Before You Were Born

Elizabeth Levin is a professor of psychology at Laurentian University.

Is there a child you know who is curious about how a baby develops
during pregnancy? Are you expecting another child and want to explain
what is happening to your older child? If so, then Before You Were Born
otherwise cleverly described as “The Inside Story,” may be just what
you are looking for. Rich illustrations and photos accompanied by a
captivating text guide your young reader through the baby’s nine-month
journey in the womb. And have no fear, while the story begins with an
egg and a sperm, there is no mention of sex. (Your child may or may not
ask you how the daddy’s sperm gets to the egg and it will be up to you
to decide how to deal with this question.) How babies look and grow is
described in a way sure to appeal to the young child. For example, the
role of the placenta is described as being “like a refrigerator and a
toilet all in one”! As one would expect, the text describes an
uncomplicated pregnancy; the note that birth may be more difficult if
the baby is head up therefore stands out and may cause some children to
be unduly concerned about impending birth. There are some neat
suggestions for activities such as coating your hands with zinc oxide
cream and trying to wash it off to simulate how vernix protects the
baby’s skin in the womb. All in all, highly recommended.