To the Earth and Back

A children’s book based on the stories of Mothers in our programs

Our children’s book, To the Earth and Back, is an extension of the work that we do everyday. Created for the purpose of education, empathy building, and representation for children impacted by parental incarceration, To the Earth and Back takes advocacy to bookshelves around the world.

Inspired by interviews with both formerly and currently incarcerated women, To the Earth and Back was crafted based on the experiences of women who were separated from their children directly after birth. 

From these interviews, we set out to create a story that speaks to the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding mothers who give birth while incarcerated. To The Earth and Back depicts the struggle of separation in a way that’s appropriate for children while presenting parents with a clear and empathetic message that all parents can understand. Pregnancy and childbirth are meant to be a time of love and transformation, not trauma. 

This hardcover book is meant to be read with children ages 3 - 8. Inside, you’ll find a stunningly crafted story that orbits around the love between parents and their children. A metaphor for the limited hours that mothers who give birth in prison are able to bond with their newborns, this book also serves as a positive resource for children that may find themselves separated from a parent whether it be through incarceration, deployment, business trips, or even a first day at daycare.