A simple explanation of reproduction, inclusive of same-sex, transgender, and nonbinary parents.
The titular assertion sets the tone. We then learn that every child comes from four things: an egg, a sperm, a womb, and a home. “Some bodies” have sperm, or eggs, or a womb—a phrasing inclusive of transgender and nonbinary identities—and while parents may provide those things, so may a sperm donor, egg donor, or surrogate. There is no discussion of sex or the mechanics of assisted reproduction; just the parts needed and where they might have been obtained (parent, egg or sperm donor, surrogate).
This simple and straightforward book is inclusive of a wide variety of family structures, including those with one, two, or more than two parents. My only caution is that the book is not for adoptive families; one line tells readers that if the person who grew them in their womb wasn’t their parent, “that person is called a surrogate.” For adopted children, of course, that person is not a surrogate, but a birth parent. That’s not a criticism, just an alert so that readers know the scope of the book—it’s great for families formed via reproduction, assisted or otherwise.
Irit Pollak’s bright and blocky illustrations show joyous parents and children as well as simply drawn images of egg, sperm, and womb.
Author Kim Bergman, a licensed psychologist and senior partner at Growing Generations, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency dedicated to serving the LGBTQ community, but now serving clients of all identities. She and her spouse Natalie also used assisted reproduction to start their own family over 20 years ago. Bergman distilled this wealth of knowledge and experience to create this simple and melodic book appropriate for even the very youngest children. Here’s my full interview with her.
