How Do You Make a Baby?

by Anna Fiske

A factual and funny book for children aged 4 and up that answers the questions all children are curious about. How does a baby get into the mother’s stomach? Who can make a baby, and how is it actually done? With comic illustrations and a playful tone, this book is a great conversation starter for families and classrooms approaching the topics of sex education, human anatomy and how babies are made. Informational, funny and warm, How Do You Make a Baby? is an intelligent introductory teaching tool that keeps the topic light and easy through humorous language, illustration and inclusivity. How Do You Make a Baby? gives parents, teachers and children a starting point for open and inclusive discussion on topics including different ways to be a family, same-sex parents, IVF treatment, adoption and a diverse cast of illustrated characters. “ a ‘where do babies come from’ book that doesn’t mince words―or pictures.”― Kirkus Reviews Anna Fiske is an author, illustrator, and cartoonist. Fiske’s playful and distinctive style, both literary and pictorial, has earned her numerous awards and honors for her works. Several of her books have been published with great success in many countries. Praise for How Do You Make a Baby?
“This frank, cartoon-illustrated picture book answers its titular question with Scandinavian directness…The text’s mild cheekiness balances the informational load and should ease shared read-alouds in families unaccustomed to this book’s straightforwardness. Answers an often difficult question with humor and even grace.”― Kirkus Reviews “An informational and fun treatment of what can be a difficult subject. Readers will appreciate the humor and straightforward presentation. Recommended for general purchase.”― School Library Journal “The drawings maintain a sense of humor while introducing forthright details about intercourse…This covers-off look at baby-making doesn’t leave much to the imagination, and those seeking an uninhibited approach to the topic will welcome this book’s directness.”― The Horn Book “5 stars. This book by Anna Fiske is an excellent teaching tool and conversation starter for this tricky topic…This book is fantastically inclusive.”― Manhattan Book Review

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, Banned Books, Graphic Novels, Humor, Family, Picture Books

80 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2019

Reviews

[Marie the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is such an important, funny and informative book for kids!

[Carolina Edvinsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enkel. Icke normativ. Kul. Fin.

[benita · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you make a baby? is an informative children’s book which explains what the title says. Alongside illustrations, the topic is easy to read and understand how the process is.

I really like Anna Fiske, and this is my third book I’ve read from her. Although my little brother is not 4 which is the intended age group for this book, I think this will be an easy read for him if he has any questions, and/or he can come to us grown ups and have us explain if there’s something he wants to know.

Happy reading!♥️

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as clear as I hoped it to be, but sparked some great conversations with the kids who wanted to know more about this topic.

[Synne Sylibris]

Leste den på jobb, hehe (tok 10 min altså). Veldig morsomme og søte tegninger:)

[Julie Iversen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fin barnebok som går rett på sak uten å gå rundt grøten. Boken tar barn på alvor, og undergraver ikke hva de kan forstå eller tåle å høre.

[briz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusingly super factual. Be careful sending screenshots of this one, you'll get banned from your platform. lolol

Basically: a picture book outlining how a baby gets made, for real. Includes my favorite drawing: a penis saying "Hallo!" to a vagina saying "Komm rein!" (Come in!). Includes some REAL TALK about morning sickness and c-sections. Made me cry in the end??? Everyone was a baby. Everyone loves their baby!!! sob

So basically, true, unvarnished but simply told sex ed for your preschooler. Highly recommend.

[Akhila Sriram · Rating 5 out of 5]

We got to hear from one of the people working at the NZ-based publishing house that published this, during one of my master's classes for my library science degree. So I was of course intrigued about how this picture book communicated how babies were born. I did not expect such straightforward and simple story-telling and illustrations, and yet, after reading it, I couldn't imagine any other way to simply tell children about how babies are born.

[Kane henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book works exceptionally well as a conversation starter between parents and children. Instead of leaving parents searching for the “right words,” it provides a framework that makes discussions feel natural and guided. I found that it opens the door for follow-up questions in a way that feels safe and constructive. It’s not just a book you read once, it becomes a helpful tool for ongoing dialogue about growing up and understanding the body.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Het meest eerlijke, duidelijke en grappige kinderboek over seksuele voorlichting dat ik ooit heb gezien. De plaatjes laten meer detail zien dan je gewend bent in een kinderboek tegen te komen. Het is wel een beetje giechelen samen met mijn zoontje, maar dat maakt het juist ook wel leuk. De schrijver maakt duidelijk dat er verschillende vormen van liefde zijn en meerdere manieren om zwanger te raken. Van vrijen in je blootje, totdat een kindje uit de vagina of met een keizersnede wordt geboren, het is een wonder dat je er bent!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book does an excellent job of being direct without being overwhelming. It answers important questions in a way that is simple enough for children to understand while still being accurate. I appreciated that it doesn’t rely on vague metaphors or confusing explanations. Instead, it respects children’s ability to learn when information is presented clearly, which builds trust and understanding.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not only great for families but also highly useful in educational settings. Teachers looking for a gentle and effective way to introduce basic concepts of human biology and relationships will find it incredibly valuable. It supports structured learning while still leaving room for discussion, making it ideal for classrooms that prioritize openness and inclusivity.

[Maccus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, this is a must-have book for parents who want to approach sensitive topics thoughtfully and confidently. It provides the tools needed to guide children through important questions in a way that feels natural and supportive. I would highly recommend it to any family looking to foster open communication and understanding from an early age.

[Alena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jak se dělají děti?

Tuto knížku jsem koupila, protože jsem na ni slyšela a četla dobré recenze. A přidávám se k dobrým recenzím: Kniha je ilustrovaná a textu je přiměřeně, obsah je přímý a otevřený, ničemu se nevyhýbá. Děti (5 a skoro 3) ji také hodnotí kladně, jen za dnešek jsme ji četli 4x.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Striking the right balance between fun and information is not easy, but this book manages it well. It keeps readers engaged with its playful style while still delivering meaningful content. This balance ensures that children stay interested while actually learning something valuable.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took 3 books out of the library about sex and reproduction to read through with my 7 year old. I initially thought this was the best one. It explains the sex act well and the sperm journey is humorous, however another book by Fiona Katauskas was more well-rounded.

[Henriette Kvaalshagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ekstremt viktig og bra bok!
Enkle og gode forklaringer.

[Mari Baardseth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flotte illustrasjoner og akkurat passe med tekst til at den passer like godt for 3-åringen som foreldre og eldre barn.

[Gertti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Når jeg tar bibliotekarjobben med meg hjem og blir begeistret.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helt fantastisk non-binary bog

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are amazing 😆

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic and direct look at sex, reproduction, and birth for middle grades.

[Allyson (Belle) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The frankness reminded me of the American Girl book The Care and Keeping of You which was very helpful to me as a young girl.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! Covers topics associated with sex and pregnancy that don't typically get addressed, sadly.

[Marius Paulsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

pensum i barnelitteratur.
fine tegninger, bra forklart for barn hvordan prosessen fungerer med å få et barn. kan anbefales for foreldre som sliter med å snakke med barna sine om temaet.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humorous look at how babies are made (not for the prudish)

[Sannro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Den var bra, vi kommer låna hem den igen. Bra att kolla igenom då och då för att ha koll på hur det går till på riktigt.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have been a good book to have when my kids were little.

[Sara K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enkelt og rett på sak. Fin introduksjon til dette temaet for barn.

[Kitty Red-Eye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informativ og for så vidt fin nok, jeg bare liker ikke sånne klussete tegninger.