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Ten Tiny Toes

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A tender tribute to the life that awaits each new set of ten tiny toes--featuring heart-warming collage illustrations by Marc Brown and including babies of every size, shape, and color!

Into the world came ten tiny toes,
a hundred times sweeter than one could suppose....

There's nothing sweeter in the world than a baby's ten tiny toes. From tiny feet nuzzled and tickled in the crib to bath time, playtime, and those very first big steps, here is a wonderful way to commemorate the unforgettable moments in a young child's life.

Marc Brown's adorable collage illustrations bring Todd Tarpley's rhythmic text to life in this tender read-aloud. It is a joyous celebration of the unbreakable bond of love that guides a child through each exciting milestone and beyond.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4, 2012

3 people are currently reading
50 people want to read

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Todd Tarpley

19 books20 followers

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5 stars
82 (34%)
4 stars
96 (40%)
3 stars
51 (21%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for Carolynn Spencer.
463 reviews5 followers
May 3, 2024
Absolutely LOVED this delightful board book! I'm saving it here on my Goodreads so I can remember it and include it in baby shower gifts in the future. I found it in the library to read to my 7-month-old grandson and it brought me, my son, and my daughter-in-law to tears. It is a joyful celebration of life! I couldn't recommend this book more highly.
Profile Image for Hillary Barnes.
7 reviews1 follower
November 27, 2018
I could recite this book from memory. I absolutely love it. Our generation’s “I’ll Love Forever”. The artwork is beautiful with the textured cut paper.
Profile Image for Margaret Chind.
3,212 reviews267 followers
November 3, 2012
This is a fabulous picture book and a great one to set aside for gift giving for that new baby, adopted or natural. It's all about those ten tiny toes and how special they are. The imagery is fabulous. The card cuts used to make the images really appear 3D and I expect to be able to put a fingernail behind them, but it's all an illusion captured extremely well in the generation of this book. I haven't met a book by Todd Tarpley before, but grew up as a child watching Arthur on PBS so Marc Brown has a fan in me. I'm delighted to have this book to share with my daughters. My preschooler loves it and points out so many things on each page. This would also make a great board book, although with smaller pages you might lose a bit of the enchantment with the photos, but I'd still buy a copy and then my toddler could enjoy it as well.

*Thanks to LB Kids for providing a copy for review.*

scheduled: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...
Profile Image for Sandy Irwin.
601 reviews7 followers
October 23, 2015
So cute! I love books with babies in it. And it rhymes! Plus it is multicultural, making it appealing to a wider audience.
Profile Image for Diana.
1,475 reviews7 followers
April 10, 2019
How have I never seen this book before??? Seriously! I was looking for something to use for Baby Storytime, and this one was just soooooo cute that I couldn't resist! Yes, it's terribly long for the little ones (I try to go no more than one minute per year of age, and this is a solid 2 minutes, long for a group of mostly 12-18 month old kiddos.) But I decided to go ahead and do this one for the parents, because sometimes that's just nice. As it turned out, the kiddos did just fine, and the moms all "AWWWWW!"ed. So it was perfect.

My only complaint (other than the length) is that the transition between the growing up part and the being grown part is rather abrupt. I had to do a long pause and take a deep breath there to make it feel like it worked. Worth it, though. The book is fabulous enough that even with this little flaw, I still rounded the 4 1/2 stars up to five. Because this is one I would buy for myself if I had a little one at home.

Multicultural cast and a tender story makes this one a keeper.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Conway.
168 reviews157 followers
December 26, 2018
They read this at story time at my local library! I had to hold back tears it was so touching! I loved it so much I checked it out and brought it home to read to my boyfriend and mom. They both loved it. I ended up buying my own copy! This is an awesome book!
Profile Image for Lynn  Davidson.
8,200 reviews35 followers
June 21, 2025
This sweetly illustrated rhyming picture book is about 10 tiny toes that come with the arrival of a new baby. This could be nostalgic for an older reader with children, and it can be funny and something to think about for young children. Lovely.
Profile Image for Alisha.
512 reviews
April 10, 2018
I read this for my son's reading time. It was cute.
Profile Image for Tiziana.
285 reviews10 followers
February 24, 2020
A cute, rhyming picture book about babies and their ten tiny toes...following them from when they're born, to adulthood and having babies of their own.
Profile Image for Helena Borgia.
3 reviews1 follower
November 14, 2021
This book pulls at my heart strings, I cannot read it without crying and thinking of my little babies’ ten tiny toes
101 reviews1 follower
August 7, 2022
"Toes that are little and tender and tasty
toes more delicious than cinnamon pastry."
LOCK TODD TARPLEY UP!
Profile Image for ☼Bookish in Virginia☼ .
1,318 reviews67 followers
September 14, 2012
I don't normally suggest books to gift to new or expecting mothers, but I am going to say that I think Tarpley's TEN TINY TOES would be a wonderful book for you to consider.

Marc Brown's artwork is sweet and warm. But what I really love is how Todd Tarpley follows the tiny toes from newborn to big-kid to parent of their own delightful little one. If you're a parent of a newborn that probably seems like impossibly far away in the foggy future. But as a mom with a 12 year-old, I can tell you that those years pass so quickly. And it isn't very long really until those tiny toes that you kiss are pushing the pedals on a big-kid bike.

As far as using the book in the present, I think TEN TINY TOES will definitely work as a bed-time read as young children usually love the idea of growing up and doing the activities they see older children do. And while it's unlikely that small fry will grasp the concept of having their own children give them a few years and they'll find that a fascinating concept as well.

Cute little book. It's made me quite sentimental.

Pam T~
322 reviews
December 16, 2014
Such a sweet book! This picture book is just right for my 2-year-old as he's beginning to tolerate longer books and is showing a strong preference for picture over board books.

Ten Tiny Toes follows, as you might expect, ten tiny toes as they are kissed and coddled, as they take their first steps, and as they begin to explore the world. My son loves the illustrations of toddlers riding bikes, feeding the dog, and doing all the things that he likes to do "by myself!" I love the schmoopy feeling I get when I read it to him.

Marc Brown (of Arthur fame) does the collage illustrations for this book, and they are so realistic you'll think you can feel the texture of them with your fingers.

This is definitely a favorite for us, and would be a good gift for new parents or parents of little ones.
Profile Image for Laura Simon.
20 reviews1 follower
October 23, 2012
Ten Tiny Toes is all about babies. New babies come into the world every day. They are all rocked, swung, and kissed by the people that love them. The book says nothing is loved as much as a babies cute, little toes. Eventually those toes begin to walk. The babies with those toes get older and learn to do new things. This book sends a strong message about love and family.
I would read this book to younger elementary students. There aren’t very many words on each page and the illustrations are very simple and colorful. I would use this book to teach younger kids about babies. This book would be great for a student that is going to have a new sibling. It teaches them about the importance of a loving family.
Tarpley, T. (2012). Ten Tiny Toes. New York: Little, Brown.
Profile Image for Kate McGinty aka Caryn Caldwell.
434 reviews381 followers
July 18, 2013
Follows little babies and their ten tiny toes as they grow up from kissable newborns, to toddlers, to children who can ride bikes and skate, to parents themselves.

I admit it - this one made me tear up the first few times I read it aloud to my toddler, and she enjoys seeing what all the different babies are doing. The collage-like illustrations are colorful and lively, and the rhyming text has a nice rhythm, which is only occasionally thrown off by the awkward wording used to achieve said rhymes and rhythm. Seems geared more toward sentimental adults than practical children, but still a lovely bedtime story and one that can open up a discussion about babyhood, growing up, and the possibility that these children will one day become parents themselves.
58 reviews1 follower
March 21, 2016
Ten Tiny Toes is about loving a baby. This book is poetic in nature and reads beautifully. It follows the baby (referring to him as ten toes) as he learns to crawl and run and ride a bike. It is a circle story in a sense that it comes back to loving those ten tiny toes again.

I loved this book! It is like the sweetest thing I have ever read. It was so simple, but it made you "feel" love as you read it. The illustrations were also precious!

This book would be great to read if someone was getting a little sibling. It really makes you excited and cherish babies and their journey of growing up.
Profile Image for The Library Lady.
3,877 reviews679 followers
September 22, 2012
Kids do love "remember when" books, but the text is aimed far more at nostalgic parents and is sticky enough to make my saccharine meter quiver. I'm not so sure about the art either--Marc Brown stuff is cute, but there's something discomforting about that baby--it has a weirdly adult face.

Suitable for giving to moms if you want them to think that parenthood is like you see it in the commercials on TV, but I'd suggest giving them a crockpot and an excellent volume of Mother Goose rhymes instead, both of which will truly have value in their mothering lives.
Profile Image for Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance.
6,451 reviews335 followers
September 23, 2012
Who could resist Ten Tiny Toes? The cover alone, with an absolutely adorable baby nibbling on his toes, will sell you on this book.

But there's more. Open the cover and read this gentle tale of a baby, born with his precious ten toes, and learning to use them to walk and run and play, with illustrations from the beguiling Marc Brown….It will charm you and delight you and, if you are like me, ultimately make you cry.

A perfect gift for that new little one. And, perhaps, a new classic.

Thank you to Little Brown for this review copy.
Profile Image for Kasey.
20 reviews4 followers
October 25, 2012
This book is very cute and has really great collage type pictures on each page. It's a very easy read and the rhythm of the words makes it a very easy book to listen to and follow. I think this book would be great for a younger reader such as kindergarten. This book talks about the different memories and milestones that a baby goes through. If the kids are doing a lesson about the body or about some memories they have this would be a good book to read to them to get them started on thinking of some events.

Tarpley, T., & Brown, M. T. (2012). Ten tiny toes. New York: Little, Brown.
Profile Image for Erin Buhr.
Author 4 books41 followers
May 1, 2014
"Into the world came ten tiny toes, a hundred times sweeter than one could suppose" is how this darling book begins. A sweet celebration of adorable baby toes and the joys of watching little ones grow. Todd Tarpley describes in rhythmic language how we adore little toes and watch them grow up and take on new challenges. Marc Brown's playful and colorful illustrations add brightness and texture to the book with their cut paper, gouache, and colored pencil technique. Adorable book for any new parent, infant, or toddler.
Profile Image for Danica Midlil.
1,817 reviews34 followers
November 8, 2012
First, I loved the pictures! Those rolly-polly babies are very appealing. However, the text reminded more of Love You Forever by Robert Munsch Love You Forever in that it's for adults not children. I like some other's suggestions that the ideal audience might be expectant mothers...
5 reviews
July 2, 2013
This book talks about the adventures of ten tiny toes from the day they come on earth up to the day they have their own toes to take care of, a travel from infancy to adulthood. The language is very rhythmic with some new and interesting vocabulary words to learn from. The illustration is colorful with children of different colors showcasing their own set of toes to the world.

Themes: Family, Love, Toes, Body parts, adventure, laughter and silliness
Profile Image for Maddypictures.
298 reviews3 followers
September 15, 2012
Sweet and cozy, this is a wonderful celebration of adorably scrumptious babies. A diverse group of families share one thing in common: a deep and abiding connection to their children. Cut paper, gouache and colored pencil illustrations reminded me a little of Brian Karas. End papers show baby footprints walking across the page. Lovely!
Profile Image for Marianne.
348 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2012
Very sweet rhythmic picture book with lovely illustrations. I especially love the back cover with the baby bending over and peeking through its legs. Nice to read in infant/toddler program and great to give as a gift!
Profile Image for S.
1,106 reviews
February 26, 2014
The illustrations are lovely and the rhyming nature of the book make for a fun read aloud. My 'meh' issue on this particular book is the amount of toe kissing and 'delicious-ness' of feet. I mean, sure, kiss a kid's toes or whatever but you will never sell me on delicious feet.

Profile Image for Catherine Austen.
Author 11 books52 followers
June 13, 2014
Sweet rhyming picture book about loved babies and their adorable toes as they get bigger and on the move. Very nice to read to tiny tots. Love the illustrations, great textures and adorable expressions, especially on the pets.
Profile Image for Amanda.
3,883 reviews43 followers
September 20, 2016
Love this book, but its REALLY long for this age. I would love to read it to my Baby Storytimes and/or my Toddler Storytimes but even if I abridged it, it's still soooo long for those ages. Gorgeous pictures. Very sweet.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews

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