Behold! A Baby
By Jan Carr,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Big brother finds special role in funny new-sibling book.
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What's the Story?
In BEHOLD! A BABY, a dad assumes the role of ringmaster, trumpeting the small achievements of the new baby in the house. Step right up! Baby eats! Speaks! Smiles! The older brother is understandably put out until he's the only one able to translate the baby's babbling -- the baby wants his big brother! -- prompting him to think of all the fun things he can teach his new, malleable sibling.
Is It Any Good?
In this new-baby book, the boom-voiced announcer dad and the boy's irritated retorts make for a fun, theatrical read-aloud with a familiar emotional arc: Boy hates baby, boy learns to love baby. Since big brother is much more accomplished (he can eat two bananas at once, not just one), he's baffled by the baby's appeal and enthusiastic audience response -- until he gets his own acclaim for being "the best big brother ever!" The theatrical setting, funny speech bubbles, and bold cartoon art by Joy Ang bring some lightness to a common family adjustment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what babies can do vs. what older kids can do. What can you do that your younger sibling can't?
What makes this book funny? Can you come up with different funny voices for the different characters?
What kinds of feelings come up with a new baby in the house? Can you love and be angry at your brother or sister at the same time?
Book Details
- Author: Stephanie Watson
- Illustrator: Joy Ang
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
- Publication date: July 20, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 3 - 6
- Number of pages: 32
- Available on: Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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