Book Review
A short overview of this book
Nine Months: Before a Baby Is Born by Miranda Paul is a wonderful book for talking to young children about pregnancy and how the baby (or fetus) develops whilst it is inside the womb.
What I like about this book are the beautifully detailed illustrations of the fetus, from conception until it is born. Each page tells a story of a child who is awaiting their new sibling, but the corresponding page shows what the baby looks like, and discusses what they can do eg listen to noises outside the womb. The book starts with the sperm and egg joining together but does not discuss how that happens.
It is a lovely book that is perfect for talking about where babies come from.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 4 to 8 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Nine Months: Before a Baby Is Born by Miranda Paul from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! Welcome to Sex Ed Rescue, where I’m here to help you navigate those sometimes tricky conversations about pregnancy and birthing with your kids. I’m Cath Hak, and this is my YouTube channel and website, Sex Ed Rescue. I absolutely love books because they make talking about these topics so much easier. No need to worry about remembering what to say! Today, I want to share a book review with you.
The book I’m talking about is called Nine Months Before a Baby Is Born by Miranda Paul and Jason Shin. Let me just say, the illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful. I was thrilled when my library got a copy. I wish I had discovered it when my own kids were younger.
The story revolves around a family who already has a child and is expecting another one. What I really like about this book is that it showcases stunning images of the baby’s development on one side of the pages. It starts with the first trimester and shows the growth of the baby, complete with photos of the developing cells. It’s fascinating!
Now, I want to mention that this book doesn’t go into the details of how the egg and sperm come together or where they come from. It focuses more on the baby’s growth and milestones. For example, it talks about how the baby’s heart, arms, legs, and tail start to form in the second month. It’s a lovely book to read aloud, and it even describes the baby’s size as being as small as a grape.
As you flip through the pages, you’ll see images of ultrasounds and learn about what the baby is up to during each stage of pregnancy. It covers everything from the baby’s movements to its ability to hear sounds. It’s amazing to see how the baby grows and develops!
I do want to mention that this book takes a conservative approach when it comes to discussing gender and the birthing process. It doesn’t go into detail about those aspects. And speaking of which, there are no genital illustrations in this book. It keeps things more focused on the baby’s development.
At the end of the book, you’ll find a helpful section with lots of information about cell division and other related topics. It’s a great resource to have on hand.
Overall, I think Nine Months Before a Baby Is Born is a fantastic book for starting conversations about pregnancy and how babies grow. It’s gentle, informative, and a great way to introduce these topics to your kids. I hope you found this review helpful! Cheers!
