Where Do Babies Come From?

A parent’s guide to discussing bodies, sex, and gender with young children, from sex educator Kathleen Hema.

In Where Do Babies Come From? Sex educator Kathleen Hema presents a practical guide for parents to navigate conversations about bodies, sex, gender, and sexuality with their children, starting at the age of four. Using Kathleen’s 3-Step Formula, parents will be able to answer any sex-related question their young child may ask in an age-appropriate and medically-accurate way.

You will learn how to:

• Answer sex-related questions without mentioning “sex”—and at what age the word should be introduced.
• Share your values around a topic without introducing shame.
• Discuss gender and sexual orientation with young children.
• Prep children for puberty before it comes.
• Arm children with information and confidence to help prevent child sexual abuse.

Kathleen provides scripts, words, and phrases that you can use to answer difficult questions, but more than that, she breaks down why children ask these types of questions and how parents can answer them in a way that encourages their child’s critical thinking skills and bodily autonomy while laying the groundwork for future conversations around more grown-up topics.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs