Breastfeeding
Images in Children's Books
By
Anne Altshuler
Madison WI USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 15 No. 3, May-June 1998, pp. 68-73
Reading books
with children can be a close and loving activity. Nestled in a parent's
lap, a young child feels secure, loved, and assured of focused attention
as we share the wonders of stories and pictures. The illustrations,
familiar phrases, and even the smell of a particular book can arouse
a flood of warm, cozy memories for years to come. Reading together is
one way to continue some of breastfeeding's close physical contact with
our children as weaning occurs and they grow older and increasingly
independent. It also gives parents an opportunity to talk about their
culture and values as they react to the issues presented in the story
or pictures.
From the
early days of identifying objects pictured in board books made especially
for infants, through the comfort of a loved and familiar bedtime storybook,
to the years of reading for information about dinosaurs or insects,
sharks or the wild ponies of Chincoteague, books serve as a child's
window on the wider world. Even after they are reading ably for themselves,
children still love to share the intimacy of reading aloud with parents.
In books, children and parents can explore together the familiar world
reflected in pictures and stories of people like themselves, or venture
into new territory to learn how others approach and deal differently
with the challenges of life.
How Breastfeeding
is Portrayed in Children's Books
When breastfeeding
means a great deal to a family, parents may wish to choose books that
show breastfed babies. But children's books tend to reflect the bias
of the culture they come from. Since bottle-feeding is dominant in many
cultures, many books include bottles in illustrations about infants.
It is a rare book that portrays a baby at the breast. Of those that
do, many also include bottles, frequently in the only illustration showing
interaction between a father and his baby. This helps perpetuate the
belief that bottle-feeding is a part of life for all babies and reinforces
a belief that feeding is the primary or only way in which a father can
achieve intimacy with his infant son or daughter. Many fathers today
play a large role in their children's lives, and children enjoy seeing
books that show fathers carrying their babies in slings, bathing, changing,
rocking, singing to, and playing with their young children.
Some books,
especially those that are written for families welcoming a new baby,
unconsciously undermine their intended support for breastfeeding by
linking an older child's feelings of jealousy with an illustration of
breastfeeding. Other books present breastfeeding and bottle-feeding
side by side, as if the two are equal and interchangeable.
Human beings
are not the only species frequently depicted as feeding by bottle in
children's books. All kinds of popular animal characters are shown bottle-feeding
their young, from Babar the elephant to Frances the badger (Babar
and His Children, by Jean de Brunhoff; A Baby Sister for Frances,
by Russell Hoban). In some cases, this is not the author's intention;
it may be the illustrator who makes the fictional family's feeding choice.
Positive
Images Don't Ensure a Good Book
Books that
are written by breastfeeding advocates may have accurate and supportive
information, but they face other challenges. Having correct information
and good intentions does not guarantee that the author or illustrator
is skillful at presenting the material to children in an appealing manner.
Because these books are often produced by small, independent presses,
they may not have the budget for large-scale marketing and distribution
that the major publishing houses do. They are frequently relatively
expensive for their size. They may not appear on local library and bookstore
shelves at all, or if they are there, they may lack a spine with the
title on it, making them difficult to shelve correctly and then to locate.
Books available only in paperback format may not stand up well to repeated
handling in schools and libraries.
Books with
Positive Breastfeeding Images
No one book
is perfect for every use or for every child, even a book with positive
images of breastfeeding. Fortunately, there are a variety of books available
today that can meet the needs of families looking for pictures or stories
that include nursing mothers and babies. Here is a small sampling of
currently available books that do include breastfeeding images, with
a look at their particular strengths and limitations. Unless otherwise
indicated, these books do not include images of bottles or pacifiers.
They are all picture books with about 30-50 pages. Several of these
books may be available in LLL Group Libraries or from the LLLI Catalogue,
or you may look for them on the shelves of your local library or bookstore.
It may also be possible to special order them through a local bookstore.
Information to help with ordering is given at the end of this article.
We Have
a Baby
(ages
one to three) text and full-color illustrations by Cathryn Falwell.
The toddler
in this lovely book with very simple text could be a boy or a girl,
and children of several racial backgrounds could identify with this
family. Both parents are actively involved with the care of their two
children. The mother is shown nursing the new baby in one illustration,
her arm around the toddler who is enjoying a drink and a cookie. This
book shows wonderful role modeling for helping a toddler-aged sibling
feel loved in the presence of a new baby.
One Round
Moon and a Star for Me
(ages
two to five) by Ingrid Mennen with full color illustrations by Niki
Daly. A new baby girl is lovingly welcomed in rural Lesotho, in
southern Africa. The father reassures her older brother of his place
and belonging in the family. "Your eyes are like Mama's eyes. You are
your papa's child and you are your mama's child," he says. Beautiful
illustrations in muted colors include Mama nursing the new baby.
Happy Birth
Day!
(ages
three to eight) by Robie H. Harris with full-color illustrations by
Michael Emberley.
A mother
tells her daughter about her hospital birth and first day of life. The
very essence of a new baby squinting, frowning, crying, yawning, nursing
and sleeping is perfectly captured in the beautiful, large-format pencil-and-pastel
illustrations. Although this baby receives visitors and gifts before
her first nursing, there is one lovely full-page breastfeeding illustration.
The baby falls asleep snuggled between her parents.
Only the
Cat Saw
(ages
three to eight) text and full-color illustrations by Ashley Wolff.
In this colorful
picture book the cat sees all the details of 24 hours in the life of
a busy farm family, including the mother breastfeeding the baby in a
rocking chair at dawn. A special strength of this book is that breastfeeding
is not the focus, but appears in a natural and matter-of-fact way in
this pleasing and beautifully crafted work by a well-known children's
author and illustrator. This book is a well-loved classic, available
in many libraries.
How You
Were Born
(ages
three to eleven) by Joanna Cole with color photographs by Margaret Miller.
This clear
and helpful book about birth shows families from all racial backgrounds
in lovely photographs. The first edition, which was published in 1984,
featured black and white photographs by a different photographer. Page
41 of this edition shows a baby nursing and gazing up into the mother's
eyes. The text states, "When you were hungry you sucked milk from your
mother's breast or a bottle." The breastfeeding illustration in the
newer edition doesn't have the same loving look between mother and baby.
Nevertheless, either edition is worthy to be included in library, school,
or home collections.
Welcoming
Babies
(ages
three to eight) by Margie Burns Knight with full-color illustrations
by Anne Sibley O'Brien.
Customs for
welcoming babies from many cultures are described and shown in the beautiful
illustrations. One mother breastfeeds her baby outdoors as the family
plants a tree in the baby's honor. On the next page, two bottles are
shown as a father readies his son for an outing. These are the only
feeding illustrations in the book. The emphasis is on how babies are
loved and cherished around the world.
A Teeny
Tiny Baby
(ages
three and up) text and pictures by Amy Schwartz.
This first
baby is the center of attention in a family living in an urban setting.
The baby is shown in many places outside the home. Extended family members
(particularly one of the grandmothers) are shown interacting with and
holding the baby in a matter-of-fact way. Although one of the grandmothers
is pictured holding a bottle at the ready on the dust jacket and the
father is feeding with a bottle in one illustration, the mother is breastfeeding
in eight other pictures. Illustrations show the baby sleeping between
his parents and being carried in a sling by his father. It is clear
from the charming illustrations how much time is involved in the care
of a new baby.
Over the
Green Hills
(ages
four to eight) text and pictures by Rachel Isadora.
A young boy
living on the east coast of South Africa accompanies his mother on a
long walk to visit Grandma Zindzi in another village. Little sister
Noma is carried, wrapped close on her mother's back. They make several
stops along the way. This older baby is shown breastfeeding on one page
and there are other references to the mother feeding the baby. Beautiful
descriptions and illustrations of relationships between family members
and other members of a rural community.
Big Like
Me
(ages
three to six) text and pictures by Anna Grossnickle Hines.
A blond,
blue-eyed preschooler tells his baby sister what experiences he'll share
with her each month of her first year. The baby is shown breastfeeding
at one month old, drinking from a cup at ten months. Lots of family
activities appropriate to the seasons in a northern climate show how
a preschooler can interact with a baby sibling in a positive way.
I Want a
Brother or Sister
(ages
four to eight) by Astrid Lindgren with full-color illustrations by Ilon
Wikland.
This bright
and attractive picture book tells about the arrival of a new baby and
the effect on an older sibling. In the only breastfeeding illustration,
the mother is shown nursing baby Lena in another room while preschooler
Peter experiments with cutting his own hair and throwing the teapot
to the floor with a crash. The text states, "When Mama fed Lena, Peter
decided to make as much trouble as he could. That way, Mama would be
forced to put Lena down and come see what Peter was doing." Peter's
hurt and angry feelings are recognized and dealt with in a loving and
caring manner.
See How
You Grow
(ages
four to eight) by Patricia Pearse with full-color illustrations by Edwina
Riddell.
Fetal development
and human growth across the life span are explained in a lift-the-flap
format as five-year-old Sarah and her family welcome a new baby brother.
The baby is shown breastfeeding in the hospital, with parents and Sarah
cuddled close. The focus of the book is not breastfeeding or the role
of a new sibling in the family, but the breastfeeding illustration models
a loving family reassuring the older child of her place and importance.
Young readers will enjoy lifting the paper flaps to see the baby developing
inside his mother's tummy. (However, the paper flaps may not last through
rough handling in a library or school setting.) Sarah's family is caucasian
and middle class, but children of other racial backgrounds appear in
some illustrations.
Mommy Breastfeeds
Our Baby
(ages
three to eight) by Teresa Carroll with full-color illustrations by Linda
Gray.
This book,
written by a lactation consultant, may be the only one that talks about
using a breast pump so that milk can be left for the baby while the
older child goes on an outing with her mother. Its reasonable cost,
small size, and flat, pamphlet format make it ideal for home use. It
can easily be slipped into a mother's purse to take along outside the
house. These features make it less useful for library or school use,
and it is unlikely to be found in bookstores. The focus of the book
is on breastfeeding and how it benefits the whole family in terms of
health, convenience, and financial savings. The father is very supportive
and actively involved in the care of his children. This is a caucasian,
middle-class, two-parent, two-child family. The illustrations are not
great art, but they clearly support the statements made in the text
and are colorful and detailed.
The World
Is Full of Babies
(ages
two to six) story and full-color pictures by Mick Manning and Brita
Granstrom.
How babies
grow and develop before and after birth, how they are fed, bathed, carried,
and cared for is the subject of this engaging book with appealing, multicultural
illustrations. An East Asian mother is shown nursing her baby with the
text: "All over the earth, babies are suckling. You suckled your mom's
milk. Some babies drink milk from a bottle. Piglets and tiger cubs,
monkeys and humans--all baby mammals drink milk!" A human baby is shown
sleeping in a small crib, contrasted with a baby bat hanging upside
down, a seabird perched on a cliff, and a whale floating beside its
mother in the sea. Although one bottle is shown (not in use), the emphasis
is on babies being held and loved, without use of artificial aids. The
contrasts between humans and animals appeal to a young child's sense
of humor. For example, we learn that while children hold hands, shrews
hold tails. The human child carried by Dad in a baby backpack shares
a two-page spread with a mother crocodile carrying her babies between
her teeth, a lemur clinging to its mother's back, and a kangaroo peeking
from its mother's pouch. This book is sure to delight children.
Maggie's
Weaning
(ages
three to five) text and photos by Mary Joan Deutschbein.
In straightforward
and simple text, written by a La Leche League Leader, preschooler Maggie
shares the story of her gradual, gentle weaning. Family photographs
show Maggie and her younger sister Elsa nursing as newborns and enjoying
other loving activities that gradually replace breastfeeding as they
grow older. A helpful note to parents begins the book. Lack of a title
on the book spine makes it difficult to shelve this paper-bound book
in a library or bookstore, but it is ideal for home use with a nursing
toddler or preschooler.
How Was
I Born?
(ages
four to ten) by Lennart Nilsson and Lena Katarina Swanberg, illustrated
with full-color photographs by Lennart Nilsson.
Mary, a Swedish
preschooler with a six-year-old brother, tells the story of the birth
of a new baby brother. Additional text explains conception, fetal development,
birth, growth, and development of babies as well as the feelings and
reactions of the other members of the family. The changing of the seasons
makes clear how long it takes for a fetus to grow, despite Mary's impatience.
Lennart Nilsson's famous photographs of fetal growth supplement the
lovely pictures of the family as they plan for the new arrival. Three
beautiful photographs show the baby breastfeeding just after birth.
The text states, "This is good for the baby and for the mother too."
Mary decides to make a gift of all her old pacifiers to the coming baby.
This may be considered a drawback, as pacifier use is associated with
shorter duration of breastfeeding. Both parents are actively involved
in caring for their children's physical and emotional needs. There is
humor and caring for the feelings of the older children, with plenty
of opportunity to address questions and concerns.
We Like
to Nurse
(ages
one to four) by Chia Martin with full-color illustrations by Shukyo
Lin Rainey.
Using very
simple text and bright pictures, 13 mother-baby animal pairs are shown
nursing, with a simple statement about each. The pairs include monkeys,
elephants, leopards, giraffes, llamas, pandas, zebras, cows, pigs, dogs,
sheep, cats, and horses. The book ends with a human mother and baby
and the words, "We like to nurse." The lack of a title on the book spine
makes it difficult to shelve in a library or bookstore, and it would
probably not stand up well to rough handling by many readers. But the
pamphlet-like format makes it an easy book to take along on outings,
and it is an excellent choice for a nursing toddler who would like to
point to and name pictures of other mother-baby nursing pairs.
That New
Baby
(ages
three to six) by Sara Bonnett Stein with black-and-white photographs
by Dick Frank.
Preschooler
Charles and school-age Melissa welcome a new baby brother into their
loving African-American family. Both parents are actively involved and
supportive of their older children's feelings. This book has wonderful
ideas to help older siblings feel valued and loved when a new baby arrives.
Alongside the large-print text of the story is a small-print commentary
for parents which contains many helpful insights into children's feelings
and behavior along with suggestions for easing the stress in the family
at this time. The clothing and hairstyles in the black and white photographs
reflect the 1974 publication date, but the book's message makes it still
valuable. There is one lovely breastfeeding photo.
Amie and
Anika: 15 Years Later
by
Terry Stafford
Every night
when Amie was about three, I snuggled in her bed with her, reading stories,
singing songs, and eventually being asked for "milky-milky" as my little
one was ready to go to sleep. One night I had a wave of emotion; what
a happy life we were leading--but would Amie remember these days of
our close nursing relationship? So, I made her a little book about herself.
When I couldn't go to an LLLI Conference I'd been hoping to attend,
I sent my little book to the LLLI Office, asking someone to share it
at the Nursing Toddler session. I wanted Amie to be there, even if I
couldn't! This led to Amie being published by LLLI as a little
coloring book. When Amie's sister, Anika, was born, so was another book-Amie
and Anika-about being sisters and Amie's adjustment to her new role.
This book was so popular that it sold out under my very nose. I suddenly
realized that I didn't have any left for myself! I had to buy back three
copies so my girls would each have one. At the urging of LLLI's Publications
Department, I republished Amie, enlarging it to be a companion
to Amie and Anika. Our youngest daughter, Tessa, complains that
I haven't written a book about her! I've thought of a sequel to Amie
and Anika in which they adjust to their new sister, but so far my creative
muse has been busy elsewhere!
The responses
to my books have been gratifying! I still get calls and cards from all
over the U.S. and Canada from mothers searching for copies, or just
letting me know that our story has touched them. This really moves me.
I love the feeling that we're all connected by our mothering experiences.
Amie and Anika are now 26 and 20 years old. Amie has studied both fine
arts and music at college and is now studying voice and musical theater.
Anika is a theater major at college, with an interest in drama therapy.
All three of our daughters have been homeschooled. In fact, Amie's first
year of school was college! Now, Tessa, age 11, is the only one happily
learning at home. Our close bonds are still strong, and we have become
very dear friends.
Editor's
note: Author-illustrator Terry Stafford is still an active La Leche
League Leader in Canada.
The Cuddlers
Five Years Later
by
Stacy Towle Morgan
Occasionally
when I meet a child who has read or listened to my book The Cuddlers,
the inevitable first question is "what are the children's names?" I
have heard of children whose bedtime ritual consists of assigning names
to each Cuddler - "That's Katherine," or "the one with the pink blanket
is Annie." Somehow I thought that by excluding their names, the Cuddlers
could be anyone--you, me, the child down the street. Instead I found
that children wanted to know their real names.
So if you
haven't guessed their true identities already, let me introduce you
to the real Cuddlers. Ellen Clare, our eldest, is now in sixth grade
at our home school. An avid reader and pianist, she spends her spare
time making improvements to her dollhouse and writing in her journal.
She still loves to come into our bed in the morning and visit before
we start our day.
Reid Andrew
is 11 years old and--true to the borders in the book under his picture--loves
sports and music. Although he rarely comes into our bed at night anymore,
there are times when a nightmare will chase him into our bed for several
hours before he's confident enough to brave the night alone.
Leslie Ann
is our most staunch cuddler. At the age of nine, she still likes to
wake up earlier than the sun and steal a few hours of shared bedtime
with us. She loves animals, piano, and drawing. The best thing about
Leslie Ann is the way she sees things; in her drawings and her observations,
she's always got a unique perspective. The photograph on the back cover
of the book captures her looking out at the distance. We're not sure
what she was watching, but it's probably something we would have missed
anyway.
Grace Elizabeth,
our youngest, just recently turned eight. Dramatic, vibrant, creative,
left-handed and vocal are good words to describe her. Grace loves to
sing, and she can render a tune for most any occasion. We don't see
a lot of Grace in our bed since she has a difficult time getting up
in the morning. On days when we can sleep late, she joins the rest of
us for some quality time before we all have to get up and face the day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some of these
books are available in more than one edition. This list shows the most
recent edition available, plus information about editions published
outside the US.
Falwell,
Cathryn. We Have a Baby. New York: Clarion Books, 1993. (1SBN
0-395620384) *
Harris, Robie
H. Happy Birth Day! Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 1996.
(ISBN 1-56402-4245) Available from LLLI, No.315 $16.95. *
Mennen, Ingrid.
One Round Moon and a Star for Me. New York: Orchard Books,
1994. (ISBN 0-53106804-8)
Wolff, Ashley.
Only the Cat Saw. New York: Walker and Company, 1996. (1SBN 0-8027-
7488-1) First published 1982. Penguin books edition published in London;
Victoria, Australia; Markham, Ontario, Canada; Auckland, New Zealand.
*
Cole, Joanna.
How You Were Born. New York: William Morrow, 1993. (1SBN 0688-12061-X)
First published in 1984. *
Knight, Margie
Burns. Welcoming Babies. Gardiner, Maine: Tilbury House, 1994.
(ISBN 0-88448423-9) Available from LLLI, No.330 $14.95. *
Schwartz,
Amy. A Teeny Tiny Baby. New York: Orchard Books, 1994. (1SBN
0-531068188) *
Isadora,
Rachel. Over the Green Hills. New York: Greenwillow Books,
1992. (1SBN 0688-10509-2)
Hines, Anna
Grossnickle. Big Like Me. New York: Greenwillow Books, 1989.
(1SBN 0-688-083544) *
Lindgren,
Astrid. I Want a Brother or Sister. New York: Farrar, Strauss
and Giroux, 1988. (ISBN 9-29-5) First published in Sweden in 1978. Published
in the United Kingdom under the title That's My Baby. *
Pearse, Patricia.
See How You Grow. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, Inc.,
1988. (1SBN 0-8120-59360) First published in Great Britain in 1988 by
Frances Lincoln Limited. Available from LLLI, No.3472 $14.95. *
Carroll,
Teresa. Mommy Breastfeeds Our Baby. Tuscaloosa, AL: NuBaby,
Inc., 1990. (ISBN 0 96266140-6) Available from LLLI, No.375 $4.95. *
Martin, Chia.
We Like to Nurse. Prescott, AZ: Hohm Press, 1995. (ISBN 093425245-9)
Available from LLLL No.370 $9.95. *
Deutschbein,
Mary Joan. Maggie's Weaning. Rochester, NY: Moon Gold Press,
1993. (ISBN 1-88567808-8) Available from LLLI, No.384 $6.95. *
Nilsson,
Lennart and Lena K. Swanberg. How Was I Born? New York: Dell,
1996. (ISBN 0- 44050767-7) First published in Sweden in 1993 by Bonnier
Aba, Stockholm.
Granström,
Brita and Mick Manning. The World Is Full of Babies! New York:
Doubleday, 1996. (1SBN 0385-32258-5) Published in Great Britain in 1996
by Watts Books, London.
Stein, Sara
Bonnett. That New Baby. New York: Walker and Company, 1984.
(1SBN 08027- 7227-7)
* Denotes
books which may be found in LLL Group Libraries.
Page last edited Mon Mar 24 01:16:54 UTC 2008.
