Mal Leicester, professor of teaching and learning in the University's School of Continuing Education, has penned Making Miracles, the tale of Ferdy the frog who enlists the help of a young boy called Adam to help find his missing frog spawn and ensure that the baby frogs arrive in the spring time.

Later in the story Adam discovers that he himself was born as a result of assisted conception and that doctors helped his mummy to have a baby in a similar way to the help he gave Ferdy the frog.
Professor Leicester said she believes that children can enjoy learning through stories and that her story could be used to educate, entertain and as a first, gentle introduction to the facts of life.
She added: "I hope that in Making Miracles children will learn that life is a kind of miracle, that all babies are precious and that to help in the creation of life is a wonderful thing to do."

The book, which is aimed at children aged between four and eight years old, has been published by the national charity ACeBabes which was established in 1998 to support families whose children were conceived through assisted conception.

Helene Torr, one of the coordinators of ACeBabes, had her own son Adam through fertility treatment. She said: "This book is for those who want to be open with their children and ease them gently into how they were conceived. We are aware that there are other, more technical, books around, but our aim is to provide a story and a character who can touch on the subject, to be an opening.

"This leaves the explanations up to you. I have used the book to begin to talk to my eldest son about how special he is and also about how people help others to achieve their dreams. I was amazed how the author managed to bring in so many things, so subtly and with the age group in mind. Professor Leicester has a special understanding of children and infertility, so we are very lucky that she agreed to write this book for us."

It is available, priced at £3.95 plus 95p postage and packing, from ACeBabes, 8 Yarwell Close, Derwent Heights, Derby, DE21 4SW.

Notes to editors:
Professor Mal Leicester is chair of teaching and learning at The University of Nottingham. Her professional experience has includes teaching in schools, teacher training and work in parental education. She has published books about education and multicultural stories for children and has written for BBC Radio for Schools.

ACeBabes was formed in 1998 to provide a network of support and advice for families following successful fertility treatment. It has a growing membership both in the UK and abroad and offers a range of support such as a quarterly newsletter, information sheets, regular get-togethers, contact with healthcare services and an active website with bulletin board at www.acebabes.co.uk

More information is available from Professor Mal Leicester on 0115 925 1216, 0115 951 3704 or by e-mail at mal.leicester@nottingham.ac.uk, from ACeBabes on 01332 832558 or by e-mail at info@acebabes.co.uk or Press Officer Emma Head in the University's Public Affairs Office on 0115 951 5793.