Mummy laid an egg!

Author: Babette Cole

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Children are naturally curious. One question that they really puzzle over is “Where do babies come from?”. Parents need all the help they can get to tell the biological truth in a fun way.

Babette Cole puts a hilarious twist on one of the most difficult yet important discussions necessary in their development. In the book the Mum explains “Girls – sugar and spice and all things nice”. Dad says “Boys, slugs and snails and puppy dogs’ tails”. Suggestions from the adults include “squidge them out of tubes of baby paste”, “make them out of ginger bread”, “grow them from seeds in the green house” and other whimsical nonsense.

The children in the story decide to illustrate with childish drawings the whole baby making process, so that their parents will no longer be as deluded as their silly answers imply.

Some parents may find the sketches unsuitable for young children. You can check it out on YouTube – or borrow it from the Odell Learning Resources Centre. This is a fresh and delightful way to convey some helpful detail about bodies and babies.

Gayle Davidson
Odell Learning Resources Centre

Last Child in the Woods

by Richard Louv

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This is the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. It is a comprehensive exploration of the issue, so it has much to offer to help us reflect about family time and our environment.


We have a challenge as modern “city” folk relating to the Australian bush, and this compares closely with the author’s concerns for his woods in America. A great deal has been written recently about the problems of over-protecting children. When I was at school we had a nature table on which many interesting items could be displayed. I wonder what would happen if we allowed nature tables in classrooms again?


There are suggested actions you can take to create change in your community, school, and family and discussion points to inspire people of all ages to talk about the importance of nature in their lives. This book is primarily of interest to parents and educators.


Reviewed by Helen Sillar