Reader Reviews

If My Mom Were a Platypus

Kitty Ernst, CNM MPH DSc

National and International Consultant to Birth Centers
Mary Breckinridge Chair of Midwifery
Frontier School of Midwifery & Family Nursing

If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and Their Mothers Review: I was absolutely ecstatic when I discovered If My Mom Were a Platypus. Not only did I love it, but my grandchildren (ages 3 and 7) shared my enthusiasm. They savored the book and eagerly brought it to school to share with their teachers and classmates. Dia Michels has filled a long, empty void in reaching out to children with the message of normal birth and breastfeeding. Children are not yet clouded by the years of false and mythical indoctrinations that surround childbirth in adulthood. These tales of their favorite animals show them the normalcy of breastfeeding and the power of motherhood. Brava, Dia Michels!

Shelley Spohr

Office of Natural Resource
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
Science Books and Films, Vol. 42, No. 2

This educational and thoroughly enjoyable book is geared towards children ages 8-12. Narrated by 14 mammal babies, the text describes how each progresses from infancy to adulthood. The book explains that mammal babies are different from most other animals, in that they need their mother in order to learn how to survive on their own.

Each chapter is separated into four sections: "How were you born?" "How did you grow?" "What do you know?" and "What do you eat?" The book is full of many interesting facts. For instance, hooded seal pups have the shortest nursing period of any mammal and are abandoned by their mothers when they are only four days old. The narrative is very straightforward and doesn't attempt to sugarcoat predators and their need to kill. Having recently become a first-time mother, I also really liked the fact that the chapter on baby humans presented childbirth and breast-feeding in a natural, positive manner. This book is illustrated and includes an index and a glossary (which are useful, since much of the vocabulary will likely be new to children). Activity guides that expand the concepts presented can be downloaded off the Internet for free.

Carolyn Bailey

ForeWord Magazine, Jan/Feb. 2006

The animal facts … are completely engrossing. Most readers are sure to be surprised by something they learn about these seemingly familiar animals. …School-aged animal lovers will enjoy the easily digestible and fun-for-sharing facts, which are sure to spark some lively discussions. The colorful illustrations and catchy title make this a wonderful gift book for expectant parents or families with children.

Susy Parker Goins

Natural Family Online, October 2005
http://www.natural-family.com/books/1.htm#parents

Never has an introduction to basic biology been so pleasant to read! Dia L. Michels’ revised edition of If My Mom Were a Platypus (Platypus Media, Second Edition 2005) retains the "view from a baby animal" perspective with well-researched information about several baby mammals, many of which are endangered. Andrew Barthelmes’ illustrations convey a touching mother-baby bond without being overly whimsical. The colorful pages can hold the interest of pre-readers while the secondary pages of each section include more in-depth details geared toward elementary and middle-grade readers. A new glossary and metric conversion complete this revised edition.

April Almeida

www.BreastfeedingMatters.com, July 2005

These are two wonderful books [Look What I See! Where Can I Be? In the Neighborhood and If My Mom Were a Platypus] that promote a more attached family set of values. Just good reading! It is nice to see attached parenting and family life portrayed as normal and to have books like these to read to my own children, books that display the tender-hearted way my husband and I are raising them. Just to have books that show baby carrying made me feel very happy to place it on our bookshelf here at home.

Laura Zemlicka Flora, Coburg Elementary Eugene School District

Lane Eduation Service District Eugene, OR

Rating 3(Good All Around Title)
Anyone at all interested in animals will adore this book. It explores 14 different animals and talks about how they are born, how they grow, what they know, and what they eat. Every four pages is dedicated to a different animal and includes a colorful picture illustration as well as pencil-like drawings that show you the baby animals and moms from golden lion tamarin monkey to the human, the table of contents makes a note for the animals that are endangered and the glossary and index are a handy reference for this easily likeable book.

Teri Cosentino

National Science Teachers Association, Elementary School Science Teacher
Added to "NSTA Recommends" list

Imagine reading a book about 14 fascinating young mammals to your primary class, enriching your science class with interesting and accurate details about their life cycles. If My Mom Were a Platypus describes the birth, growth, and behavior of not only the Australian egg layer but gray whales, least shrews, Mexican bats, orangutans, and giraffes. Students will enjoy learning about the animals that live in trees or on ice, those that fly or swim, and even about human children who dream of doing all those things.

There are many ways to use this book in a primary classroom. Children can deepen their understanding by drawing pictures and writing stories, by finding habitats on a map, or by role-playing the behaviors of animal babies. Teachers whose curriculum covers life cycles will find many ways to integrate this motivational book into their instruction. The beautiful illustrations will enable students to envision the possibility of a world full of animals that are not endangered.

Gloria Marrone

Epinions.com

Children 8-12 are naturally curious about themselves and the world around them. If My Mom Were a Platypus: Animal Babies and Their Mothers is a delightful animal book that I will answer their questions about the birth and growth of 14 baby mammals. There is a strong emphasis on breastfeeding and the closeness between mothers and babies. Children also read of the important roles that families and communities play in the nourishment, support and survival of the offspring. Children learn that although the babies are very different, they all have in common that they nurse from their mothers….Children of all ages are quickly drawn into the text, enthralled by large, realistic full-color illustrations that open each story and the black-and-white illustrations that follow. A total of 15 realistic full-color illustrations and 60 black-and-white illustrations enhance the enjoyment of the text. …Readers will delight in the minute details of each endearing illustration. The expressive illustrations of the baby Orangutan with hair standing on end are simply adorable. Another favorite is the large close-up color illustration of the African Lion cub lying near its protective mom….Stories are packed with fascinating nature facts about the characteristics and behavior of mammals. Children learn the interesting information directly from the adorable baby mammals themselves. Each baby answers the questions: How Were You Born? How Did You Grow? What Do You Know and What Do You Eat?

April Holladay

Science Journalist, Life's big and little: Elephants and ants for USA TODAY

Q: How much does the heaviest elephant weigh?
A: The heaviest land animal ever recorded (according to the Guinness World of Records) was a male African bush elephant shot in Mucusso Angola on November 7, 1974. He weighed 13.5 tons (12.2 tonnes)-as much as nine average-size U.S. cars...

See the book, If My Mom Were a Platypus by Dia L. Michels, Platypus Media LLC, for more information on baby elephants.

To read Dia Michels' answer, click here for the full article.

Breastfeeding Outlook, Issue 3, 2002

The author integrates the discussion about nursing into the question-and-answer format describing birth and growth.

...there is a nice glossary at the end of the book that defines terms including nipple, suckling, and umbilical cord...

Of course the final animal is a human mom, and her baby is born in a hospital "with a dozen people there" including doctors and midwives. This book is an example of how to incorporate breastfeeding education while teaching about more general topics. An activity book that accompanies the text is available at the publisher's web site.

...many books that talk about breastfeeding are directed to younger children, this book would be a good addition to the older child's library both at home and at school because it can become the basis for a discussion about breastfeeding and childbirth. Recommended.

ASPCA Humane Education Bibliography

If My Mom Were a Platypus has been selected for the ASPCA Humane Education bibliography. The bibliography identifies books which exemplify the philosophy of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:

"At its most basic level, humane education is about learning to care for the animals in our homes and communities. It is about fostering kindness, respect and empathy for both human and nonhuman animals, and looking after the environment and its diverse habitats. Unlike science and other academic disciplines, humane education has a philosophical component that strives to establish a sense of responsibility and make the world a better, more humane place."

Check out this annotated bibliography of children's literature at http://www.aspca.org/bibliography.

Mary Quattlebaum

Washington Parent, May 2002

Washington author Dia Michels takes a look at animal babies in If My Mom Were a Platypus. From least shrew to gray whale to human, Michels explores that birth experience, habitat and early cognitive and social development of 13 mammals, humorously reminding us of shared experiences. Illustrations by Andrew Barthelmes provide a realistic view of the animals, eight of which are fast disappearing from the planet.

Dr. Ines L. Cifuentes

Director, Carnegie Academy for Science Education

Children in elementary school are curious about the natural world around them. We are always looking for good materials to help teachers respond to their students' questions and were delighted to find If My Mom Were A Platypus. The book uses the simple concept of comparing offspring to expose students to life cycles, environments, animal behavior--the wonderful variety of life on Earth. Not only is the book as engaging visually as it is verbally, but the Activity Guide gives teachers the tools they need to present, explain and expand upon the book's content. This book will be an asset for any teacher delving into the world of mammals.

Don E. Wilson, Ph.D.

Editor: Animal:
The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife

If My Mom Were A Platypus is enjoyable, accurate and informative. It will be useful, indeed, in both primary and middle school animal curricula. I know from writing my own children's book on bats how difficult -- but essential -- it is to have all of the facts right, yet still be interesting and readable. This book manages both very well. I will be passing the book along to the teachers I know and hope that it ends up in many schools around the country!

American Humane Association

Written from the point of view of the baby, this book takes a look at the birth, growth, diet, and ultimate maturity of 14 different mammals, including humans. An easy-to-read, well-thought out book for young elementary to middle school students, the book is filled with fun facts about how these mammals go from "helpless infants to self-sufficient adults," in some instances in just as little as four days. From giraffes being six feet tall and elephants weighing 200 pounds at birth to the unusual eating habits of koalas (who eat only eucalyptus leaves and hardly any water), Golden Tamarin monkeys (who like crunchy grasshoppers) and Mexican free-tailed bats (who eat several thousand insects each night by catching them in their teeth), this book offers a fun and very educational look at animal babies.

Dr. Kathleen Kain

Science Educator, The Science Spiders Newsletter, October 2001

If My Mom Were A Platypus is an entrancing children’s book covering all sorts of animal babies—platypus, koala, lion, orangutan, whale, shrew and more. The beautifully-illustrated text pulls in children by pretending they are the baby. If My Mom Were A Platypus describes in detail how different babies eat, learn, grow and mature. This fact-loaded book delights both adults and children and is extraordinarily hard to put down. Even the ending is superb.

Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator

My three year old daughter loves this book. The book tells how different mammals are born, nursed, grow, eat, etc. It is really fascinating [I found it very interesting myself]. While the book is long and written for a much older audience, it still held my young daughter's attention [though we read only a few pages at a time]. The book is very educational and would be especially nice for families who breastfeed. It ends with the birth of a human mammal and tells how the baby is born and nursed and grows etc. This is a really neat book!

James McKenna, Ph.D.

Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana

Dia Michels' book is an amazing achievement. Zoologists will get lost in the accuracy and detail of her descriptions of birth and feeding. Children will be captivated by the beautiful pictures and stories of mammal mother and baby pairs. I was surprised by how many new facts I learned. And what could be more entertaining yet educationally valuable for a child to see than that mammals - whether human, bear, bat, giraffe, seal, or shrew -- all have important things in common. The only problem with If My Mom Were A Platypus is that big adult kids might butt out smaller kids in their effort to read the book!

Marge Grutzmacher

Passtimes Books, Box 445-527 Bay Shore Dr., Sister Bay, WI 54234

What a nice book. I read it all in one sitting. It is filled with the kind of info that kids always ask questions about, and it is readable and understandable. We will definitely carry it at Passtimes.

David Downing, MD

Director of Residency, Obstetrics/Gynecology
Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC

I help bring more than 200 human animal babies into this world each year. Each one of them is a small miracle. If My Mom Were A Platypus brings to life the birth stories of human beings, as well as those of thirteen other mammals -- some similar in nature to humans, others, strikingly different. It is a wonderful exploration into the process of birth and the challenges of maturation!

Ruth Lawrence, MD

University of Rochester Medical School and Rochester, NY

The cycle of life goes from conception to pregnancy to birth to lactation to maturity to death. The universality of this cycle is beautifully captured in this stunning book. It takes the reader into the details of the life cycles of fourteen different mammals. Seeing the cycle as a natural process helps children understand how important lactation is to the health, growth and survival of all mammals.

Catherine Taylor

Fifth Grade Science Teacher, Stuart Hobson Middle School, Washingotn, DC

If My Mom Were A Platypus fits perfectly into our 5th grade Animals curriculum. The students greeted the book like eager beavers - devouring each chapter and delving right into the next one. In class after class, they read beyond the required reading, propelled by excitement over what they were learning. The Activity Guide is chock-full of ways to explore the text, but the book is so full of fascinating facts, I was hardly wanting for ideas. What the kids really loved was writing up quiz questions they learned from the book, then testing each other on their newfound knowledge. This book is a natural for elementary and middle school science classes!

Sonya Persons

Age 10, Washington, DC

This book is cool! I really like how each animal tells its own story. The pictures look real. I loved learning how the Golden Lion Tamerin lives with its whole family and is part of a community -- just like a real person. Other kids should read this book because it makes learning fun!

Kathleen Orosz

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database

Moms and their kids will together enjoy this opportunity to discover the fascinating facts that celebrate the wonders of birth in the animal kingdom. This well- written nature book is by an author known for her non-fiction adult material. But her writing here is geared to children for the first time and successfully so. The fascinating facts depict how mammal infants begin life dependent on their mothers and grow to be self-sufficient adults. The book is organized by describing 13 different animals, with sections on each covering the topics: birth, growth, knowledge and eating. Each animal tells their own story. The platypus begins, 'To get ready for me, my mom built a nest beside a stream.' Though the vocabulary may be somewhat advanced for elementary school children, the text read aloud, combined with the realistic artwork is definitely manageable. Colorful, upclose drawings combine with black and white sketches illustrating each stage. It is apropos that the 14th and last of the species presented is a human infant, with amazing similarities to the stories of the other 13. Moms be prepared to end the shared reading with questions that just seem to naturally follow like: "So Mom, when I was born..."

Rochelle Testa

Special Education Teacher, White Oak Middle School

The book is both delightful and informative. However, from the perspective of a special education teacher it is a useful teaching tool. The consistent organization of the book lends itself to various extension activities that need to be reinforced at the middle school level. Students would be able to chart/graph information on each of the animals. The short paragraphs are not only approachable for the lower reader, they lend themselves to skimming activities.

The book's arrangement is similar to a textbook, with chapters and headings that are repeated throughout. This arrangement, coupled with the fictional-type writing is yet another bridge to using a textbook for information. The book could be used to compare the organization of a science text to a fictional book.

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