In this Q&A, award-winning children’s author Susanne Gervay speaks candidly about her new picture book Guess How I Was Born – a joyful, science-informed celebration of the many ways families are formed. Inspired by her own family’s experience with IVF and surrogacy, the book centres on love, honesty, and inclusion, while reflecting the diverse realities of modern family life.
Susanne also addresses the growing controversy surrounding the book, including its removal from some schools and libraries, and shares why she believes stories like this are not only appropriate for young readers, but essential. What follows is a powerful conversation about representation, belonging, and the role children’s books play in helping every child see themselves – and their family – valued and accepted.
What is Guess How I Was Born about?
“Every child is a miracle in Susanne Gervay’s truly glorious Guess How I Was Born, a book of joy, wonder and science, and endless love as well.” Jackie French AM. Through the voice of Violet Rose, Guess How I Was Born is a picture book that explores diverse families and all the conditions that make a family from nuclear, step, adoption, sole, LGBTQ, IVF and every way.
Why did you decide to write it?
The story behind Guess How I Was Born came from my daughter’s journey to have a baby. Tory has kidney disease since 19 and could not carry a baby without life-threatening challenges. Her eventual decision was for IVF and surrogacy. I supported her with her decision.
She began the difficult process at 30. It was complex with 6 failed IVFs. The USA provided us with hope. It was here our Violet Rose arrived. We love our multi-generational family. There is no secrecy in how Violet Rose was born. Assisted fertility gave us our miracle. Violet Rose knows we love her so much. The array of families that make up Violet Rose’s world, make up ours.
You mentioned that some schools and libraries have banned the book. What reasons have they given you for doing so?
We are supposed to believe in diversity, equality and inclusion. But that’s not always true. Some schools have placed a ban on Guess How I Was Born especially because of including LGTBQ and IVF children. Yet they are integral to our diverse society. We celebrate National Family Week, yet not all children are welcome. I want ALL children and their families to be welcomed and accepted.
What do you think of these bans?
I thought everyone would celebrate Guess How I Was Born. Such a joyful, funny, inclusive picture book. Both I and the illustrator Carolyn Daly love our IVF grandchildren. I was crushed by it being banned in schools and elsewhere. Receiving emails from my speakers’ agencies banning Guess How
I Was Born denied us the joy of relating to kids and parents. Denied parents embracing their family being just the way it is. Denied inclusion of all children and families.
Titles like Guess How I Was Born have been removed from some libraries, schools and bookshops, due to inappropriate content, related to race, sexuality and social justice. But every child and parent needs to acknowledge who they are – adopted, step, nuclear, sole parent, LGBTQ, blended families, multi-generational, IVF and all the variations. Children seek to identify themselves. In the pages of Guess How I Was Born, they are accepted and celebrated.
Why do you think it's important for books like Guess How I Was Born to be available to students?
Every family needs to be accepted. On National Families Week, are we supposed to exclude children born from two mums or dads? Are we supposed to exclude parents who use assisted fertility? Are we supposed to reject diverse families? What about adoption, step families? What about parents from different ethnic backgrounds?
We are a mix-master community and I love that. Australia legislated for same-sex marriage in 2017. Australia also funds IVF. Are these children supposed to keep their birth a dark secret? It is never a secret. Every family is about love. It needs to be there in schools, to open discussion, share their unique family with us all.
Southern Natural Parenting Network wrote “Children will recognise their own family situations brought to life in this book… creating a fun atmosphere for this tricky concept and will provide a welcome resource for classrooms discussing family.”
ReadPlus wrote that it is invaluable for students and classrooms.
“Many educational institutions have removed the book due to its themes of race, sexuality, and social justice. Guess How I Was Born aims to reflect the realities of various family structures, including adopted, step, nuclear, LGBTQ, and single-parent families, emphasising the importance of acceptance and celebration of all family forms.” NewsMico
Diversity, equality, inclusion are part of our National School Curriculum and we need to support this, to develop empathy, tolerance, care, discussion because students are our future.
If some schools and libraries have banned Guess How I Was Born, what can people do to support you?
I rarely ask for help but I am now. Please:
Share this interview, so everyone can understand Guess How I Was Born.
Review Guess How I Was Born for our kids and us.
Order a book for your local library.
Buy a book.
Do a poll.
Let’s make this a campaign for INCLUSION.
Purchase Guess How I Was Born:
- Guess How I Was Born Published 2025 by Larrikin House ISBN 9781923345102
- Guess How I Was Born by Susanne Gervay | 9781923345102 | Booktopia
- Guess How I Was Born : Gervay, Susanne, Daly, Carolyn: Amazon.com.au: Books
- Guess How I Was Born – Gleebooks.com.au
- Guess How I Was Born by Susanne Gervay & Carolyn Daly – 9781923345102
- Guess How I Was Born by Susanne Gervay | Harry Hartog – Harry Hartog Bookseller
- Guess How I Was Born LarrikinHouse
- Guess How I Was Born Tasmania
All bookshops can order Guess How I Was Born
About Susanne Gervay
You'll find Susanne planting 3000 mangroves in Kiribati; in Istanbul speaking to 1000s of kids about NO bullying and her I Am Jack books; in remote indigenous schools bringing literacy to kids; in a juvenile detention centre sharing story with girls who deserve a future; from pre-schoolers to young adults across Australia and internationally. Writing children’s books has taken her to remote areas to spread the importance of story.
Awarded the Lifetime Social Justice Literature Award by the International Literacy Association, a nominee for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award with an Order of Australia, Susanne Gervay is recognized for her literature on social justice. Her granddaughter Violet Rose has become the new advocate for inclusion through her joyous picture book Guess How I Was Born. Susanne is passionate about including all children and families into the story of acceptance.
