Children are naturally curious and often begin asking questions at a young age about how they came into the world. For families created through egg donation, experts recommend that parents start the conversation with their children early so it simply becomes part of their story. Knowing how to bring up the topic of egg donation can be hard, but a good place to start is with a book that explains the process in a way young children can understand.
Here are some recommended titles.
- A Special Egg By Sally Baldwin A Special Egg is a book inspired by my own journey with egg donation. As my daughter grew into an inquisitive toddler, I looked to find simple stories that would introduce the concept to her. When I couldn’t find anything just right, I decided to write my own!
- A Tiny Itsy Bitsy Gift of Life, An Egg Donor Story By Carmen Martinez Jover A touching story about a happy rabbit couple, Pally and Comet, who has everything in life except a baby bunny. The reader accompanies them in their longing for a child, the waiting, and the moment Pally is informed she has no eggs to conceive. One day, a kind lady rabbit brings her “a tiny itsy bitsy gift of life” (an egg), which is the half Pally needs to conceive. Pally’s tummy begins to grow and finally, her baby bunny is born, and the happiness of how this family is formed is shared.
- Happy Together: An Egg Donation Story By Julie Marie 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.
- Mommy, Was Your Tummy Big? By Carolina Nadel A mother elephant explains her use of donor eggs to her child. With charming illustrations and simple words, “Mommy, was your tummy big?” can help parents who used in vitro fertilization and donor eggs begin to explain the process to their small children.
- One More Giraffe By Kim Noble This book helps parents begin to introduce the key concepts about babies and egg donation to their children. It is very simple and touches on the subject of how some people (in this case giraffes) need help to become a Mommy or a Daddy. The key idea is that the baby is wanted very badly and will be loved and cherished.
- Phoebe’s Family: A Story About Egg Donation By Linda Stamm Phoebe’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 Baby Kangaroo Treasure Hunt, A Gay Parenting Story By Carmen Martinez Jover Jack and Sam, a gay kangaroo couple, have their own baby by means of an egg donor and surrogacy. This text enables children to easily understand how they were conceived, and it helps gay parents explain in an easy and loving manner how their family was formed.
- The Pea That Was Me: An Egg Donation Story By Kimberly Kluger-Bell This acclaimed children’s picture book makes it easy for parents to begin talking with their child about the special way they came into the world, using age-appropriate language and clear but simple concepts that refer to the basic fact it takes an egg, a sperm, and a “tummy” to make a baby; that Mommy’s eggs weren’t working quite right, and that’s why Mommy and Daddy needed the help of “a very nice lady who had lots of extra eggs and was happy to help.”
- You Began as a Wish By Dr. Kim Bergman Children conceived using third-party assisted reproduction often have questions and want to know where they came from. You Began as a Wish answers those questions in simple, easy-to-understand language accompanied by beautiful illustrations. Parents can use this book to help their children understand all the parts that came together to make them who they are, beginning with a wish.
- You Were Made For Me By Sheri Sturniolo 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 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, this book introduces the complicated topic of being born from sperm, egg, or embryo donation to a young child.
Our team at Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions includes previous egg donors, surrogates, intended parents, nurses, and social workers. We understand the need for ongoing resources and support as you explore this complex, yet remarkable path to parenthood. Please reach out to our team at Info@CreateAHappyFamily.com if you would like to know more about the egg donation process and how we can help guide you throughout your journey.
We help Intended Parents Create Happy Families via Egg Donation & Surrogacy with the help of caring Egg Donors & Surrogates.
Donor sibling registry, egg donation process, Egg Donor Solutions, Intended Parents, Why use an agency?, Intended Parent Resources, Intended Parent Webinar, Getting started, Why our agency?, Selecting your donor.