The Gift of Me

'Most kids are made with a bit of their mum

And a bit of their dad, safe and snug in her tum.

But some special kids they need someone else too.

Someone to help them, more than just two.'

This is the story of two families who had never met, and a baby yet to be born. Out of struggle and sorrow came a gift of compassion and love and a new life for a little girl, and her delighted family. Surrogacy is the rarest of gifts. Children born in this miraculous way can hear the story of how they came into the world with this special book written by the mother of a surrogate child, and illustrated by her young cousin.

Emma Wood is a playwright, actor and teacher. She never thought she'd write a children's book, but then she never thought after years of struggle and loss while hoping for a second child that a stranger would reach out and make that possible.

Claudia Moran has always loved drawing and painting. This project took months to complete because she had to imagine drawings that would help tell the story to her little cousin and maybe others young children too. Being only twelve years old and a published illustrator is something that will be in her heart forever.