Books for children

"Becky and Josh are almost-twins, with two mums and the same anonymous donor dad. Josh can't wait until he's eighteen, the legal age when he can finally contact his donor, and he'll do anything to find out more ­­­- even if it involves lying."

Young fiction about twins in a two-mum family who are a journey to explore the issue of being donor conceived and who they are. LGBTQ focus but really applicable to all families with older children who are ready to explore the issues of half-sibling/donor contact.

A lovely story book about a boy taking the readers on a tour of his family and how it came to be. This book offers an introduction to concepts such as sperm banks,, known donors, and how information is passed on in genes. Its a beautifully illustrated book, warm and inviting, depicting the story of a two-mum family. The reading age for this book is recommended at 3-5, but could well suit a slightly older child as well for further introduction.

Growing a family isn't always easy and sometimes mommies and daddies need a little help. Follow a couple as they experience the hopes, dreams and disappointments of creating a family and how the generosity and love of others can grow into the most wonderful gift. You Were Made For Me is a children's book that takes a look into the unique and wonderful ways some families are made, and the journey of love that brings them together. Using symbolism and sweet rhyming lyrics, You Were Made For Me introduces the complicated topic of being born from sperm, egg or embryo donation to a young child.

Happy Together 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. Happy Together will comfort children with the assurance of being very much wanted and loved!

Note that there is a page where mummy and daddy marry in this story.

The issue that every parent of a donor conceived child needs to get their head around is the interest in and potential for connection that their child might want with half-siblings and their donor. And with 2023, the year when this will be possible for children conceived in the UK from 2005 onwards, coming up fast, a book for children that addresses these issues was sorely needed. This one nearly does the trick, but not quite. The problem is that it is really two books squashed into one.

Key words: Books for teens, half siblings, donor sibling registry

AMAZON REVIEW:

JENNY FITZGERALD HAS been outside the huddle, trying to fit in to her sports-obsessed family. The only time she knows the score is when she's holding an egg-carton palette and painting on a canvas, but even then she feels as though something is missing.

Unlike her three younger siblings, Jenny knows her biological father only as Donor #142.

AMAZON REVIEW:

PUBLISHER'S REVIEW ON AMAZON: We live in a world where telling our children about their origins seems to emphasize biology or technology at the unfortunate expense of the emotional climate that surrounds a family's beginnings. It is important for children to know the love, excitement and enthusiasm that parents feel when children became part of their family. These emotions, sometimes joyous, sometimes challenging, are acknowledged in the Hope & Will Have a Baby collection of books in an appropriate way for little ears to hear and little minds to learn about.

DESCRIPTION by the author:

This is one of the better American books for young children conceived by sperm donation, particularly because it features a family with twins.