Guess the Baby

by Simon French, Donna Rawlins (Illustrator)

After Sam’s baby brother visits Mr. Judd’s class, all the children bring their baby pictures to school and have a good time guessing which is whose. But there’s still one picture left over. . . . It’s Mr. Judd! Now the children can imagine their teacher as a baby (complete with mustache). The idea that everyone starts out as a baby—and that babies and kids become grownups—is conveyed with a light touch in this sprightly school story, which acknowledges young children’s fascination with babies and with the idea that even the most revered grownups used to wear diapers. Readers will want to play “Guess the Baby” in their own classrooms.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2002

About the author

Simon French began his writing career as a thirteen-year-old in Sydney's western suburbs, and had his first novel published five years later, while he was still at high school.

In the years since, Simon's writing for children has been published in numerous overseas editions, and in Australia has earned critical acclaim and several awards, including the 1987 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award for All We Know. Change the Locks was an Honour Book in 1992. Where in the World, Simon's first novel in ten years, is published by Little Hare Books.

The characters in his stories often develop from the children he has worked with—from babies and toddlers in an inner-city crisis refuge to the pupils he has taught over many years at primary schools in suburban and rural New South Wales. Simon continues to work as a teacher in a small school in Sydney's rural outskirts.

He is unable to imagine life without good books, interesting music and movies, exotic food, travel to new places, old cars . . . but, most of all, true friends.

Reviews

[Stacey Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a kindergarten class, Mr. Judd asked the students to bring in their baby pictures. They students put their baby photo on the notice board. Each student had to guess which baby picture matched with the student. In this story, Mr. Judd was able to show the students that all we are all different, we all start out as babies.

Simon French’s is the author of this great story book. Donna Rawlins is an illustrator, author, editor, designer, and book packager. All of her books display non-stereotypical cultural interpretation of children in 21 centuries schools.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published 2002.

A good book to be included in a "Who Am I?" lesson.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone was a baby at one time, even adults! A game of "guess the baby" would be fun for any group.

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hilarious book! Help guess the baby with Mr. Judd's class, guess how each kid in thier class look like when they were a baby! S.G.