8 great books to read when having a donor child
When you are in the process of making the decision to have a donor child, you probably have many unanswered questions and concerns. In this blog post, we have gathered a list of great books to read about having a donor child – whether you are a single mother, two mothers or a heterosexual couple. We also suggest a few helpful books you can read for your child when he or she grows up and begins to ask questions about how he or she came into the world.
Books about having a donor child
Solo Mom to a Donor Child – The Decision
By Signe Fjord & Anne Patricia Rehlsdorph
Signe Fjord is a solo mum to two donor children and in collaboration with Anne Patricia Rehlsdorph, she has written a book guiding you through the options of having a child as a single woman, as well as the emotional and ethical aspects of having a donor child. The book is personal and honest, and it provides you with useful information about the considerations when deciding to have a child on your own.
Choosing Single Motherhood – The thinking woman’s guide
By Mikki Morrissette
A useful book that guides you through all the steps when becoming a single mother to a donor child. The book also gives you tips on how to answer your child’s questions and how to fulfil its needs when he or she grows up.
A Donor Insemination Guide: Written by and for Lesbian Women
by Marie Mohler & Lacy Frazer
This book is written for lesbian couples who wish to have a child using a sperm donor. The book guides you through the important aspects of using a donor – for example with regards to legal concerns, choosing an anonymous or a non-anonymous sperm donor and the emotional aspects. The book is provided with lesbian parents’ experiences with having a donor child.
Building a Family with the Assistance of Donor Insemination
By Ken Daniels
Ken Daniels is a professor of Social Work at the University of Canterbury with many years of experience with donor conception. In this book, he guides couples and singles through all the essentials when having a donor child. The book also touches upon the important aspect of when and how to tell the world – and the child – about the conception. The book is provided with personal quotes from families, who have had a child using a donor.
Helping the Stork: The Choices and Challenges of Donor Insemination
By
Books to read for your donor child
When you have decided to have a child conceived by the help of a donor, you will probably think about how to tell your child how he or she came into the world. Here we have gathered some good books to read for your child, so he or she can gradually begin to understand the story. You can also read this blog post about how to talk to your child about being a donor child.
Chloe Wants to Be a Mother
By Rosa Maestro
A children’s book telling the story of a family with a Solo Mum by Choice. It explains how Chloe had her wish for a baby come true when a box with a seed was sent to her. The colourful book can be read many times to your child for him or her to understand the story in a calm way.
Heather Has Two Mommies
By Lesléa Newman (Author)
This book is written for children of lesbian parents. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations, we are told the story about Heather who has two arms, two legs, two pets – and two mothers. When drawing her family in school, Heather finds out that she is a bit different from the other kids. Luckily, her school teacher explains the kids that a family is just created by people who love each other.
Before You Were Born
By Janice Grimes
Before You Were Born is a series of books for children telling the story of how the child was brought into the world. The series consists of books for different family forms – for example, a single woman using donor sperm, a single father using surrogacy and a couple using donor eggs. The book is nicely illustrated and it is written for 3-5-year-old children.
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We hope that you feel inspired by this list of 8 great books to read when having a donor child. Maybe you are also interested in reading this blog post were donor-conceived Emma tells us about growing up as a donor child.