About the Author

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. and is a commentator for Public Radio, International. Her articles have been published in People, Parenting, Mothering, Parents, Baby Talk, Family Fun, Nurturing, and the Washington Post. She lives in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC, with her husband, Tony Gualtieri, their three children, and four cats and a dog. She can be reached at

Reviews

"Washington fifth grader Zaydek Michels-Gualtieri celebrates being a brother with two sisters in I Was Born To Be A Brother (Platypus, 2003, ages 4 to 7, $18.95). The first person narrator knows it is his job to teach his little sister all the important life skills, such as how to eat ice cream with a straw and how to make the right noises for certain toys. In a voice both playful and honest, the narrator admits to getting mad sometimes at the troublesome tyke. He outlines his plan to build a catapult to send her to the planet Xeron. But at the end he relents, saying that his sister makes him the "best brother in the whole wide world." A charming book about the sibling bond, with Daniel Liegey's illustrations conveying some of its pleasures and pitfalls." -- Mary Quattlebaum Washington Parent, March 2004 "Written by ten-year-old Zaydek G. Michels-Gualtieri, I Was Born To Be A Brother is the charming true story of a young boy who adapts to having a little sister around the house. Despite their rivalries, there are siblings who know and love one another. Full-color illustrations by Daniel Liegey and an accompanying CD with the story and music make for a cherished and strongly recommended children's picture book tale about "siblinghood" -- and is especially meant to be shared among siblings." Midwest Book Review, Oregon, WI Preparing for a new baby is one thing, but it's a different challenge to address the concerns of the baby brother or sister who has been around for a while. Written by a sixth-grade girl, I Was Born To Be A Sister is an autobiographical story. It describes the author's journey from her initial delight at the baby brother's birth, to her dismay at his sometimes frustrating toddler behavior, to her happiness as she realizes how he looks up to her and the responsibility that implies.I Was Born To Be A Sisterwould be especially appropriate for slightly older children frustrated with a toddler sibling. The illustrations are delightful and astute readers will enjoy looking for subtle references to breastfeeding, such as the magazine the mother is reading, the nursing mother at the swimming pool, or the nursing fashions worn by the mother. Additionally, follow-up activities and a song can be found at the publisher's Web site, cited on the book's cover. New Beginnings, Monthly Magazine of La Leche League, Jan/Feb 2003 Written by the author when she was an upper elementary student of about ten, this book extols the virtues of being a big sister: making her baby brother smile, rocking and singing to him, and playing in the bathtub. But as her brother moves into toddlerhood, the joys are replaced somewhat by annoying behaviors like crashing, screaming, and breaking her toys. However, when she goes to school, he eagerly greets her return, helps with school projects, and begins to appreciate andemulate her many talents. He even shares his red candies with her. Ramsey's cheerful paintings show family life as it is with lots of details of a child's life. Just right for talking about being a sister and encouragement to those embarking on this complex but rewarding role for the first time. -- Susan Helper Children's Literature Comprehensive Database Every day this week, Baby and her family are visiting animal friends at locations near their home. Family trips are fun, but she can't help napping. When she opens her eyes, she gets a glimpse, a look at an animal. The reader guesses, where are they? Where would she see a beautiful butterfly on a flower? Where would she see a dolphin swimming? Turn the page to see the entire scene. With clear, bright photographs and simple text, children are introduced to an aquarium, a nature center and other places they can learn about animals. At the animal shelter, Baby meets a special animal, a dog, that becomes part of her family! An added game for the reader is finding the baby doll and apple that are cleverly included in every scene. Part of the Look What I See! Where Can I Be? series. -- Barbara Kennedy CLCD, July 2002 A walk around the neighborhood seen through the eyes of a baby in a sling, this book is illustrated with attractive, glossy photographs, and written with interactive text. Each page presents a new day of the week, with baby waking up from a nap and seeing something: "On Wednesday, I fell asleep in my sling. When I woke up, I saw a fish. Where was I?" On the question page is a picture of a fish. The following double-page spread reveals a photo of baby and mom looking into a big fish tank... at the aquarium! Our children love the rhythm of the words and questions, as well as the photographs and the mystery of finding out where baby has awoken. -- Soltera Books This story is about Zack, and how he copes with being in the middle of two sisters; one older and one younger. Zack shows the reader how he wants to be older when he is with his big sister but enjoys acting like the baby with his younger sister. It is tough being caught in the middle though, and Zack shows us that is can also be a wonderful place to be.This story gets 4 hearts. -- Jane Deskis Heartland Reviews, March/April 2003 Zack in the Middle is a delightful book about a seven year old boy who is surrounded by an older sister and a younger sister. Told from a middle child point of view, the book examines the good and not so good points of being the one in the middle. The story leaves you with positive feelings of Zack being surrounded by love. Written as an easy reader, this book is a good addition to beginner reader collections for libraries and classrooms. Colorful drawings, a limited vocabulary, and no more than two sentences on a page, make this an excellent choice for an emerging reader who also happens to be a middle child. -- Susan Emdin Osmun Montgomery County, MD Elementary School Librarian 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 mammalswhether human, bear, bat, giraffe, seal, or shrewall 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, Auhor I was absolutely ecstatic when I discovered If My Mom Were a Platypus. Not only did I love it, but my grandchildren shared my enthusiasm. They savored the book and eagerly brought it to school to share. Dia Michels has filled a long, empty void in reaching out to children with the message of normal birth and breastfeeding. Children are not yet clouded by the years of false and mythical indoctrinations that surround childbirth in adulthood. These tales of their favorite animals show them the normalcy of breastfeeding and the power of motherhood. Brava, Dia Michels! -- Kitty Ernst, CNM MPH DSc., Mary Breckinridge Chair of Midwifery, Frontier School of Midwifery & Family Nursing, National and International Consultant to Birth Centers "Unlike most animals that only belong in one habitat, this book can thrive in many. Advocates and professionals in maternity or parenting, early childhood, literacy, bilingual language immersion, and science professionals can use this book to engage their audience. It is especially exciting that the Teacher's Guide is designed to support the Next Generation Science Standards." -- SueAnn I. Bottoms, Assistant Professor, Science Education, Oregon State University Nurtured and Nuzzled is a richly illustrated exploration of the animal world that promotes attachment and vocabulary in two languages. As a science educator, I appreciate the variety of animal species depicted with accurate, yet artistically vivid, detail. As a teacher of bilingual, early learners in Mexico, I appreciate the rhythmic and direct bilingual text that will ensure the students are actively reading. The kids will enjoy reading this engaging book over and over again. The comprehensive Teacher's Guide contains engaging, thought-provoking, and age-appropriate activities, along with a whole stable of beautiful animal photo flashcards and worksheets." -- Brian Lax, American School Foundation of Chiapas, Tuxla-Gutierrez, Mexico