Children’s Books About Surrogacy – Helping Parents Explain Surrogacy to their Children
As our children grow up, their curiosity increases and they start asking numerous questions. As parents, we are here to give them answers no matter how tricky they can be. One of those questions might be about surrogacy, and you may find it hard to find the right words to explain this concept. Many adults struggle even struggle with understanding the complexities of surrogacy themselves.
However, I’m here to tell you there’s one natural and seamless way to give answers to your child – through the magic of books! There are several carefully authored children’s books about surrogacy that will really make this easier.
When is the Right Time to Talk about Surrogacy with Your Child?
The truth is, there’s not really a “right” time to talk about surrogacy, so some parents opt to answer these questions as soon as their children start asking them.
On the other hand, some psychologists recommend including your child in the conversation from the very beginning. That is, it’s wise to speak early with your child if they arrived in this world through surrogacy, or if you’re are a surrogate for someone. If you decide to keep your child’s surrogacy origin a secret, you could risk your kid developing feelings of shame or distrust about how they came to be in this world.
So, explaining surrogacy to children should happen as early as you feel comfortable to avoid negative consequences. Even if they aren’t fully aware of the whole concept, they can get the gist of it in their own way. And luckily, there are many children’s books about surrogacy that will introduce the process more creatively and imaginatively – just as kids need!
Top 15 Psychologist-Approved Books to Explain Surrogacy to Children
I know that children gravitate towards different narratives, so I have included books with various storylines. They are meant to captivate and entertain, while still giving all the necessary information. Some of them mention infertility issues, as well as couples of the same gender wanting to have a child. Also, some books include cultural diversity, which are all great topics for children to learn.
Why I’m So Special: A Book About Surrogacy With Two Daddies – By Carla Lewis-Long
When looking for a children’s book about LGBTQ+ families, you should consider reading Why I’m So Special: A Book About Surrogacy With Two Daddies. This book covers the notion of same-sex couples wanting to become parents. Carla Lewis-Long defines the concept of surrogacy through creative illustrations and distinct representation.
In a whimsical way, this cute picture book portrays parents who used a surrogate to have a baby. You can go through explaining surrogacy to children with amazing pictures while showing them how much they mean to you. The story is all about never giving up and having hope, with lots of love thrown in, too!
To the Moon and Back for You – By Emilia Bechrakis Serhant
To the Moon and Back for You depicts a super-relevant topic of today’s society. It’s the perfect book for those who have struggled with infertility and have tried many ways to conceive. It’s all about families who come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors going on a big journey to find their miracle babies. Emilia Bechrakis Serhant’s story shows us that there’s always hope, even when things get tough and complicated.
You can start explaining surrogacy to children by telling them what a miracle they are. The way they have come to the world doesn’t determine how much love they will receive. Similarly, you can use the book’s topic to explain to your child how difficult it is for some parents to get this miracle, so they learn how important being kind to others is.
The Pea That Was Me / An Egg Donation Story – By Kimberly Kluger-Bell
When discussing the topics of egg donation and sperm donation with kids, it’s important to approach the conversation without shame or negativity. Amy Dickinson, an advice columnist known for her column Ask Amy, suggests that parents initiate conversations about their children’s birth stories, specifically for donor-conceived children, as early as possible. In her May 2022 column, she highly recommends the book titled “The Pea That Was Me: An Egg Donation Story” as a valuable resource for parents facing the task of explaining egg donation to their child. This acclaimed children’s picture book, suitable for ages 3 to 5, provides a simple and engaging way to broach the subject and allows parents to repeatedly share the story of the “very kind egg donor” with their child.
Wanted: A Journey to Surrogacy – By Carolina Robbiano
This book is a great resource for Spanish-speaking families who want to explain surrogacy to their children. Wanted: A Journey to Surrogacy is bilingual and written by Carolina Robbiano. It tells the story of two parents who really want a child and go through an incredible journey to make it happen.
The pages are filled with nursery-style animal illustrations, and the story really shows what the surrogacy journey is like for parents.
The Very Kind Koala: A Surrogacy Story for Children – By Kimberly Kluger-Bell
The Very Kind Koala is a children’s books about surrogacy that introduces youngsters to this concept sweetly and simply. The story talks about a koala couple who needed help from another kind of koala to carry their baby in her pouch.
This book is great for kids over 3 because the story is easily-followed. Plus, the colorful illustrations keep their attention, so parents can truly enjoy the reading process.
Hope & Will Have a Baby: The Gift of Egg Donation By Irene Celcer
Hope & Will Have a Baby is a children’s book that introduces the concept of egg donation in a gentle and accessible way. The story revolves around a couple named Hope and Will who dream of having a baby but encounter difficulties. They learn about egg donation, where a generous woman called an “egg donor” provides eggs to help couples who cannot have a baby on their own.
The book follows Hope and Will’s journey as they meet an egg donor named Lily. Lily selflessly decides to help them by giving them some of her eggs. The story highlights the importance of kindness, empathy, and the ways in which families can be created through the support of others.
Through colorful illustrations and simple language, “Hope & Will Have a Baby” aims to spark conversations about assisted reproduction and the different ways families are formed. It encourages children to understand that families can be created through love, support, and the generosity of others.
As you read the book with children, it provides an opportunity to discuss the emotions involved in wanting to have a baby, the role of the egg donor, and the love and gratitude shared among the characters. This book can serve as a helpful tool for normalizing the concept of egg donation and promoting understanding and acceptance of diverse family structures.
A Surrogacy Book for Young Children: Grown in Another Garden – By Crystal Falk
Grown in Another Garden is a book for young children between the ages of 2 and 8, that teaches them about surrogacy. It follows the story of Mikey and his family as they explain to him how he was born with the help of a surrogate who carried him in her belly. Mikey discovers that even though he wasn’t grown in his mom’s belly, he was still born into a loving family.
This book helps kids understand why some families choose surrogacy to have babies and why surrogates choose to help other families. It is a relatable way to explain to your child how they have arrived in this world while showing them love and devotion.
Families Grow By Dan Saks
Families Grow is a delightful and whimsical celebration of the various paths a family can take to grow. From the moment a wish is made, to the joyous arrival of a child, this book captures the essence of love and how it expands our family. Through its heartwarming verses, even the youngest readers can join in the excitement of expecting families and feel the warmth of love that surrounds them.
Daddy Dog and Papi Panda’s Rainbow Family: It Takes Love to Make a Family – By Anthony Hale
Anthony Hale’s book explores the different forms modern families can take, including children conceived through surrogacy and those adopted. The story focuses on a same-sex couple and can help children understand the importance of cultural diversity within families.
Parents can read Daddy Dog and Papi Panda’s Rainbow Family to children ages 4 to 8. The colorful character included in the book is an ideal way to make learning sensitive issues fun.
Happy Together / A Surrogacy Story – By Julie Marie
Happy Together: A Surrogacy Story is a heartwarming book designed to introduce young children to the concept of surrogacy. Through clear language and cheerful illustrations, readers will embark on a journey with Mommy and Daddy bear as they pursue their greatest dream of becoming parents. With the assistance of a doctor, Mommy’s egg and Daddy’s seed, a baby grows in the tummy of a surrogate, bringing immense joy to everyone involved. This book is part of a collection of eight “Happy Together” books that aim to introduce young children to various topics, including IVF, donor conception, and surrogacy.
From The Start: A Book About Love and Making Families – By Stephanie Levich and Alana Weiss
From the Start is a book that celebrates love and the different ways families can be made, including adoption, fertility treatments like IVF, and surrogacy. The authors, Stephanie Levich and Alana Weiss, use simple language and rhyming words to express themes of hope and gratitude. They show how important fertility doctors, donors, surrogates, and adoption are in helping parents start or grow their families.
The Kangaroo Pouch: A Story About Surrogacy for Young Children By Sarah A. Phillips
The Kangaroo Pouch: A Story About Surrogacy for Young Children is a touching book that explores the concept of surrogacy in a way that young children can understand. The story revolves around a kangaroo named Kate, who helps her friends Bouncing-Hopalots, have a baby by being a surrogate. The book explains the process of surrogacy in a gentle and relatable manner, using the natural concept of a kangaroo’s pouch as an analogy. It emphasizes the love and selflessness involved in surrogacy and celebrates the formation of a new family. With its engaging illustrations and age-appropriate language, “The Kangaroo Pouch” serves as a valuable tool for introducing young children to the idea of surrogacy and the different ways families are created.
Surrogacy Helps Make a Family Grow By Sharon LaMothe & Tina Rella
Surrogacy Helps Make a Family Grow! is a touching tale that follows a family’s journey as they choose to assist another couple in starting their own family through the process of gestational surrogacy. This book serves as an informative and engaging resource, particularly for children whose mothers are gestational surrogates, helping them gain a deeper understanding of their mothers’ experiences and the incredible gift of creating families.
My Magic Mom | My Mom is a Surrogate By Sensitive Matters
My Magic Mom is an extraordinary book because it is written by you! It is a completely customizable book designed for surrogates to share with their children, explaining the concept of surrogacy and how it will impact their family. You have the power to personalize the book by adding your own photos, crafting your own story, and customizing it with names and places that make the narrative truly come alive. This book is specifically tailored for young children under the age of 6, providing them with a beautiful keepsake that allows them to cherish their involvement in this incredible journey.
Sophia’s Broken Crayons By Crystal Falk
Sophia’s Broken Crayons is a wonderful book designed for young children between the ages of 2 and 6. It offers a practical and relatable story of surrogacy, told from the perspective of a young child in a way that is easy for children to understand. Sophia, a little girl, experiences heartbreak when she discovers her crayons are broken. However, her friends generously share their crayons with her, mirroring Sophia’s parents’ decision to give the gift of surrogacy to their friends.
This book provides a simple and compassionate way to explain surrogacy to young children, addressing common questions such as why not everyone can have a baby, why someone would choose a surrogate to grow their family, and why someone would choose to become a surrogate. Through Sophia’s journey of learning about sharing and helping others, children can also understand the reasons why families choose surrogates to expand their families and why surrogates choose to assist other families.
From the back cover, we find that children often have many questions, and some are more challenging to answer. Explaining the concept of surrogacy can be particularly complex. However, “Sophia’s Broken Crayons” can assist in addressing those difficult questions. As Sophia discovers the value of sharing and helping friends in need, children can explore why parents choose surrogates to build their families and why surrogates are willing to support others in this way. Sophia’s story beautifully illustrates the shared hearts of surrogate families, reminding us that sometimes the simplest answer is the most profound: “A beautiful gift was given to make the sadness go away and to make the world a happier place. All it took was a heart that wanted to share happiness.”
In Conclusion
Using children’s books to teach your child all the possible ways babies come into the world is a great way to introduce the concept of surrogacy. I hope these recommendations will help you find the easiest and most heartwarming way to teach your little ones about surrogacy!
