A helpful and practical read for big siblings–to-be.
Cocca-Leffler explains fetal growth by comparing the baby to various plants, animals, and objects, month by month.
Pregnant parents are well versed in comparisons between babies in utero and such measures as a watermelon and basketball, but this board book is geared toward older siblings–to-be. Featuring a cutout window effect, the book begins when Baby is three months. Growth is tracked by month to No. 9, each page featuring a growing silhouette of a pregnant belly and the question “How big is Baby now?” These silhouettes extend further and further into each successive die-cut window so that when the book is closed, there is a rainbow of pregnant bellies visible. Cocca-Leffler does a nice job of choosing items that are familiar to young children, like an egg, a cupcake, and a “jug of milk” (a one-gallon plastic bottle is depicted). Each spread includes several other comparison items, appearing as outline drawings around the page border. Unsurprisingly, the final page marks Baby’s arrival, declaring, “Hello, Baby!” with a simple illustration of a white-presenting sleeping newborn. The colors are bright and appealing, but there are no pictures that include the baby until the very end, which might make the comparisons a bit tough for children to visualize. That said, overall this book makes for a useful tool in helping caregivers explain a new baby’s growth to a young child.
A helpful and practical read for big siblings–to-be. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 3, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4926-9145-7
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2020
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed.
This book presents a simplified explanation of the role the atmosphere plays in controlling climate.
The authors present a planet as a ball and its atmosphere as a blanket that envelops the ball. If the blanket is thick, the planet will be hot, as is the case for Venus. If the blanket is thin, the planet is cold, as with Mars. Planet Earth has a blanket that traps “just the right amount of heat.” The authors explain trees, animals, and oceans are part of what makes Earth’s atmosphere “just right.” “But…Uh-oh! People on Earth are changing the blanket!” The book goes on to explain how some human activities are sending “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere, thus “making the blanket heavier and thicker” and “making Earth feel unwell.” In the case of a planet feeling unwell, what would the symptoms be? Sea-level rises that lead to erosion, flooding, and island loss, along with extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, blizzards, and wildfires. Ending on a constructive note, the authors name a few of the remedies to “help our Earth before it’s too late!” By using the blanket analogy, alongside simple and clear illustrations, this otherwise complex topic becomes very accessible to young children, though caregivers will need to help with the specialized vocabulary.
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed. (Board book. 3-4)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4926-8082-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
A nice addition to this baby-attuned series.
In this newest addition to the Baby Scientist series toddlers are introduced to the basics of what a botanist does.
The book starts with a simple and straightforward explanation of its subject matter: “Who studies plants? / Baby Botanist does!” Wearing a white lab coat with yellow polka dots, a brown-skinned child with a purple hair bow holding up its one little curl proceeds to present a number of simply stated and easily understood plant facts. As with the previous books, the illustrations are colorful, uncluttered, and humorously engaging, and baby has a sidekick; this time it is a blue-and-yellow snail. After planting a seed, Baby wonders what plant will grow. The text explains that some plants have roots and some do not, and they might grow on water or underground. In a simple acknowledgment of a healthy diet, the book states “Baby’s favorite foods all come from plants.” Children are also presented with food they may not recognize as coming from plants, such as noodles and chocolate. In the end, the seed that Baby has planted, watered, and kept in the sunlight “grows into a flower for Mama!” and with that comes a big thank-you hug from Mama.
A nice addition to this baby-attuned series. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-06-284132-2
Page Count: 22
Publisher: HarperFestival
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019
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