Baby Animals

by Garth Williams

Written and illustrated by some of the best children's book authors and artist,Little Golden Books are known by their gold-foil binding and by the pleasure they bring to children.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Animals, Fiction, Classics, Kids, Juvenile

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Garth Montgomery Williams was an American artist who came to prominence in the American postwar era as an illustrator of children's books. Generations of children picture their favorite fictional characters as drawn by Garth Williams. Thus the unforgettable dapper mouse, Stuart Little, or the kindhearted spider, Charlotte and her pig friend, Wilbur. And many other animals (bears, dogs, kittens, crickets) fantastic creatures (elves, fairies) and children and grown-ups in books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, George Selden, Charlotte Zolotow, Else H. Minarik and many others. Garth Williams was also the writer of seven children's books, like Baby Farm Animals, but it is primarily as an illustrator that he will always be remembered. His most controversial book was Rabbit's Wedding, written and illustrated by him in 1958, for it stirred racial issues.

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just saw a Goodreads member review a Golden Book, and I couldn't resist! I promise - this will be the only one I do! I still remember reading this book as a child with such fond memories. The text is sweet, and the illustrations of these baby animals are adorable! I still remember the cute little baby raccoon! I highly recommend this one for the young ones in your life!

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Garth Williams’ illustrations

9/2012 For Naomi
7/30/2017 Read with Julia
8/11/22 Read with Charlotte
11/1/22 Read with Charlotte
2/28/23 Read with Charlotte
8/7/23 Read with Skylar
2/5/24 Read with Skylar
5/29/24 Read with Skylar
9/30/24 Read with Skylar
10/8/24 Read with Charlotte and Skylar

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute illustrations. Very basic facts about baby animals, fun book for little ones who likes animals.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood favorite. Exactly the right mix of simple and informative. Probably one of the very earliest reasons I eventually studied biology in college.

[Kelly Kosinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing cuter!!

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found a box of books from my childhood. Of Course I had to sit down and go through them before packing them away again. Loved each and every one of them.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The introductions to the various types of animals are done well, and the illustrations by the legendary Garth Williams are everything that I have come to expect from him. This book is actually the first one that I have read which was both written AND illustrated by Garth Williams, and it is a debut that I awaited with much interest for quite a long while. Each drawing of the animals is carefully rendered with beautiful precision in thought, perfectly allowing for the inherent glamor of the animal to shine through in unobscured clarity.

This is a fine book selection for young readers, or fans of great illustrations (and, in particular, for fans of Garth Williams).

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are very cute, but not much else appealed to me in this book. The bear who wants to join the circus was cringey. Some of the animals don’t look anything like the real thing (tiger and lion look like kittens). Some of the animals are just random with no traits of their own (skunk watches another animal do something). It’s not really organized into farm animals vs. zoo vs. pets vs. woodland or anything like that, which doesn’t seem like the ideal layout to me. There’s definitely better stuff out there today (really this is how I feel with most golden books...), but would probably appeal to children who really like “cute”.

[Christy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book to read to kids so that they can learn about baby animals and what they do.

I always enjoyed this because the baby animals were so cute and loveable.

The squirrel, Chipmunk, Kangaroo, Rabbit and the lion and tiger babies were my favorite in the book.

The illustrations were wonderful as well and colorful.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The arrangement felt really random to me. Allie liked the monkey page, but otherwise
didn't seem too impressed.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently started going through books from my grandmothers, reading ones both I remember and those I don't but are very old while I was babysitting a friends kid.

This is one I am don't remember this one being read to me but reading it I like it and can tell a big difference from books for children of today then those over 35 years ago.

[Shellie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a wonderful children's book

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy Garth Williams artwork.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a darling book except for baby bear wanting to join the circus! Yikes! I can almost not recommend it because of that.

[Stacey]

1956. Older copy but not that old

[Leah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very classic and simple.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a cute little book that’s a good bedtime story for the kids.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute pictures. It will go into the classroom library.

Q2020 book.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah. Even my inner child was bored, except when she was annoyed at the bear who wanted to perform in the circus.

LFL find.

[Everett · Rating 3 out of 5]

There wasn’t really a story to this one. It just said a sentence or two of different animals and what they do.

[MacK · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me: fine, very dated and awkward.

Alex: baby animals are so cute!

Owen: too long, where's pictures of baby me?!?

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites as a little tyke.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations of baby animals and factual commentary about them in a story ish fashion. Great for little ones who are listening and learning about animals.

[Remy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the pics. :)

[TJE · Rating 3 out of 5]

liked seeing the cute babies, not totally invested in book though

[Brianna Santucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

1

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little golden book I read to my newborn as he nursed ❤️

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sure I had this book as a child. BABY ANIMALS features the cute illustrations and simple text that are an instantly recognizable as Golden Books.

That said, it is a dated book that I'd not be especially keen to read to the intended audience today. From a modern sensibility, I don't have much good to say about a book whose first line is "Baby Bear holds his toes. He wants to be a circus bear when he grows up. He wants to make all the children laugh." Also, judging by the pictures of Baby Lion and Baby Tiger, it appears as if the author had never seen a photo of a real lion or tiger, ever.

[Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a pre-k children, this book provide illustrations of baby animals and their survival in the wild. I would use this book to explain to children what different animals eat, how they survive from other animals, where they live, their characteristics, and illustrate what different animals look like.