This children’s book about where babies come from is a queer parent’s dream
April 29, 2024An inclusive children’s book is being celebrated by parents across the board after queer author Markus Harwood-Jones showcased it on TikTok.
‘What Makes a Baby’ by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth is an impressively accessible narrative about the numerous ways that babies arrive in this world. Targeted at children from preschool to eight years old, the book is vibrant with colours and imagery that make the scientific aspects of life creation engaging for children of all ages and family types.
According to ‘LGBTQ Nation’, Harwood-Jones shared the entire story on TikTok and commended it as “a beautifully simple yet accurate and inclusive depiction of how babies are made.” The narrative extends beyond just LGBTQ+ parents. Thanks to its inclusive language, it caters to absolutely anyone.
Image Credit: Canva
Rather than focusing narrowly on a single method of conception like in vitro fertilisation (IVF), sexual intercourse, or surrogacy, the book portrays the essential encounter between a sperm and an egg, and the necessity for a uterus for life to begin. It acknowledges the diverse methods by which this can occur and the range of people who may or may not be involved.
Viewers of Harwood-Jones’s TikTok video lavished praise on the story.
“I love the accuracy of the terminology,” one user commented. “Human anatomy isn’t too much for children to learn and this book makes it so accessible for them to learn!”
Another expressed, “My heart felt so warm with all the inclusivity!”
“I’m an IVF baby, and would’ve loved this book when I was younger,” a third user remarked.
“My son was made with a donor egg, but born from me. This is the book we will use to explain it! I love it so much,” another user shared.
The feedback continued positively, with many expressing they wished they had such a resource in their childhood. Some admitted to shedding tears, while one user noted that the book's inclusivity made it easier to convey all the information to children. One individual dubbed it a “revolution.”
Queer author and parent B.J. Woodstein recommended the book in an interview with Metro, stating, “Its bright illustrations depict people in colors that humans don’t actually come in, so anyone can relate to the story, plus they are all non-gendered, which shows readers that people with all sorts of bodies can have eggs or sperm or a uterus.”
“For parents unsure how to approach trans topics, this book serves as an excellent introduction. Moreover, Silverberg allows plenty of space for you to add your own personal narrative, making the book relevant to every kind of family,” Woodstein added.
“Your child learns the basics of where babies come from, while you personalize the details of how you created your family, whether it was through adoption, fertility treatment, intercourse, or another method,” Woodstein further explained.
“When Silverberg poses the question, ‘Who was waiting for you to be born?’ my daughters love to answer, ‘Mummy and Mama, and they wanted us so much!’”
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