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President and founder of Platypus Media, Dia Michels is an internationally published, award-winning parenting writer. While her topics include science and math books for middle grade students, her passion is promoting attachment parenting and supporting breastfeeding. ​ A popular speaker, she lectures frequently at universities, libraries, and conferences across the country, including Gold Lactation, the Child Health Education and Care Summit, BreastfeedLA, and National WIC. ​ Read about her talks below. 1000 Days in Gap City Exploring the Relationship Between the Breastfeeding Gap and the Word Gap The first 1000 days of life is an extraordinary period of potential; tragically, almost half of America’s babies and toddlers live in or near poverty, and research shows that poverty diminishes brain growth. One source of diminished brain potential is the 30-Million-Word Gap—the differential in the number of words children in different socio-economic groups hear in the first three years. The Word Gap is receiving quite a bit of attention, but less noticed is the parallel Breastfeeding Gap. Children who are not breastfed exhibit lower health and intellectual outcomes throughout life, mirroring the symptoms that accompany the Word Gap. Significantly, the behaviors that accompany breastfeeding provide opportunities to sing, talk, and read with your child, offering a strategy to attack this disparity. Examining the relationship between the Breastfeeding and the Word Gap helps us understand the unique role breastfeeding plays in promoting literacy and reducing the Word Gap. At the end of this session the participant will be able to... Appreciate the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life and understand that what happens in the home before the child begins school can affect not just kindergarten readiness, but a person’s achievement throughout life. Explore how the behaviors that happen organically in a breastfeeding home promote literacy. Safe Infant Sleep What Health Professionals Need to Know to Promote Safe Sleep Environments Throughout history and across cultures, cosleeping has been the norm. Whether for protection, warmth, food, or comfort, humans (and other mammals) have routinely slept side by side with their young. Yet, today, the practice is fraught with questions, fear, and guilt. Claiming that cosleeping puts babies at risk for SIDS and suffocation, public health officials insist that no baby should ever sleep in the same bed as an adult. Yet, despite extensive and graphic public health campaigns warning against the practice, many moms still cosleep. How are we to understand the non-compliance rate? Are the public health campaigns accurate? How should health professionals advise parents committed to cosleeping when it is against the AAP recommendation? How do we reconcile human history with these public health messages? Drawing on the latest scientific research and exploring the AAP’s methods of data collection, this workshop addresses these questions and more, offering guidance to health professionals on how to help new parents make the best safe sleep choice for their family. At the end of this session, the participant will be able to.... Make informed statements about infant sleep, drawing a distinction between safe and unsafe forms of cosleeping. ​ Articulate how cosleeping can, when practiced properly, be not only safe and fulfilling for mothers and babies, but actually be protective of infant health. Breastfeeding Education Starts at the Very Beginning Strategies to Help Kids Understand that Breastfeeding is Normal Breastfeeding has long-reaching benefits for babies, mothers, families, and communities. However, the stigma surrounding breastfeeding, the fact that the majority of breastfeeding mothers wean within a few months, and the prevalence of baby bottles as the normative method of feeding a baby do not provide children with adequate exposure to this normal and natural act of parenting. Studies have shown that many women make the decision to breastfeed before they are pregnant, and that girls exposed to breastfeeding are more likely to see breastfeeding as beneficial to both the mother and the infant. Teaching children about breastfeeding familiarizes them with how important breastmilk is to infant development, promotes a better understanding of how mothers provide for their babies, and encourages healthy life choices. This presentation identifies strategies that parents, librarians, educators, health care providers, and community members can use to educate children about this important form of sustenance. Parents are told that ‘breast is best,’ but it’s time for children to be taught that ‘breast is normal’. At the end of this session, the participant will be able to.... Understand why it is both beneficial and necessary to teach children about breastfeeding, and how this knowledge contributes to thriving families. Identify practical strategies for community members to help kids understand that breastfeeding is normal. Are You Smarter than a Mammalogist? Game Show This fun-filled, interactive game challenges your mammal knowledge. What can we learn by exploring how other mammals reproduce and raise their young? With a focus on birth and breastfeeding, we uncover fascinating facts, amazing adaptations, and parenting peculiarities. There are over 6,000 mammal species, ranging in shape, size, and habitat. Learn about the diverse ways mothers gestate their young (in a womb, pouch, or egg), the wide range of young in a litter (hint: it’s related to the number of nipples on the mom), and how fast or slow the babies grow (newborn blue whales gain 8 pounds per hour!). Unlike reptiles, fish, or insects, all newborn mammals need their mothers to survive. Participants will gain an understanding of the way centuries of evolution have prepared every female mammal—including humans—for motherhood. All mammal species are equipped for birth and breastfeeding, but display a stunning variety of strategies to provide their young with shelter, safety, and—most importantly—milk. Come ready to learn, and leave with a deeper understanding of your inner mammal. Plus, pick up prizes along the way! At the end of this session the participant will be able to... ​ Recognize that, despite the vast diversity of the mammal class, all of us – including humans – need mother’s milk. Uncover the parenting instincts that have been inside of them all along. Relax! Your inner mammal knows how to be a mom. If My Mom Were a Platypus What We Can Learn from Studying Mammal Lactation Mammal mothers fed, protect, and teach their young, even though these tasks may challenge their own needs for survival. Breastfeeding is a crucial piece of a young mammal’s journey from helpless infant to self-sufficient adult. Each of the more than 4,200 species of mammal needs to be raised on breastmilk. This powerful fluid contains a unique combination of water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, cellular content, and anti-infective agents that optimize the growth and development of the young. Dia Michels will discuss what life is like for a variety of mother and baby mammal pairs, how the composition of each species’ milk is designed to optimize their child’s development, and some of the norms—and peculiarities—of lactation. This colorful presentation, from the author of If My Mom Were A Platypus , gives participants a keen sense of what makes mammals special. At the end of this session the participant will be able to... Realize that breastmilk is the route to maximizing emotional, intellectual, and physical growth, and, as such, is the essential first food for all mammals—including humans. Articulate how mammal mothers address and meet their child’s needs, even when it challenges their own need for survival. Women as Heroes Empowerment Through Breastfeeding How is it that something as wonderful as breastfeeding has an image problem? Just a few generations ago, breastfeeding was as universal as childbirth. Sadly, this is no longer the case. Advertising campaigns by infant formula manufacturers and the complacence and cooperation of the medical community played an important role in creating this situation. But are there other factors leading the the low public regard for breastfeeding in America? In this humorous look at the relationship between breastfeeding and women's self-esteem, Michels explores how our attitudes toward bodily fluids have affected our attitudes towards breastmilk and how our hatred of fat plays a role in our discomfort with women's bodies. While breastfeeding is often thought of as a personal, individual choice, we can come to understand how the choice of infant foods is a profound reflection of the values and priorities of our culture. into the School Years Extending Attachment Parenting Intimacy Pediatric organizations, medical researchers, and mental health professionals have worked hard in past decades to identify what an infant needs to flourish. Breastfeeding is one of the tools parents have to raise healthy, vibrant, and resilient children. However, there are many other ways a parent can encourage a child's growth and success. This presentation introduces concepts of and strategies for attachment parenting for children of all ages, from infancy through the school years. Explore how shared reading, exercising together, grooming rituals, and nature exploration trigger intellectual stimulation, sensory contact, and healthy family relationships. The Hunger for Breastmilk You can't address the task of feeding all of the people on our planet without looking at the politics surrounding humanity's first and most abundant food. Why are so many hungry babies denied a food that is both nutritious and ample? Economists typically analyze shortage issues using a supply/demand scenario, but this model is useless in explaining why many babies never taste the fluid their mothers so abundantly produce. Join Michels in exploring the relationship between breastmilk and the way land is used, how healthcare resources are spent, and our treatment of the environment. Is our nation's alleged commitment to family values helping families make good choices about infant feeding? Why is there a commitment to universal use of car seats, vaccinations, and lead screening, but not to breastfeeding? How did the federal government become the largest purchaser of infant formula in the country? Find out how breastfeeding promotion can be tied to the goal of curbing world hunger. Interested in booking Dia for one of these talks? Email Info@PlatypusMedia.com for more details.

Platypus Media & Science Naturally our authors celebrate families & make essential STEM topics accessible and entertaining Hill resident, mom, and celebrated author of books in women’s health and early childhood education, Dia L. Michels has devoted her career to educating grown-ups and children about the world around them. To this end, and with the specific aim of celebrating breastfeeding and attachment parenting, she founded Platypus Media in 2000, a small press housed on Barrack's Row. Platypus Media publishes books for parents and children that foster warmth, closeness, literacy, curiosity, and an openness to other cultures. Hill resident Dia Michels is the president and founder of Platypus Media and Science Naturally. In 2004, she launched a sister company to Platypus Media, Science Naturally. Science Naturally is specifically devoted to making intimidating STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects intriguing and accessible to scientists, mathematicians, and book lovers of all ages. Science Naturally books for children ages 0-14 seek to increase science and math literacy by exploring and demystifying these topics in entertaining and enlightening ways. ​ Though Platypus Media and Science Naturally authors now come from both on and off the Hill, they all have one thing in common: a celebration of close communities and encouragement of curiosity. Now more than ever, both of these are at the forefront of our collective consciousness. Use the free resources below to bond with your family and to provide your children opportunities for learning that are as entertaining as they are educational. (And if you like what you see here and want more, scroll to the bottom of this page for a discount code to use on both companies' websites through the end of May!) Phoebe Fox MamaFoxBooks' Storytime Saturdays Arizona-based author, mother, and former school librarian Phoebe Fox lives and works by the personal slogan "I adore books, respect children, and believe in the power of reading!" ​ Her 2018 Platypus Media book Babies Nurse (available in English and bilingual English/Spanish editions) introduces children to the most natural and loving act—mothers nursing their young. Winner of a Parents’ Favorite Products Award, the book’s luminous illustrations -- watercolors from her father-in-law Jim Fox -- and lyrical text give children a glimpse into the worlds of 13 different mammal babies. Babies Nurse is part of Platypus Media and Science Naturally's Beginnings Collection , a series of stunningly illustrated, information-packed titles designed to introduce youngsters to the wonderful world of animals, and, by extension, to themselves. They encourage children to make real-world connections that sharpen their analytical skills and give them a head start in STEM, while also fostering fosters empathy, kindness, and compassion in both their interpersonal and interspecies interactions. Phoebe is the author of several other books for children and reads children's books (her own and others) on her YouTube channel every weekend in a segment she calls Storytime Saturday. ​ Below, she shares Babies Nurse and a number of other Platypus Media and Science Naturally titles. Hit play for a library-style storytime: Babies Nurse Babies — whether pandas, puppies, or people — nurse. This bond is precious; this process, a natural art. Luminous illustrations and lyrical text will inspire conversations about caretaking in the natural world. Babies Nurse by Phoebe Fox | Illustrated by Jim Fox ages 4-7 | preschool - 2nd grade 32 pages English Paperback ISBN: 978-1-930775-71-8 | Hardback ISBN: 978-1-930775-61-9 Bilingual Paperback ISBN: 978-1-930775-72-5 | Hardback ISBN: 978-1-930775-73-2 available from Platypus Media and Science Naturally My First Science Textbook: Atoms Atoms are the essential building blocks for everything in the universe! From the water you drink, to the hair on your head, and the book in your hands — they're all made out of the exact same atoms! Basic Chemistry has never been such fun. Atoms by Mary Wissinger | Illustrated by Harriet Kim Anh Rodis ages 2-7 | preschool - 1st grade 32 pages | $14.99 ISBN: 978-1-945779-02-2 order from Science Naturally here Cuddled and Carried Babies — whether in snowy dens, warm lagoons, cozy nests, or living rooms — are carried and cuddled, nurtured and nuzzled. Stunning images and gentle verse will capture the curiosity of even the youngest readers as they see how animal mothers tend to their cubs, pups, calves, and chicks. Cuddled and Carried by Dia Michels | Illustrated by Mike Speiser ages 0-7 | preschool 32 pages | variety of sizes English Paperback ISBN: 978-1-930775-98-5 | Hardback ISBN: 978-1-930775-99-2 Other languages: bilingual Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Washoe All available from Platypus Media and Science Naturally Be a Super Sleuth Try Eric & Natalie Yoder's One Minute Mysteries Authors Eric and Natalie Yoder are a father-daughter team out of Northern Virginia. The books in their One Minute Mysteries series for ages 8-12 are full of real-world short brainteasers that can only be solved by using science and math. Sample a few for free below (available in English and in Spanish)! Science Mystery: Freeze Fall Have you noticed many of our authors are family members? We weren't kidding about celebrating family closeness! Help figure out how Even predicted Tom's future in Freeze Fall. Is he psychic... or was it science? Solve - English Solve - Spanish Science Mystery: A Girl's Best Friend Put on your sleuthing cap and help Samara figure out what happened to her birthday present. Solve - English Solve - Spanish Math Mystery: Product Placement Help Max save the school fundraiser -- and win a night of no homework for his class! Solve - English Solve - Spanish Science Naturally sends a new mystery to their subscribers every month! If you want a fresh one minute mystery in your inbox on the first of each month, sign up here . Hands-on Roll up your sleeves & get to work Both companies produce Teacher's Guides full of hands-on activities to go with nearly every book. They all work best when paired with the book content, but you can still get a lot out of them even without reading first. Check out a few below: Koala Odor Koalas primarily eat eucalyptus leaves. Koalas eat so many eucalyptus leaves that they actually smell like eucalyptus, or menthol. This activity illustrates how the smell transfers, and asks: do you think it helps or hurts koalas to smell like menthol? This is a companion activity for If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and their Mothers , which explores how 14 different mammal babies navigate the path from helpless infants to self-sufficient adults, and comes with a free downloadable Teacher’s Guide filled with activities just like this one. Download Koala Odor Activity Whale Blubber Every year, Pacific gray whales travel from Alaska to Mexico, a 10,000 mile journey that takes half a year. During this time, they don’t eat any food. Pacific gray whales eat krill that are only found in Alaskan waters. So, how do they survive the long fasting period and freezing water? This activity illustrates the role a whale’s 5-10 inch layer of fat, called blubber, plays in survival. Download Whale Blubber Activity Whale Teeth This activity shows students how a blue whale's baleen "teeth" work and introduces a complex conversation about nutrient density: why is it that the largest creatures on the planet (whales, elephants, etc) eat the smallest foods? How do these tiny foods support life? Download Whale Teeth Activity Baby Bat Cups Mother Mexican free-tailed bats leave their babies (pups) in a cave with three million others at night while the mothers hunt. When they return to the cave at dawn, they're faced with the task of identifying their own baby in the pitch black, cold, and crowded nursery. How does mom find her pup? By their unique combination of smell and sound! This life sciences' activity helps students understand how much the senses we use are the ones necessary for survival in our particular environments. Download Baby Bat Cups Activity Lion Tongue Prides, or groups of lions, have amazing social structures. The females do all the hunting, sharing the antelope, wildebeest, or buffalo they kill with the whole pride. Hunting is serious work with a low success rate. When an animal is felled, it is essential for the pride to gain all nutrients possible from the animal. This activity explores an adaptation in lions’ tongues that allows them to leave no waste behind. Download Lion Tongue Activity Ice Cream, Anyone? How many different flavors will Cora need to make 21 different flavor combinations? Before you begin, predict how many different flavors she will need. Remember: Two scoops of the same flavor is a combination. Download Ice Cream Activity Map Quest You have been challenged to color the map of the United States so that no two adjacent states are colored the same. States that touch at only one corner, such as Utah and New Mexico, are not considered adjacent. What is the fewest number of colors you need to use to win the challenge? Download Map Quest Activity Printables The daily circuit Print the Daily Circuit and Weekend Edition worksheets for more fun and sample content! Use the code HillLove20 to get 20% off and free shipping on all orders from PlatypusMedia.com and ScienceNaturally.com through May 31st, 2020 Click the logo to visit each publisher's site

Hi, there! Thanks for checking us out. There could be a few different things you're looking for... Get to Know Us Get in Touch Get Our Handles Get to Know Us Get to Know Us Platypus Media was founded in 2000 with a goal to create educational books for parents and children. We publish books that foster warmth, closeness, literacy, curiosity, and family attachments, with a special focus on resources for breastfeeding families. In 2006, Science Naturally was founded as an imprint of Platypus Media, specializing in engaging STEM children's books. We take pride in making complicated subjects accessible and fun for kids of all ages. Platypus Media and Science Naturally books have been translated into many languages, and we enjoy partnering with literacy organizations to create custom editions. Our books are distributed through National Book Network and are available from all major wholesalers. Long story short: Platypus Media and Science Naturally create amazing books for parents and kids. And, if you like your stories long, read our full story here . Get in Touch Get in Touch Mail Dia L. Michels Founder and Publisher Mail Caitlin Burnham Managing Editor and Marketing Director Mail Ali Trujillo Operations and Finance Manager Mail Violet Antonick Associate Editor and Outreach Coordinator Mail Mail Sofía Ramírez Administrative Assistant and Order Fulfillment Associate Hannah Thelen Editorial and Production Director Get Our Handles Get Our Handles @platypusmediabooks @platypusmedia @platypusmedia company/platypus-media-llc @scinaturally @sciencenaturally @scinaturally @sciencenaturally company/science-naturally-

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-930775-75-6 Price: $17.95 Nurtured and Nuzzled Criados y acariciados Book Set These two bilingual early childhood books from our Beginnings collection are filled with captivating illustrations of animal mothers caring for their babies. These books demonstrate a wide range of habitats and healthy relationships in the natural world. The elegant text (in English and Spanish) and educational back matter will help parents, librarians, educators, and healthcare providers adopt new ways of introducing children to attachment, breastfeeding, and early science concepts. Both books model the warm, nurturing bond between parent and child, while encouraging curiosity about childhood, nature, and families. ​ Free, downloadable Teachers’ Guides are available to further explore the content in each book. Set includes Cuddled and Carried / Consentido y cargado and Babies Nurse / Así se alimentan los bebés . Click on titles for more information about each book. what the experts say... “Captivating images, beautiful but simple poetry and a great information resource for teachers make Cuddled and Carried and Babies Nurse must-haves in any home and school classroom library. The authors developed a bilingual narrative dedicated to educate our children about the love, care and bonds created between parents and child across the animal kingdom. I read this books to my 5 and 6 year old kids, and they were captivated by the message and beautiful images. I strongly recommend these books for personal and educational purposes!” ​ —José Avilés, Head of School, Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School, Wilmington, Delaware "These gentle books beg to be read aloud with a little one in your lap, but they offer more than mere bedtime stories. Designed to encourage a lifelong passion for learning, they also include supplemental information about the animals pictured as well as suggestions for talking with children about the natural world." ​ —Karen Lyon, The Literary Hill “What gentle books! They nurture a child’s empathy for others and open their eyes to the world of nature. Very sweet and educational.” ​ —Dr. Harvey Karp, FAAP, author, The Happiest Baby on the Block

We are always excited to work with other parents, educators, and bloggers who enjoy our products! If you are interested in working with us or writing about any of our products, please fill out our contact form. Thank you! BREASTFEEDING PROMOTION CHILDREN'S BOOKS FEATURED ON HUFFPOST Three of our titles are featured in an article on HuffPost! The author of the article, " 19 Children's Books That Normalize Breastfeeding , " writes: In honor of National Breastfeeding Month, we’ve rounded up 19 children’s books that are about nursing or feature images that normalize this way of feeding a little one. Check out the article here to see more great children's books. INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR DIA L. MICHELS Dia L. Michels is an award-winning internationally published science and parenting writer, she is the author or editor of over a dozen books for both children and adults. Her books have been translated into Spanish, Dutch, Hebrew, Chinese, and Korean. A popular speaker, she lectures frequently at conferences, universities, libraries, and schools around the country. Her most recent publication is a Spanish edition of her classic breastfeeding children’s book, If My Mom Were a Platypus . Learn more about Dia and our latest release 'Si mi mamá fuera un ornitorrinco : Los bebés mamíferos y sus madres ' through this fun interview conducted by Children's Book Council! FEATURE FROM HISPANIC MPR Seventeen years after the publication of If My Mom Were a Platypus, Science Naturally published a Spanish translation of the children’s book. Si mi mama fuera ornitorrinco , the 64-page softcover title written by Dia L. Michels, translated by The Spanish Group and illustrated by Andrew Barthelmes is filled with color illustrations and journal style sketches of animal babies and their families on most pages. Read more of Hispanic MPR's article at their website . COME HOME SOON, BABY BROTHER Shanisty's son Adam was born full-term and weighed a whopping 9 lbs. 8 oz. at birth. She thought everything with him was perfectly normal, until he was diagnosed with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) at only 6 weeks old. It was a terrifying time for her entire family as Adam was admitted to Nationwide Children’s Hospital for several days. He was hooked up to breathing machines and oxygen as he fought for his little life. Read how our "Come Home Soon Baby Brother/Sister " coloring books helped Shanisty explain to her older children what it was like for their new brother while he was in the ICU. Read the full story on her beautiful post: Come Home Soon, Baby Brother! Image Credit: Shanisty Ireland

MY FIRST SCIENCE TEXTBOOK #1: Atoms/পরমাণু The first book in the adorable My First Science Textbook series coming soon in a bilingual English/Bengali edition! ​ ​ Atoms are the essential building blocks for everything in the universe. From the water you drink, to the hair on your head, and the book in your hands—they're all made out of the exact same atoms! Basic chemistry has never been such fun. Learn about some of the most fundamental concepts in science BEFORE the social pressure and intimidation of formal schooling. This book introduces subatomic particles, the nucleus, elements, the periodic table, chemical symbols, molecules, covalent and ionic bonds, and more. Let your imagination roam while you and your kiddo ponder what it’s like to live inside an atom! Spanish Bilingual Version Preorder Coming Soon! Concepts covered in this book include: ​ atoms elements molecules The Periodic Table states of matter nucleus isotopes fission Coming July 2021 ​ Paperback ISBN: 978-1-938492-61-7 ​ 32 pages • Size: 8 x 8"• $12.95 Grades: 0–2 • Ages: 2–7 ​ Also available: eBook ($11.99) ISBN: 978-1-938492-62-4 ​ ​ Read more: Press Release Coming Soon! What the experts are saying: “A great way to introduce atoms and chemical elements to young children, who will be amazed that these tiny units make everything around us! Beautiful illustrations, colorful chemical charts, and the bilingual feature will make this book even more attractive to young readers.” ​ —Momin Uddin, Environmental Scientist, Expedited Environmental About the Author Harriet Kim Anh Rodis began illustrating books at the age of seventeen and has been a part of several publications since. She dedicates her career to her dad, who has supported her and her love of books, and who has encouraged her to pursue illustration. She lives in the Philippines. & the Illustrator Mary Wissinger was born in Wisconsin where she spent most of her childhood singing, reading, and daydreaming. She dove into storytelling through acting, singing, and writing. A former teacher, she can now be found at her standing desk in St. Louis, MO, writing stories that inspire curiosity about the world and connection with others. She is the author of the entire Science Wide Open Series: Women in Biology , Women in Chemistry , and Women in Physics . To learn more about Mary, you can check out her website, MaryWissinger.com. Translator Shahnoor Islam is a Bangladeshi-American who has worked for Queens Public Library since 2005. She is the Supervising Librarian/Cataloger at Metadata Services, TSD. Shahnoor lives in Queens, NY with her husband and two children, Ariana and Arshan. This is her first book translation. She can be reached at ShahnoorSIslam@gmail.com . & the Translator

Coming January 2019 ​ Read the Press Release . ​ Paperback | Hardback | eBook $12.95 | $16.95 | $11.99 ​ Paperback ISBN: 978-1-938492-06-8 Hardback ISBN: 978-1-938492-03-7 eBook ISBN: 978-1-938492-05-1 ​ 64 pages Size: 10 7/8 x 8 3/8 ​ Grades: 5-9 Ages: 10-14 4-8 as a Read-a-Loud Si mi mamá fuera un ornitorrinco: Los bebés mamíferos y sus madres This Platypus Media classic is now coming in Spanish! ​ All over the world, in all kinds of habitats, mothers bring forth new life. For many animals, such as reptiles and amphibians, mothering responsibilities end before the babies are even born. But mammal babies need their mothers--they need to be nurtured and nourished long enough to learn how to survive on their own. All mammal mothers feed, protect, and teach their young, even though these tasks can challenge their own needs for survival. But a mammal baby’s journey to maturity varies dramatically depending on whether it is a bear or a bat, a shrew or a seal, a hippopotamus or a human. This fascinating look at life cycles portrays the normalcy of birth and breastfeeding and explores how mothers help 14 different mammals navigate the path from helpless infants to self-sufficient adults. ​ En todo el mundo, en todos los tipos de hábitats, las madres crean vidas nuevas. Para muchos animales, como los reptiles y anfibios, las responsabilidades de las madres terminan antes de que los bebés nazcan. Pero los bebés mamíferos necesitan a sus madres — ellos necesitan que ellas los críen y alimenten antes de que puedan aprender a sobrevivir solos. Click to see the origninal English book ​ Todas las madres de mamíferos alimentan, protegen y les enseñan a sus crías, incluso cuando esas tareas a menudo desafían sus necesidades de sobrevivencia. Pero el viaje de un bebé mamífero a la madurez varía dramáticamente dependiendo de si es un oso o un murciélago, una musaraña o una foca, un hipopótamo o un humano. Esta introducción fascinante al mundo de los mamíferos revela cómo catorce bebés mamíferos crecen, desde que son bebés indefensos hasta que se convierten en adultos independientes. Want a preview? ​ Check out the condensation. meet the animals in the book: golden lion tamarin monkey mono tití león dorado african elephant elefante africano platypus ornitorrinco koala koala pacific grey whale ballena gris del Pacífico least shrew musaraña giraffe jirafa hooded seal foca de casco Mexican free-tailed bat murciélago cola de ratón lion león polar bear oso polar hippopotamus hipopótamo orangutan orangután human humano what the experts say... “These animal stories help show new moms that breastfeeding is what nature intended. When you find out that there isn't a mammal alive in the wild who doesn't put their baby to breast and keep her there for a while, it is a powerful message about the normalcy of breastfeeding. Our hope is that when moms read these stories to their children, the beauty and simplicity of breastfeeding will resonate for them at a deep level.” —Sharon Giles-Pullen, New Mexico Department of Health's Breastfeeding Promotion Manager “Completely engrossing! Most readers are sure to be surprised by something they learn about these seemingly familiar animals... A wonderful gift book for expectant parents or families with children." —Carolyn Bailey, Foreword Magazine "As engaging visually as it is verbally!" —Dr. Inés L. Cifuentes, Director, Carnegie Academy for Science Education “This book is an amazing achievement! Zoologists will get lost in the accuracy and detail of the 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 it is that big adult kids might butt out smaller kids in their effort to read the book!” —James McKenna, Ph.D., Department of Anthropology, author, Sleeping With Your Baby: A Parent’s Guide to Cosleeping , University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana “I am blown away by this book! This is one of the most engaging nonfiction books I have ever read. It correlates so well with our science curriculum and the Common Core State Standards. The Activity Guide and Hands-On Demonstrations are so teacher friendly. I cannot say enough positive things about this material!” —Sonya Smith, Science Coordinator, ATOMS2XP (Advancing Teachers of Middle School Science) and IMPACT2 (In-depth Mathematical Practices and Content Teacher Training), Miss. State, MS About the Author and Illustrator Dia L. Michels is an award-winning internationally published science and parenting writer, she is the author or editor of over a dozen books for both children and adults. Her books have been translated into Spanish, Dutch, Hebrew, Chinese, and Korean. A popular speaker, she lectures frequently at conferences, universities, libraries, and schools around the country. She teaches classes on mammal reproduction and lactation at children’s and science museums around the U.S. Her articles have been published in People, Parenting, Mothering, Parents, Baby Talk, Family Fun, Nurturing , and the Washington Post . The mother of three grown children, she lives in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington D.C. with three cats and a dog. She can be reached at Dia@PlatypusMedia.com . Andrew Barthelmes , illustrator of If My Mom Were A Platypus , and designer of I Was Born to Be a Brother and many other projects, is a New York based illustrator and graphic designer. A graduate of The School of Visual Arts, his illustrations have appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, Ladies’ Home Journal, Street & Smith’s Sports , and The Wall Street Journal . In addition to the Platypus book, he also illustrated Herman the Loudmouth . He has been a children’s book designer for Random House, Inc. and is currently creating a new series of children’s books for Reader’s Digest . He lives in Peekskill, NY with his wife Barbara and their daughter Julia. translation by The Spanish Group The Spanish Group is one of the nation’s leaders in Spanish translation services because of their unparalleled precision, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. The Spanish Group meticulously translates documents of any caliber and works with both the public and private sectors.

Platypus Media was founded in 2000 by president and director Dia L. Michels, an award-winning author of books in women’s health and early childhood education. Our authors are respected experts in their fields, regularly quoted in international media and print publications, and are sought-after speakers at conferences worldwide. ​ Platypus Media currently offers a selection of award-winning books, booklets, CDs, DVDs, videos and other products, many of which have garnered widespread praise. They have been honored in major book competitions, reviewed by School Library Journal, Booklist and featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the Boston Children’s Museum, and the Museum of Science. ​ Our list of endorsements includes American Association of Birth Centers, La Leche League International, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Science Teachers Association, and the Carnegie Academy for Science Education. Our books have been featured on RIFNet and Maryland Public Television. Librarians, home-schoolers, lactation professionals, museum educators, stores, and parents alike love our products. Our books have been translated into Spanish, Italian, Slovenian, Dutch, Turkish, and Hebrew. ​ We are gratified at the strength of sales for our existing products and the international and multidisciplinary interest in our upcoming ones. We are especially proud that others feel that we are meeting our mission. As the well-respected pediatrician, Dr. William Sears, says: Platypus Media’s books not only promote literacy, they promote families! Platypus Media's goals are relatively simple. We want to educate grown-ups and children about the world around them. We publish books that foster warmth, closeness, literacy, curiosity, and an openness to other cultures. We bring products to the market that parents love, children enjoy, teachers appreciate, and parenting professionals value - and do so in a way that is commercially viable. Our Commitment to Breastfeeding: Platypus Media is committed to the promotion and protection of breastfeeding. We donate six percent of our profits to breastfeeding organizations and abide by the rules of the WHO/UNICEF International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. At Platypus Media, we are proud of our products. We hope you enjoy your selections. If you are not satisfied, return the merchandise and let us know if you’d like a refund, credit, or exchange. Our books are distributed to the book trade by National Book Network at www.NBNbooks.com or 800-464-6420. NBN is a dynamic marketing and distribution company servicing North American and overseas publishers. How We Got Here Want more children's books? Check out our STEM education imprint. Go Sparking Curiosity Through Reading

Does your organization want customized books? We can do that! ​ We accommodate a number of requests for special editions of our books, including: Languages & trim size View the book Haitian Creole for the Heart of Jesus Orphanage Your Project! ? View the book Washoe for the Alpine County Child Abuse Prevention Council Branding Front & Back matter & more! We also offer bulk pricing and competitive wholesale discounts . Please contact us for more information on our customization rates. You can reach us at: Info@PlatypusMedia.com 202-546-1674 Book Customization

Safe Infant Sleep: Expert Answers to Your Cosleeping Questions is now available as an audiobook! By James J. McKenna, Ph.D. | Forewords by William Sears, M.D. and Meredith Small, Ph.D. Read by Stephen Bowlby Audiobook: 6 hours and 35 minutes | $19.99 Paperback: 978-1-930775-76-3 | 288 pages | 5.5” x 8.5” | $14.95 eBook: 978-1-930775-77-0 | $13.99 Spanish: 978-1-930775-68-8 (Coming February 2022) Why do current medical guidelines insist that cosleeping is unsafe? What is the difference between SIDS and SUID, and are they related to cosleeping? What should parents do to make a safe sleep space for their infant? If a family chooses to cosleep, how should they respond to reproach from friends, family, or medical professionals? In Safe Infant Sleep , the world’s authority on cosleeping breaks down the complicated political and social aspects of sleep safety, exposes common misconceptions, and compares current recommendations to hard science. With the latest information on the abundant scientific benefits of cosleeping, Dr. James J. Mckenna informs readers about the dangers of following over-simplified recommendations against the age-old practice, and encourages parents to trust their knowledge and instincts about what is and is not safe for their baby. This book offers a range of options and safety tips for your family’s ideal cosleeping arrangement. These include variations of roomsharing and bedsharing, and introduce the concept of “breastsleeping.” This term, coined by Dr. McKenna himself, is based on the inherent biological connection between breastfeeding and infant sleep, and provides readers with everything they need to know about safely sharing a bed with their baby. Complete with resource listings for both parents and professionals, this book teaches you how to confidently choose a safe sleeping arrangement as unique as your family. Available on: Audible Kobo Chirp Audiobooks.com and more! About the Author Dr. James J. McKenna directed the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame for 22 years. He received his undergraduate degree in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley, his Master's Degree from San Diego State University, and in 1975 earned his Ph.D. in biological anthropology from the University of Oregon, Eugene. He pioneered the world’s first studies of the physiology and behavior of cosleeping mothers and infants, and has published over 140 scientific articles in medical and anthropological journals on the topics of cosleeping, breastfeeding, evolutionary medicine, and SIDS. He has also authored several books, including Ancestral Landscapes in Human Evolution , Evolutionary Medicine , Sleeping With Your Baby , and Researching the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: The Role of Ideology in Biomedical Science . A leading authority on breastfeeding in relationship to SIDS and bedsharing safety, Dr. McKenna is a sought-after speaker at medical, parenting, and policy conferences around the world. About the Illustrator Alison Kreckmann is a graduate of University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she received Bachelor of Art degrees in English and Graphic Design. Alison lives in Washington, D.C., where she works as an Editorial Assistant in scholarly publishing, and spends her spare time drawing.

Author & Illustrator Submissions Thank you for your interest in Platypus Media. We publish a handful of books each year, yet we are always looking for manuscripts that promote the attachment values we espouse. We are eager to review manuscripts for healthcare professionals, parents or children. We are looking for books that help support family life through education, positive images and role models, and entertainment. ​ Authors: ​ If you are submitting a manuscript, please fill out this form: ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Illustrators: ​ If you would like to submit your portfolio to us, please use the following form: ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We do not accept physical submissions. Please be aware that we are a small company and response times may vary from a few weeks to a few months.​ If you have any inquiries or require further information, do not hesitate to contact us at Submissions@PlatypusMedia.com. ​ Thank you for considering Platypus Media as the platform for your creative endeavors. ​ The Platypus Media Team Illustrator Submissions Form Manuscript Submissions Form