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It is difficult for the whole family when a new baby is in the NICU. In addition, the baby's siblings might not understand why their new baby can't come home right away. These books explain that the NICU is a special place that works to make baby healthy. This coloring book is a playful and informative guide for the baby's older siblings, teaching them what they can do to be a great big brother or sister. coloring books NICU Sibling-Support Read what mommy blogger Shanisty Ireland thinks of these resources! We offer two different coloring books in a variety of languages and iterations to support each unique family: Come Home Soon... The Come Home Soon coloring book series will help you guide your children to an understanding of why their baby sister or brother is in the NICU, and what they can do to help. ...Baby Brother ...Baby SIster 12 pages Black and white Price*: $2.95 ISBN: 978-1-930775-26-8 Shop 12 pages Black and white Price*: $2.95 ISBN: 978-1-930775-41-1 Shop 12 pages Black and white Price*: $2.95 ISBN: 978-1-930775-39-8 Shop 12 pages Black and white Price*: $2.95 ISBN: 978-1-930775-55-8 Shop available In spanish available In spanish "A coloring book for big brothers and sisters of babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. It tells the story of a boy whose brother has to stay in the NICU. It describes why the baby brother is in the NICU, what he looks like and what to expect in the NICU. It also describes things that the older boy does to be a great big brother. The process of coloring the pictures and listening to the story gives parents and older siblings a wonderful opportunity to talk about their own NICU baby. It can guide conversation, and help siblings learn that they aren’t the only kid who has had a baby brother or sister in the NICU. At just $2.95, it’s a very small investment with a big payoff." - Kristie McNealy, M.D. " A marvelous coloring book designed just for older siblings that I believe should be in every hospital to hand out to encourage hope... This twelve page book contains easy to understand medical verbiage, fun drawings to color, and is written by a Registered Nurse, Debi Iarussi. Debi Iarussi has had tons of experience in Maternal Child Nursing and Women’s Services and is currently a lactation consultant in Austin, Texas. With a deep understanding of how older children respond to their babies being in the NICU, she set out to develop a book to make the experience better. With complete success this coloring book... reminds a child that the NICU is a temporary step in their new baby’s life and educates them on simple ideas like washing hands and breastfeeding." - Bobbi Hammonds, Evansville Early Childhood Parenting Examiner Rich and Creamy for Our Preemie A coloring book about how the NICU, milk banks, and families work together to help preemies. Available In English 18 pages Black and white Price*: $2.95 ISBN: 978-1-930775-69-5 Shop 12 pages Black and white Price*: $2.95 ISBN: 978-1-930775-70-1 Shop available In spanish “Rich and Creamy gives children a positive explanation of why their new sibling is in the NICU. It gently, but clearly, speaks to the importance of human milk for preemies. It should be a part of every NICU’s family support program.” - Dara Barnett RN, IBCLC, Maimonides Hospital, Brooklyn, NY “This winning, educational, and family-centered story is a great tool for hospitals and milk banks. It illustrates the health-giving power of mommy’s milk and acquaints us with milk banking. A must have for families!” -Jean M. Drulis, Director and Co-founder Mother’s Milk Bank of Iowa Coloring books can be individually packaged in a resealable bag with a crayon set for an additional 25 cents. Simply select "Yes" from dropdown menu on each individual product page. Then all you have to do is add your hospital literature for a lovely packet to present to your families! * Looking to purchase just one coloring book? Enter code NICU1 to get free shipping! * Bulk discounts are available. Contact Martha@PlatypusMedia.com for more information.

Platypus Media books have the exuberant, classy look that people expect in museum-quality books. The Look What I See! series is a perfect match for our Children's Discovery Center, and If My Mom Were a Platypus gives our young visitors just the information they need to reinforce what they have seen in the museum. -Linda Dunphy, Museum of Science, Boston Platypus Media has created vibrant children's books...these stories not only promote literacy--they promote families! -William Sears, MD, Author, The Attachment Parenting Book Platypus Media books give us a fun way to help meet curriculum objectives in reading, science, language arts and social studies. The kids love them-- and the free curriculum-based Activity Guides available at PlatypusMedia.com do a lot of the work for us! -Catherine Pfeiffer, School Librarian, Capitol Hill Cluster Schools, Washington, DC Caring parents should be delighted with the low-key style of these books and the gentle way they foster love and respect between parent and child. You can count on the sign of the platypus to please the child and draw a family together. -Margeruitte Kelly Author, The Mother's Almanac What's really exciting about this line of books is that children from every background can relate to them. Platypus Media books have captured the values of close-knit families from many different perspectives. -Maria Salvadore Children's Literature Specialist, Washington, DC Breastfeeding is indeed a family affair and the Platypus Media books acknowledge the importance of Dad and brothers and sisters to the nursing mother and baby. Each book portrays the breastfeeding family in true-to-life situations that provide practical examples of loving guidance in a context that is both inspiring and fun for all. -Marian Tompson Co-founder, La Leche League, International Parents who are responsive to their children's needs often find themselves swimming upstream against the culture. Platypus Media books encourage parents as they create families that are close-knit. Through sharing stories, Platypus Media is building a caring community where children and parents alike can thrive. -Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC Author, The Hidden Feelings of Motherhood There's more to good health than regular check-ups. Security, love and caring boost any child's chance at a lifetime of well-being. The values portrayed in Platypus Media Books are just what the doctor ordered! -Milton Werthmann, Jr., MD Neonatologist and Director, Pediactric Center For parents who want the very best for their children, breastfeeding is the place to start. Since not every family has a breastfeeding tradition, I use Platypus Media books to inform families - from a variety of perspectives - how breastfeeding can be incorporated into daily lives. Every family member can see how closeness pays off. -Jolene Ivey, Founder and Co-President, Mocha Moms

This beautiful collaboration between a children’s librarian and an NBA- player-turned-watercolor-artist introduces the most natural and loving act—mothers nursing their young. Winner of a Parents’ Favorite Products Award, the book’s luminous illustrations and lyrical text give children a glimpse into the worlds of 13 different mammal babies. Compelling childhood facts also broaden the reader’s knowledge about each animal. The book’s overarching theme of breastfeeding inspires conversations about parenting, biology, habitats, survival, and more, making this book an engaging choice for young children as well as elementary school readers. "creates positive images around breastfeeding" Coming October 2018 Read the Press Release . Size: 10 7/8 x 8 3/8 | Page count: 32 | Age Range: 4-7 | Grade Range: preschool-2nd grade Hardback: $14.95 | Paperback: $9.95 | eBook: $8.99 Hardback : 978-1-930775-61-9 | Paperback : 978-1-930775-71-8 | eBook: 978-1-930775-47-3 Free downloadable Teacher's Guide available. Also available in a bilingual (English/Spanish) edition . "creates a safe space to explore normal infant feeding and bonding" A portion of all sales of this book will be donated to La Leche League International what the experts say... “Animal mothers of all shapes and sizes lavish their little ones with love and affection in a series of sweet poems celebrating nature, wildlife, and the special bond forged through nursing. Tigers, seals, dolphins, pandas, and other mammals softly take shape in peaceful watercolor portraits. Perfect for reading aloud to find out which mamas nurse their babies in the snow, underwater, on the beach, or upside down. ” —Foreword Reviews , 2018 “What a gentle book! It nurtures a child’s empathy for others and opens their eyes to the world of nature. Very sweet and educational.” —Dr. Harvey Karp, FAAP, author, The Happiest Baby on the Block “Simple, rhyming, bilingual text and gentle, quiet illustrations introduce the very youngest reader and listener to that most natural and loving of activities—mothers nursing their offspring. Mothers and babies of the fields, jungles, air, and water are all portrayed, demonstrating that all mammal babies are nourished in the same way. This book will be invaluable in presenting nursing as something completely natural, normal, loving, and good for both babies and mothers.” —Wendy Watson, author and/or illustrator of over 60 books for children, Phoenix, Arizona “The illustrations are lovely. The beautiful colors and fluid lines allow the reader to see the babies nurse softly and naturally. This beautiful book is a perfect gift for every new baby.” —Alejandrina Vostrejs, Certified Birthing From Within Mentor and Doula “This beautiful book magnificently demonstrates the natural and instinctual connection between a mother and her offspring. Breastfeeding is the first step in cultivating a healthy mind, gut and spirit for both mommy and her little ones. As a pediatrician and mother, I appreciate the simple text paired with the lovely illustrations. Brilliant and inspiring!” —Kristin Struble, M.D., author of How to Be a “Poop” Detective Read all the Reviews About the Author and Illustrator Elementary school librarian, children’s book author, and mother of three, Phoebe Fox wrote Babies Nurse to show children that all mammals provide milk for their babies. Fox sought to emphasize the warmth and beauty of nursing while demonstrating that all mammals share certain approaches to feeding, protecting, and teaching their young. With degrees in Early Childhood Development and Curriculum Instruction, Phoebe was particularly well positioned to present this information in a way that young readers will respond to. Drawing on her own experiences as a breastfeeding mother, and wanting to present clear and accurate information about this “natural art,” she consulted zoologists and pediatricians to put together this deceptively simple introduction. She is also the author of Starry’s Haircut , Starry Gets Lost , and Up Up Up (winner of the 2015 First Edition Children’s Book Contest). Visit her at mamafoxbooks.com . Fox lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and their three sons. She can be reached at PFox@PlatypusMedia.com . When it came time to find an illustrator for the book, Phoebe asked her father-in-law, Jim Fox , if he would accept the task. Retired from the NBA where he played for the Phoenix Suns, Jim was himself a recipient of plenty of his own mother’s milk and says the benefits are obvious: he is 6’ 10”, healthy, and has produced wonderful kids and grandkids. The grandfather of five believes that nursing is a child’s best start in life. Jim lives in Phoenix with his wife, Mary Alice. This is his first book. He can be reached at JFox@PlatypusMedia.com . line drawings by Wesley Davies A New England-based artist, Wesley (23) specializes in digital illustration and design. He graduated from Kenyon College in 2017 and spends his time working as a freelance illustrator, writing his ongoing comic The Ecliptic Age , and adding to his ever-growing indoor garden of houseplants. He has been drawing animals from a young age, inspired by the many books and nature documentaries that excited his passion for biology and anthropology, and is always happy when he can combine his interests in illustration. He can be reached at Wesley@PlatypusMedia.com .

The First Book Marketplace makes quality books available to organizations that serve families in need. The First Book Marketplace offers educators and program leaders new titles at 50-90 percent off retail price for kids from birth to 18, including award winning and culturally inclusive books, teacher resources, and other educational products. Platypus Media is honored to be a part of this wonderful program. Many of our books are for sale on the First Book Marketplace at a steep discount for qualifying buyers : Book Sets (English) 101 Things About Science and Math Collection (10 paperbacks); $56 .83 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science! (5 copies) 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math! (5 copies) Math Madness Collection (10 paperbacks); $56.83 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math! (5 copies) 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! (5 copies) Science Explorations Collection (10 paperbacks); $56.83 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science! (2 copies) 65 Short Mysteries You Solve with Science! (2 copies) 65 MORE Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! (2 copies) Leonardo da Vinci Gets a Do-Over! (2 copies) Ghost in the Water (2 copies) Science and Math Mysteries Collection (9 paperbacks); $51.14 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! (3 copies) 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! (3 copies) 65 MORE Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! (3 copies) Nurtured and Nuzzled Collection (10 paperbacks); $46.33 Cuddled and Carried (5 copies) Babies Nurse (5 copies) Animals and Habitats (28 paperbacks); $152.71 This Is the Sun (7 copies) This Is How I Grow (7 copies) Look Up to See What the Weather Will Be (7 copies) If My Mom Were a Platypus (7 copies) Book Sets (Spanish & Spanish/English Bilingual) Bilingual Science and Math Mysteries Book Collection (10 paperbacks); $56.83 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! / ¡Misterios cortos que resuelves con matemáticas! (5 copies) More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! / Misterios de un minuto: ¡Más misterios cortos que resuelves con ciencias! (5 copies) Nurtured and Nuzzled Bilingual Collection (10 paperbacks); $46.33 Cuddled and Carried / Consentido y cargado (5 copies) Babies Nurse / Así se alimentan los bebés (5 copies) Las mujeres en CTIM (Women in STEM Spanish Collection), (30 paperbacks); $158.82 Las mujeres en la biología (Women in Biology), (5 copies) Las mujeres en la química (Women in Chemistry), (5 copies) Las mujeres en la física (Women in Physics), (5 copies) Las mujeres en la ingeniería (Women in Engineering), (5 copies) Las mujeres en la medicina (Women in Medicine), (5 copies) Las mujeres en la botánica (Women in Botany), (5 copies) Animales y sus hábitats (Animals and Habitats Spanish Collection), (28 paperbacks); $152.71 Este es el Sol (This Is the Sun), (7 copies) Así crezco (This Is How I Grow), (7 copies) Mira hacia el cielo y verás cómo el tiempo estará (Look Up to See What the Weather Will Be), (7 copies) Si mi mamá fuera un ornitorrinco (If My Mom Were a Platypus) (7 copies) Single Title Book Sets (Multiple Languages) If My Mom Were a Platypus Collection (paperback); $85 .24 If My Mom Were a Platypus (15 copies) If My Mom Were a Platypus Spanish Collection (paperback); $85.2 4 Si mi mamá fuera un ornitorrinco: Los bebés mamíferos y sus madres (15 copies) Cuddled and Carried / আদরে ও আলিঙ্গরে Englis h/Bengali bilingual Collection (paperback ); $120.30 Cuddled and Ca rried / আদরে ও আলিঙ্গরে (30 copies) Cuddled and Carried / Karese'm epi pote'm English/Haitian Creole bilingual Collection (paperback); $120.30 Cuddled and Carr ied / Karese'm epi pote'm (30 copies) Spheres All Year / Las esferas todo el año English/Spanish bilingual collection (paperback); $158.70 Sph er es All Year / Las esferas todo el año (30 copies) This Is the Sun / Este es el Sol English/Spanish reversible bilingual collection (paperback); $177.90 This Is the Sun / Este es el Sol (30 copies) Looking for titles not yet available on the Marketplace? We're happy to offer discount pricing for customers who are First Book eligible. Contact Ali.Trujillo@PlatypusMedia.com . Download our First Book flyer

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.

Want more children's books? Check out our STEM education imprint. Shop Science Naturally Sparking Curiosity Through Reading STEM Books for Ages 0-14

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.

Coming January 2020 In the world of pediatric care, sleep safety guidelines are controversial and often misguided. Health professionals broadly discourage all forms of cosleeping, which, along with the potentially devastating consequences, makes deciding how and where your baby should sleep both confusing and frightening. Parents who cherish the closeness, security, and warmth of cosleeping are finding themselves conflicted, concerned, and exhausted. Cosleeping, a term which encompasses sleeping in the same room or on the same bed as your infant, is a common parental instinct driven by physiology and seen throughout human history. Despite mainstream opposition, thousands of parents continue the practice, whether intentionally, accidentally, or out of necessity. Safe Infant Sleep: Expert Answers to Your Cosleeping Questions Preorder Now So, 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. By James J. McKenna, Ph.D. | Forewords by William Sears, M.D. and Meredith Small, Ph.D. 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 Oct. 2020) Audiobook available soon on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes Safe Infant Sleep press kit click on the icons below to open the corresponding document introducing: breastsleeping Safe Infant Sleep: Expert Answers to Your Cosleeping Questions is the first book to foreground Dr. James McKenna's concept of "breastsleeping". Drawing on the historic anthropological relationship between breastfeeding and infant sleep, breastsleeping refers to the phenomenon of breastfeeding mothers bedsharing with their nursing child. Here are the basics: With easy access to the breast, babies will night feed without waking their mother, or even fully waking themselves, meaning both mother and child get more sleep. Bedsharing increases the frequency of night feedings and has been known to extend breastfeeding duration. Worried about safety? Breastfeeding moms are physiologically attuned to their babies, and are likely to sleep more lightly, rousing if their babies are in danger. Further reading: Acta Pædiatrica article ScaryMommy.com Notre Dame News 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

Gifts for New Families We have the perfect holiday gifts for new parents! These books make great stocking stuffers too! Breastfeeding Facts for Fathers Choosing to support breastfeeding is one of the most important decisions a father can make. Breastfeeding Facts for Fathers helps new dads understand the pivotal role they play in raising a healthy, thriving child. This fact-packed, fun-filled booklet for new dads answers questions about breastfeeding and becoming a parent. Click to View Breastfeeding Facts for Fathers (Gift Edition) The Gift Paperback Book has the same cover and content as the booklet listed above, but is printed in a nicer book format with a spine (booklet has self-cover, saddle-stitch binding). Click to View Sleeping with Your Baby Sleeping with your baby has been the norm for almost all cultures for almost all ages. Yet, in our modern world, the practice is fraught with questions and guilt. With organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stating that a child should never sleep in an adult bed, parents who cherish the closeness, security, and warmth of cosleeping are finding their hearts at odds with their brains. This book educates, informs, reassures, and defends the potential benefits of cosleeping and how to do it safely. Click to View