When it comes to surrogacy, one of the best things you can do before beginning your surrogacy journey is to learn as much as possible. Understanding the surrogacy process not only sets realistic expectations but also helps you feel confident and supported every step of the way.

Books can be an excellent resource for anyone curious about surrogacy — whether you’re an intended parent, a surrogate mother, or simply someone trying to understand what the experience is really like. There are countless great books on surrogacy, but not all are equally helpful. Some focus on personal narratives and the true story of families who built their lives through surrogacy, while others are practical guides for navigating the emotional and legal sides of the journey.

In today’s post, I’m sharing a roundup of 3 great books on surrogacy that I recommend. Each one offers something unique and can help you — or someone you love — prepare for this incredible family-building path.

The 3 Best Books on Surrogacy

In this post I’ll share the books I think every intended parent or surrogate should consider reading. These books can help you better understand the experiences of intended parents and surrogates, provide guidance on explaining surrogacy to children, and offer practical advice for navigating the complexities of modern family building.

What To Know About Surrogacy

Surrogacy Is a Journey for Everyone Involved

Surrogacy doesn’t just impact the intended mother or intended father. It’s a process that includes the surrogate mother, her family, and the child who will one day learn their surrogacy story. Books can shed light on each perspective.

Books Help Explain Surrogacy to Young Children

Children’s books are a wonderful way of explaining surrogacy to little ones. Stories that use gentle metaphors, like the kangaroo pouch, can help young children understand their origins with love and simplicity.

Different Books Serve Different Audiences

A book for surrogates will offer encouragement and insight to those considering becoming a gestational carrier. Other books might serve as guides for intended parents, packed with practical details about how to find a surrogate or navigate the surrogacy process. And then there are memoirs or children’s books — heartfelt accounts that capture the beauty, heartbreak, and triumph of real-life surrogacy, or try to explain the concept to little ones.

What Are the Best Surrogacy Books

Here are three books that stand out as excellent resources for anyone wanting to learn more about surrogacy:

1. Everything Conceivable: How the Science of Assisted Reproduction Is Changing Our World Paperback by Liza Mundy

A fascinating exploration of how advancements in assisted reproduction — including surrogacy, egg donation, sperm donation, and IVF — are transforming modern family life. Mundy weaves together research and real-life experiences, making this book invaluable for intended parents and surrogates who want a big-picture look at the social, ethical, and emotional dimensions of surrogacy.

2. The Kangaroo Pouch: A Story About Gestational Surrogacy by Sarah A. Phillips

This beloved children’s book is a classic for explaining surrogacy to young children. Using the metaphor of a kangaroo pouch, the story introduces how a surrogate mother can lovingly carry a baby for another family. It’s a gentle, age-appropriate way to share a child’s surrogacy story and is highly recommended for intended parents looking for tools to begin the conversation early.

3. Surrogacy Was the Way: Twenty Intended Mothers Tell Their Stories edited by Zara Griswold

This collection of stories from intended mothers gives voice to women who turned to surrogacy to grow their families. Each narrative is raw, personal, and honest — making this book a powerful reminder that no two journeys are alike. For anyone considering surrogacy, this anthology is both validating and encouraging.

Books can’t answer every question, but they are a wonderful starting point for anyone preparing for or already in the surrogacy journey. Whether you’re searching for a true story to inspire you, a book for surrogates to guide you, or a children’s story like The Kangaroo Pouch to help explain your child’s beginnings, these great books offer support, wisdom, and hope.

If you’d like to learn more about the process itself, I recommend reading this post: what is gestational surrogacy process. Together with these books, it will give you both the practical and emotional insights you need to feel prepared.