by Iréné Celcer
illustrated by Horacio Gatto

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Follow an inquisitive little boy who learns of his parents' quest to have children, and the joy they experience while creating their family. Told in a language a child can understand, read the tale of how mom and dad met, fell in love, and built a family. This story of how parents welcome their children into the world through traditional conception and pregnancy is part of a book collection that brings to light the many reproductive options of family building. Come and celebrate the unique gift couples can receive on their way to becoming a family.

Other Books in this Collection
The Gift of Egg Donation
The Gift of Embryo Donation
The Gift of Sperm Donation
The Gift of Surrogacy
The Gift of Adoption

About this Book (Expand All / Collapse All)

Advance Praise

"This book is about turning hopes and dreams into 'real' families...a wonderful tool for helping our children learn the truth about their unique beginnings without breaking the bonds of trust. The different roads taken to build families are explained [with] a warm and honest approach...to reassure our children who came into this world by unique means that they belong." —ELAINE R. GORDON, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist, Santa Monica/UCLA Hospital Author of Mommy, Did I Grow in Your Tummy? "The Hope & Will Have a Baby series by Iréné Celcer is a great way to introduce young children to their birth story. The illustrations are terrific, and these books emphasize that making a family is the important thing. The writing is so clear and engaging that it's a book to be read to children when they are very young, and it lets children know that as they get older and more curious their parents are there to talk with them." —MARGOT WEINSHEL, LCSW, RN Faculty, Ackerman Institute for the Family Clinical Instructor, Department of Psychiatry, NYU Medical Center Coauthor of Couple Therapy for Infertility "Hope & Will Have a Baby provides a framework for parents to tell children their own story...a wonderful way to introduce children to their unique beginnings, and a wonderful way for parents to become comfortable with answering questions. Parents and professionals will be grateful for this book's willingness to tackle the many ways families are made. I especially appreciate that the children are told a story that is wrapped in warmth and respect." —HILARY HANAFIN, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist, Los Angeles, California

Excerpts & Illustration Gallery

From the opening pages of Hope & Will Have a Baby... Matthew loved to read books before going to sleep. Every night Matthew cuddled with his mother or father or sometimes both to read a book. Some nights it was a pirate story, and other nights it was a king or a monster tale. But one story was Matthew's favorite. His mother said it was her favorite too, their family's special fairy tale. Matthew loved to hear that story. "Mom?" asked Matthew. "Yes?" replied his mother. "Tell me our favorite story." "Okay. Are you ready?" "Yes!" Illustration Gallery Enjoy these selected illustrations, presented as a slide show.

Prologue

For Parents & Professionals We live in a world where telling our children about their origins seems to emphasize biology and sexuality at the unfortunate expense of the emotional climate that surrounds a family’s beginnings. It is important for children to know the love, excitement and enthusiasm that parents feel when children became part of their family. These emotions, sometimes joyous, sometimes challenging, are acknowledged in this collection of books in an appropriate way for little ears to hear and little minds to learn about. Relating the classic tale of the birds and the bees is sometimes fraught with awkwardness and embarrassment. Many parents wonder when, what or how to tell their children about their child’s origins. As a mental health professional, it is my firm belief that the well-being of children is based on healthy self-esteem, which comes from knowing who they are and how they came into this world and into their family. Although understanding the biological and sexual part of how humans are created is important, it is not the main concern of this book. This book was created to pass along to children the feelings of pride and love, the feeling of being deeply desired, which their parents felt when they were conceived. This will help children build a strong sense of self-worth that will carry them throughout life. The purpose of this book is to help parents tell their children the loving story of their conception and the goodness and joyous celebration of their arrival. It accents the caring way that they were planned and how much they were wanted, and is part of a larger collection that celebrates the diversity of ways that families can be created. This book came into being to give parents a way to manage a task that may at first seem too overwhelming or stressful. It is meant to provide a way to talk about their desires to become parents and their success in doing so. It also is meant to give children an appropriate way to start understanding how they entered their family. Although this book relates the story of a first-born child, it is also great for children expecting a sibling. Parents who read to their child about a new sibling can reinforce the love and joy that surround all family births. Parents may choose to embellish, remove or add details of their own special family beginnings as they read to their children. And children will naturally do their own thing, with their uncanny sense of innocence and delight. Ultimately, it is the family’s traditions, culture, and religious beliefs that will dictate the degree of disclosure. I would like to see parents and their children use this book with pleasure and gusto. It is my ardent hope that it will allow them to feel the pride and joy they deserve to feel. Good luck and congratulations on becoming a family! —Iréné Celcer

Dedication

Dedication To my parents who survived the Holocaust and against all odds were able to rebuild their lives and form a family. To all parents embarking on the new joys and challenges of building their own family. To all donors, surrogates and birth parents who defy convention to help others realize the dream of their family. And to all children, however born, who enrich our lives. —Iréné Celcer

About the Author

Iréné Celcer Iréné Celcer, MA, LCSW, is originally from Argentina. She holds graduate degrees in psychology from Universidad de Belgrano, holistic psychology from Antioch University, and social work from Yeshiva University. She specializes in infertility, third party reproductive assistance, and eating disorders. She lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. For the Hope & Will collection of books, Iréné Celcer donates a portion of her royalties for charitable and educational purposes. Organizations include: Save the Children Equality Now

About the Illustrator

Horacio Daniel Gatto Horacio Daniel Gatto is an internationally recognized illustrator and graphic designer. His award-winning children's illustrations have appeared in many publications and several national exhibitions. Mr. Gatto is a member of the Argentinean Illustrators Association and the Argentinean Illustrators Forum. He presently makes his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

More Details

Author's Website www.hopeandwill.com Illustrator's Website www.horaciogatto.com.ar Product Details Title: Hope & Will Have a Baby Subtitle: The Gift Publisher: Graphite Press ISBN-10: 0975581066 ISBN-13: 9780975581063 Cover: Paperback Interior: Full Color with Illustrations Length: 32 Pages Trim Size: 10.00 x 8.00 x 0.09 inches (25.40 x 20.32 x 0.24 cm) Weight: 0.27 pounds (122.47 grams) Ages: 3-7 Release Date: March 18, 2010 Press & Publicity A complete press kit is available to eligible media. Press Release Title Information Sheet Contact Publicist