Zak's Safari: A Story about Donor-Conceived Kids of Two-Mom Families

Summary of Book

Zak’s Safari is a book about donor-conceived kids of two-mom families.When the rain spoils Zak’s plan for a safari adventure, he invites the reader on a very special tour of his family instead. Zak shows us how his parents met, fell in love, and wanted more than anything to have a baby—so they decided to make one. In the first half of the book, Zak teaches us about his biological origins. Using simple but accurate language, we learn about sperm and egg cells, known-donors, donors from sperm banks, and instructions called genes that make up who we are. Zak's enthusiasm, combined with his scientific curiosity and gratitude for his inherited "awesome genes" make him the perfect tour guide for this contemporary conception story. The second half of the book celebrates family. Gorgeous illustrations depict Zak and his two moms living the adventure of everyday life: eating meals together, playing at the beach, going for nature hikes and hanging out with friends and family. Zak’s Safari aims to provide a starting place for many future conversations with your kids about their conception story and donor. Zak's Safari is written in a style that is genuine, informative, casual, and easy to understand. It will be most meaningful to kids ages 4-8. Zak's Safari is also available in Spanish and French.

Author Biography

Christy Tyner
Author. MA Instructional Design

Christy works as a course developer for a mental health organization. Her first book, Mama Midwife: A Birth Adventure, was self-published in 2013.

Christy lives with her two kids (both donor-conceived) in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Illustrator Biography

Ciaee Ching
Illustrator. MFA Illustration

Ciaee (pronounced ji-AH-yee) is an award-winning illustrator who holds an MFA in Illustration from the Academy of Arts University. She currently resides in San Francisco with her dear husband, Tom. She delights in making things with her hands, and finds great joy in telling stories through her pictures. You may visit her online at https://dribbble.com/ciaee.