What if you told the birth of your child in a book?

Every birth, every coming into the world is different. So different that sometimes, as parents, we can have a little difficulty telling it to those who have arrived in our lives like a tsunami. PMA, caesarean section, prematurity, all this can be a little complex to understand for a child, who would nevertheless like to hear how he arrived in the family.

But what if you let a book help you find the words? This is what Camille Decroizant, former editor, did, creating Bam Badam, a completely customizable work. A tailor-made book with soft illustrations, which will allow you to relive the event that shook yours.

Interview with Camille Decroizant, creator of Bam Badam

Madmoizelle: Can you introduce yourself?

Camille Decroizant. I’m Camille Decrozant, author, mother, and founder of Bam Badam, personalized books that tell each child’s story.

How did the idea to create Bam Badam come to you?

Camille Decroizant. The idea was born at the same time as my daughter Alma, in 2019. Alma arrived thanks to a long journey in PMA and with my wife Aurélie we wanted to pass on her story to her. We then looked for children’s books in bookstores and libraries… and we never found them.

I realized that, apart from very traditional routes, it was difficult (if not impossible) to find a suitable medium to tell your story to your child. PMA, prematurity, caesarean section, interrupted pregnancy, surprise baby… These themes are not present in children’s literature, except in some specialized books. And if we also try to recognize ourselves in the family model, it is mission impossible! So I left my job at a large publishing house to embark on this great adventure.

Why this name?

Camille Decroizant. I gave myself a summer to find the perfect name for this project. My friends and family were very creative, but I hadn’t put my finger on the name yet. And one morning Alma put her ear to my heart to listen to the rhythm and said “bam badam, bam badam…”. It was just this, this universal and unique heartbeat, just like every birth: Bam Badam !

These books are completely customizable and allow children to understand the story of their birth. Do you think it is important to tell them everything for their own construction?

Camille Decroizant. I am convinced that children must be told everything so that they can grow well. Their story belongs to them and it is important that they know it. Even if some topics seem difficult to us, children can hear everything. Obviously you have to choose the words and the level of detail, but they are capable of accommodating everything. Passing on your roots to your child is the greatest gift you can give him.

In today’s digital age, why did you want to create a paperback?

Camille Decroizant. I have always loved children’s books, which I like to admire, sort by color and browse. Digital has its advantages, but it doesn’t offer the same moments of sharing as paper books. I am thinking in particular of the pleasure of reading in the evening with your parents before turning off the lights, so conducive to exchanges and discussions, away from screens. It was also important to me that each child could be visibly represented in her library. It is a powerful symbol to see his amazing story in such a beautiful printed book.

How do you create a customizable Bam Badam book?

Camille Decroizant. Simply go to the website www.bam-badam.fr and fill out the personalization questionnaire to order the children’s book. The Bam Badam team then custom-writes the story and emails it to parents within 5 days for validation before starting printing. And if it’s a gift, a gift certificate is available.

From an ecological point of view, are the books produced using an eco-responsible approach?

Camille Decroizant. This is in fact an important value of the project. The books are entirely made in France, between Paris and Nantes, and are printed on recycled paper by our certified partner Imprim’vert.

Can you tell us about the illustrations that are created in the books?

Camille Decroizant. These illustrations are the work of Elena Baudier-Melon who brought these adorable little quokkas to life, in gouache, in her Parisian laboratory. Together we imagined a fully inclusive model, available in text and images to suit all families and backgrounds. This collection of illustrations grows little by little to tell more and more stories.