How Was I Born?: A Child's Journey Through the Miracle of Birth

by Lennart Nilsson, Lena Katarina Swanberg

Ever since the publication of the magnificent third edition of A Child Is Born , Lennart Nilsson has devoted himself to retelling this magical story especially for children. How Was I Born? closely follows the experience of Mary who is nearly five and her family as they lovingly prepare to welcome a new baby.  The book matches Mary's insatiable curiosity, impatience, and concern with gentle, reassuring information. Nilsson's spectacular photographs illustrate Mary's actual when she wonders how big the baby is, one photo shows an ant on her brother's fingertip, opposite the exact image of her future sibling at that time.  When she asks how the baby eats, the reader sees her drinking through a straw as the baby-to-be feeds through the umbilical cord. Meant to be read by a child alone or with a parent, How Was I Born? answers all the questions children ask about pregnancy and childbirth--the biological as well as the emotional ones.  Perfect for children aged five and up, it is also a wonderful book of all ages.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

72 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 1996

About the author

Lennart Nilsson was a Swedish photographer and scientist. He was noted for his photographs of human embryos and other medical subjects.

Reviews

[DW McQuain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the whole book. Every last page. It was good.
All learning books are fives. I like to learn.

[Esmeralda Chaidez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a good book to use to implement into your sex Ed class that students take in 5th and 6th grade. You could have them draw the life circle of a baby.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written 17 years ago, the pictures of the family seem quite corny at times and definitely dated, but the overall information provided was very educational and even humorous at times. The pictures of the fetus developing at various weeks and stages are wonderful (although there's one area where they seem to be out of order a bit). And the way conception is described is factual and no-nonsense. Our girls really enjoyed this book. And it almost made me wish I could go through the miracle of pregnancy once more. Almost.

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part is when the mommy is feeding Baby Thomas because his eye is so cute!

Daddy's comment: We really just look at the pictures and talk about them. This book has more information than a four year old really needs. For example, on the page with the big photo of sperm cells, I just say, "This is right before the baby started growing."

[Teri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really dated! This book states dozens of times that the baby is growing in the mom's belly. I don't think it uses the word uterus once. There has got to be something better out there!