The holiday season is a time for family. And for those who needed extra help to become a family, telling their children about their family story can seem daunting. Experts recommend telling your children about their unique conception as early as possible and finding a book to explain it is a good way to start.
Whether you're looking for a gift that celebrates a loved one's family, or a way to talk with your child about your own, we've got you covered. Read on for our list of some of our favorite books about unique families!
Spectacular You: An IVF Love Story by Kate PacheSpectacular You: An IVF Love Story is a wonderfully crafted book that lovingly explains in vitro fertilization (IVF) to children through the eyes of the parents. It explains to children the magic of their unconventional conception and the overall desire the parents had to bring that child into their lives. Beautifully illustrated and tenderly written, this story is a must for any child who was conceived through IVF.
Happy Together: An Egg Donation Story by Julie Marie (Author), Ashley Lucas (Illustrator)Happy Together, an egg donation story, is a heartwarming book to help introduce the concept of egg donation to a young child. A story told through clear language and cheerful illustrations, readers will join Mommy and Daddy bear on the journey to fulfill their greatest wish of becoming parents. With help from a doctor, an egg from a special lady called a donor and Daddy’s seed, a baby grew in Mommy’s tummy and was welcomed with great joy.
The Pea that was Me: An Egg-Donation Story (Volume 1) by Kimberly Kluger-Bell (Author)Struggling with how to tell your child about their egg donor? This acclaimed children's picture book (3-5 years old) makes it incredibly easy to start talking with your child about the special way they came into the world. Your child will want to hear about "the very kind egg donor" over and over again! Join parents worldwide who use The Pea That Was Me as a way to begin the on-going conversation about donors--reading and re-reading its extremely positive message about how much they were wanted by their parents and how lucky they were to find such a wonderful "helper."
A Tiny Itsy Bitsy Gift of Life, An Egg Donor Story by Carmen Martinez Jover (Author), Rosemary Martinez (Illustrator)A touching children s egg donor story about a happy couple of rabbits, Pally and Comet who have everything in life except a baby bunny, you accompany them in their longing for this child, the waiting and the moment the mother is informed she has no eggs to conceive. One day a good lady rabbit brings her a tiny itsy-bitsy gift of life, which is the egg, the half, she needs to conceive. The rabbit s tummy then begins to grow and finally her baby bunny is born and the happiness of how this family is formed is shared. The book is very colorful and ideal for children even before they can read, because the pictures are so full of details it easily captures the child’s attention.
Miracle by Jason Pinter (Author), Cheryl Crouthamel (Illustrator)An inspiring, funny, and heartwarming story for everyone who has dreamed of having their own Miracle child. When rabbits Merle and Pearl meet on one beautiful day, they know that they have found true joy. Yet while they couldn’t be happier with each other, there’s one teeny, tiny thing missing...a child of their own. Merle and Pearl dream of expanding their nest by bringing a baby bunny into the world, but they face unforeseen challenges along the way. Determined to make their dreams come true, Merle and Pearl will do whatever it takes to find their Miracle—even if it means going deep under the sea, trekking across vast desert sands, or rocketing far out into the stars. Because sometimes finding your dreams takes a Miracle.
Untraditional You: An IVF Story by Mallory BelvilleOne couple dreams of becoming a Mommy and Daddy, but when things do not go as planned, they will stop at nothing to make their wish of having a baby come true. With the help of science and in vitro fertilization, they will finally receive the miracle they’ve always wanted. Through simple poetry and beautiful watercolor illustrations, this heart-warming story answers the age-old question “where do babies come from?” even if they arrive in an Untraditional way.
Phoebe's Family: A Story About Egg Donation by Linda Stamm and Joan Clipp | Nov 1, 2010Phoebe's mom tells her the wonderful and unique story of how she came into being through egg donation. Along the way, Phoebe hears about the challenges her mom and dad faced in trying to have a baby, as well as the ultimate good news of her birth into a warm and loving family.
The Family Book by Todd ParrThe Family Book celebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two moms or two dads, a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of family you have, every family is special in its own unique way.
Parr's message about the importance of embracing our differences is delivered in a playful way. With his trademark bold, bright colors and silly scenes, this book will encourage children to ask questions about their own families. Perfect for young children just beginning to read, The Family Book is designed to encourage early literacy, enhance emotional development, celebrate multiculturalism, promote character growth, and strengthen family relationships
Welcome to the Party by Gabrielle Union (Author), Ashley Evans (Illustrator)Praised by fan-favorites including Hoda Kotb, Kim & Khloe Kardashian, and Jimmy Fallon!Inspired by the eagerly awaited birth of her daughter, Kaavia James Union Wade, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning actress Gabrielle Union pens a festive and universal love letter from parents to little ones, perfect for welcoming a baby to the party of life!
How We Became a Family: Egg Donor by Bernard Villegas MD (Author), Teresa Villegas (Author)To build a family, first of all you need love. But how do you talk with your child about their in vitro origins? How do you tell your children they were conceived with the help of a donor?• Adding children to a family -making a baby- takes all the same parts needed to make any baby animal.• Knowledge of science and our bodies is a smart and beautiful thing.• This complex story is explained in an easy and positive way that children can accept and be proud of.This book is for couples who understand that their children's well-being comes from knowing how much they are wanted, who they are, and how they came into this world and into their family. Celebrating the story of your child(ren)'s donor origins through the simple act of reading can reinforce your family's journey of deep bonding and open communication.
The Very Kind Koala: A Surrogacy Story for Children by Kimberly Kluger-BellThe Very Kind Koala is a charming picture book for young children which provides an introduction to surrogacy through the simple story of a koala bear and her husband who needed the help of a very kind koala to carry their baby in her pouch. Parents can begin reading this story to children as young as 3 years of age to begin the dialog about their own helpful surrogate.
Love Makes A Family by Sophie BeerA fun and inclusive board book that features families of all kinds! Without putting the focus on same-sex parents, the book demonstrates that families come in all shapes and sizes, but what's most important in each family is that there is love. Each page starts with "Love is..." and illustrates a variety of ways that parents show love to their children, such as waking up bright and early with them, baking a cake for them, or finding the biggest puddles to splash in with them!
Each and every one of our stories is different. And so are the conversations we have with our children! These books are a great starting point, but you can choose to have this conversation any way you want. And if you are curious about finding an egg donor and building your family this season, our team is always here to help.