-Kind verstanden. Um die lesbische Familie als Familie für die Außenwelt sichtbar zu machen, entsteht daher sehr früh die Notwendigkeit, über die Familienbildung durch Insemination mit dem eigenen Kind und anderen (z. B. Kindern, ErzieherInnen und LehrerInnen) zu sprechen.
Dieses Buch unterstützt Eltern, die mit ihrem Kind über ihre Familienform, ihre Entstehung und ihrem Spender kleinkindgerecht sprechen möchten. Es ist für Kinder im Alter zwischen 3 und 6 Jahren gedacht. Mit einfachen Worten wird der Kinderwunsch der Eltern und die Zeugung durch Insemination erklärt. Es ist so gestaltet, dass auf mehreren Seiten Bilder der Familie und des Kindes eingeklebt werden können; damit entsteht für jede Familie ein ganz persönliches Buch. Darüber hinaus ist das Buch sowohl für Familien geschrieben, die eine Spendersamenbehandlung bei einem Arzt durchgeführt haben, als auch für Familien, die mit Hilfe eines ihnen bekannten Mannes ein Kind gezeugt haben. Für beide Möglichkeiten ist in diesem Buch jeweils ein Blatt vorgesehen.
Den Abschluss des Buches bildet der Bericht einer Familie, die zum Zeitpunkt des Erfahrungsberichts zwei Kinder im Alter von vier Jahren und 11 Monaten haben. Die Eltern berichten, wie sie die Aufklärung umgesetzt haben und wie ihre Kinder mit ihrer Familienform umgehen.
Available: http://www.famart.de/2-kinderbuch-di.html
Y nosotros--¿de dónde venimos?
by Isabel Carmen Rodríguez García.
illus. by M. Luisa Guerrero
Language: Spanish
[Alicante] : ONG por la No Discriminación, 2008.
[22] p. il. col. 30 cm.
ISBN: 9788493624408; 8493624403
Summary: Isabel, junto a su pareja, Elisa, siempre tuvieron claro que un día sería madres. Imaginó cómo le explicaría a sus hijos, cuando llegase el momento, de donde venían... “¡Les contaré un cuento!, que es el mejor medio para llegar a ellos”.
My annotation: This story begins one night during bedtime story time when the author’s children ask, “Mama, we have two mothers?” “You already know you do,” she responds. “Then where did we come from?” her son follows up. So begins this gentle story of how two women, Elisa and Isabel, loved each other very much, lived together for many years, and wanted to start a family. At first they did not know how they could start a family and after several months they decide to visit their gynecologist. She explains to them that she could give one of them “injections” so that they could become pregnant. They decide Isabel would carry the baby. The couple is very disappointed though that it takes so many tries to have a baby, but after several attempts, Isabel finally becomes pregnant and they just know it is going to be a boy. They are very happy. There is no mention of a donor in this book, nor a description of how babies are made with sperm or eggs, and the vagina is referred to as a “special hole where babies come from their mother’s bellies.” The story ends when her son asks again, “Mom, why hadn’t you told us this story before?” And mom responds, “The truth is, I did not know if you were ready to hear it,” echoing the concerns of many mothers who had their children via ART. The book takes a family-building approach because the author emphasizes wanting to start a family with her partner and employs the labor of love script because in this book, their child was conceived in love. There is no mention of a "helper" or the use of "spare parts." Because of the lack of specific vocabulary in this book, it is not especially recommended for older children but rather young children ages 3-5. It is only available in Spanish.
Available: http://www.buscalibre.com/y-nosotros-de-donde-venimos-isabel-carmen-rodriguez-ong-por-la-no-discriminacion/p/hf48hny
Available: http://www.trabajemosporelmundo.org/ong-nd/editorial_nd_conjunto.html
618.178
RG134 .G75 2004
Before you were born : our wish for a baby
by Janice Grimes
illustrations by Mary Moye-Rowley
Language: English
Webster, Iowa : X, Y, and Me, ©2004.
1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 22 cm.
ISBN: 0975502883; 9780975502884
$14.97
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Review: Each book in this series presents a different conception story. Written by a nurse, this is the story of a baby bear who loves to hear the story of how he was born. Though mommy and daddy bear had trouble having him, they were finally able to have him with the help of a “nice man called a donor.” Excellent illustrations. High-quality paper.
others in the series:
Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of An IVF Baby
Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of A Frozen Embryo
Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of Donor Insemination
Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of A Donor Egg
Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of Donor Sperm (IVF)
Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of A Gestational Carrier
Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of Surrogacy
Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of A Donor Embryo
Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: A Baby Conceived For Female Partners
Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: A Baby Conceived For Male Partners
Available: http://xyandme.com/
The baby kangaroo treasure hunt, a gay parenting story
written by Carmen Martínez Jover
illustrated by Rosemary Martínez.
Language: English
[S.l.] : Carmen Martínez Jover, ©2009.
16 pp.
ISBN: 6070008464; 9786070008467
$17.00
Summary: A sweet children's story of how two kangaroos: Jack and Sam, a gay couple, have their own baby by means of an egg donor and surrogacy. Using kangaroos in the story enables children to easily understand the methods related to their conception in a simple and loving way.
Available: http://www.carmenmartinezjover.com/librocanguro.html
Available: http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Kangaroo-Treasure-parenting-story/dp/6070008464/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338465488&sr=1-1
Why I'm So Special: A Book about Surrogacy with Two Daddies
by Carla Lewis Long
illustrated by Tyler Simone Newman
edited by Bryna Jean-Marie
Language: English
AuthorHouse, 2011
40 p. ; col. ill. ; 22 x 22 cm.
ISBN: 9781468500073; 1468500074
My annotation: Narrated by the daughter of a gay couple, the unnamed child recounts the story of how her two daddies met in college, fell in love, got married, and wanted to start a family. She explains that the only way her daddies could have a baby of their own was through the help of a “special doctor” and a surrogate. Surrogates, she tells us, “are very special ladies who can carry babies in their tummies for daddies.” The two men visit an agency and are introduced to Polly, who would agree to become their surrogate. After a trip for all three to Paris, they go back to the special doctor who puts the “baby in Polly’s tummy so that it could start to grow.” Whose sperm is used is not mentioned. Nor is it mentioned whether an egg donor was used or whether the surrogate used her own egg. Nonetheless, the surrogate gives birth to a baby girl and the surrogate hands over the child to her two daddies. This book takes a family building approach and employs the “helper” script. The very good illustrations are by a nine-year-old child. Recommended for ages 3-5 because it is a very cursory introduction to surrogacy.
Available: http://www.carlalewislong.com
Available: http://www.amazon.com/Why-Im-So-Special-Surrogacy/dp/1468500074
En busca del atesorado bebé canguro: Un cuento de paternidad gay
by Carmen Martínez Jover
illus. by Rosemary Martínez
Language: Spanish
[S.l.] : Carmen Martínez Jover, ©2009.
31 p. : col. ill. ; 22 cm.
ISBN: 9786070008696; 6070008693
Summary: Es a través de los cuentos que como padres pueden explicar a los hijos como fueron concebidos. En Busca del Atesorado Bebé Canguro, un cuento de crianza de hijos gay, explica como un par de canguros: Jack y Sam, una pareja gay, empiezan su búsqueda para tener un hijo y lo hacen a través de una donadora de óvulos y una madre subrogada.
Translation: It is through stories that parents can explain to their children how they were conceived. A Baby Kangaroo Treasure Hunt, a gay parenting story, explains how a pair of kangaroos: Jack and Sam, a gay couple, start a treasure hunt to have a child and they do this through an egg donor and a surrogate mother.
Available: http://carmenmartinezjover.com/esp/index.php/libros/en-busca-del-atesorado-bebe-canguro-un-cuento-de-paternidad-gay
