New parents often don’t have time to read or journal the way they might have before the baby arrived. Karen Kleiman, MSW, created engaging, evidence-based books to provide information, normalize and validate this new stage of life and the challenges that can arise, while also offering opportunities for reflection.

Each book is illustrated like a graphic novel for adults. Each page represents a topic within the chapter’s theme. The book illustrates interactions between people—family members, partners, friends, or the baby—while also showing what the parent may be thinking during the interaction.

Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers

This book offers an overview of many common experiences in pregnancy and postpartum. Chapters reflect on our beliefs about our changing bodies, intimacy with our partners, loss of identity, noticing symptoms of anxiety, anger, or depression, and the transition to managing the responsibility of raising a vulnerable infant.

This book helps normalize mothers’ experiences and reduces the feeling of being alone or isolated in those experiences. Additionally, the book offers a chapter for dads or non-birthing partners to reflect on the impact of their own transition to parenthood. Each page presents evidence-based information and strategies to try in order to support or shift that particular challenge.

What About Us? A New Parents’ Guide to Safeguard Your Over-Anxious, Over-Extended, Sleep-Deprived Relationship

This book provides an overview of the impacts of pregnancy, birth, the postpartum period, and the transition to parenting that couples often face. Chapters explore the changes that can occur in relationship dynamics as a couple welcomes a new baby into the family. Topics include identity, intimacy, worries, division of labour, and changes in roles and expectations within the partnership.

Each theme identifies a common area of challenge and offers evidence-based information to help couples better understand and reflect on the topic, along with strategies to support positive shifts in their experience.