For a long time, intended parents and surrogates have had to come up with ways to explain the surrogacy journey to their children. Surrogates will need to explain to their children that the baby they are carrying will not be part of their family but will join another family. Intended parents seek ways to explain to their children that they were born through surrogacy, or explain the role of their surrogate to their current children.
While there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to discussing the surrogacy process to your child, some experts suggest to start it as early as possible.
Fortunately, as surrogacy becomes more and more common, there are now more and more childrens’ books that address the subject. Reading to your child is a fun and age-appropriate way to explain and normalize surrogacy to your children, whether you are a surrogate or intended parent.
In this article, we will discuss some children's books about surrogacy.
1. The Kangaroo Pouch: A Story About Surrogacy For Young Children
By: Sarah A. Phillips (Author) and Laurie A. Faust (Illustrator)
For ages: 2-6 years old
Available on Kindle and in print.
The Kangaroo Pouch is a great start for children to learn the concept of surrogacy as it uses kangaroos as an analogy. It underscores the reason why a mother uses surrogate and portrays the situations during the pregnancy. One of the most important concepts highlighted by the book is the question on whether the baby is given back to their biological parents after conceived. The Kangaroo Pouch is from the perspective of a child of a surrogate.
Who is this book for: intended parents’ existing children, future children, and surrogates’ children.
2. Mommy, Who is Miss Amy? A Tale of Surrogacy
By: J.D. Quarles (Author), Emily Ivie (Illustrator)
For ages: 3 to 6 years old
Available on Kindle Unlimited and in print.
Mommy, Who Is Miss Amy? features a story of a young boy who is curious about his parents’ surrogate and learns how Miss Amy helped his parents’ dream of having him come to life. This will help the child understand the intended parents’ reasons for surrogacy and the step-by-step process of a surrogate’s pregnancy. Note that there is a companion book titled Mommy, Who is Miss Becky? drawn from the perspective of a girl for intended parents of girls.
Who is this book for: intended parents’ children born from surrogacy.
3. Mommy is a Basket: Our Journey as a Surrogate
By: Cj Love (Illustrator), Linda Rinderknecht (Editor), Kya Buchanan (Author)
For ages: 3 to 6 years old
Available on Kindle Unlimited and in print.
Mommy is a Basket features a story of a girl whose mother is about to become a surrogate, and how she learns about different aspects of her pregnancy. This picture book explains in detail the process of surrogacy from the surrogate’s perspective. Note that this story imagines a continuing relationship with intended parents after the birth which does not occur in all journeys. The art is also a bit limited and reused throughout book.
Who is this book for: gestational surrogates’ children.
4. The Very Kind Koala
By: Kimberly Kluger-Bell (Author and Illustrator)
For ages: 3 to 6 years old
Available in print only.
The Very Kind Koala features a simple yet delightful introduction to surrogacy for young children by featuring a koala husband and wife who need the help of a very kind koala to carry their baby in her pouch. With its heartfelt drawings, this book can keep children engaged and is easy to understand. The Very Kind Koala is written from the perspective of the child born from surrogacy. One nice aspect is it allows the child to personalize the book with their own text or pictures from their own family.
Who is this book for: Intended parents’ children born from surrogacy.
This is just a small sample of the amazing children’s books about surrogacy that can help your children understand the complex process. For guidance on the legal aspects of surrogacy, by contacting Tsong Law Group.