Baby Knows Best

by Kathy Henderson

Offers preschoolers an amusing picture book as baby decides to pass by all the fancy toys in the room in order to play with a jingly set of house keys.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1991

About the author

Kathy Henderson is an artist, printmaker and illustrator, as well as an author. She has written many books for children of all ages including In the Middle of the Night, The Year in the City, Fearless Fitzroy and The Little Boat, which won the Kurt Maschler Award and was shortlisted for the Smarties Prize. She has also illustrated a number of books herself including And the Good Brown Earth and The Storm which was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal and her collection of poems The Dragon with a Big Nose which was shortlisted for the CLPE Children’s Poetry Award 2014.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS So cute! And TRUE! This simple, rhyming text playfully and sweetly expresses how babies are given so many wonderful toys and clothes and special foods... yet what they really want to do is play with mundane household objects that Mom and Dad use, crawl around naked, and eat what everyone else is eating ;-) Very fun. A few times, I felt that the rhymes weren't entirely seamless, but overall this is a completely adorable story and one that I think most parents and older siblings will relate to!

[susan nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

very cute and funny

[Hamza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was funny because the baby does not want anything

[Asho · Rating 3 out of 5]

This made me laugh as I read it to my baby, because it's so true! All of this baby gear, and all of these well-laid plans, and he always has his own ideas. :-) The rhyme scheme didn't always work perfectly so there were some clunky moments in reading this out loud, but it did bring a smile to my face.

[Rachel Yingling · Rating 2 out of 5]

The baby in this book does what all babies want to do. She gets all of these fancy toys and the only thing she cares to play with are the keys. I have seen this with each of my kids so I can definitely relate to this story.

[Joy Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many students have younger siblings or cousins that they can compare the baby in this book too. Also, this book gives a great lesson on how you do not need all the fancy things. The simple things in life are sometimes the best.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when baby throws all her yummies. I love when she plays with the keys. And at bath time, I like when she plays with the old bath plug. (age 5)

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! My four-year old loved this--recognizing himself as the narrator and his baby brother as the star. Cute illustrations, simple text.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny,warm and cute! I read it for Toddler Time.

[Bridget]

This is on the hardcover shelf.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reluctant to read this because of the title. Much to my happy surprise, it is a very enjoyable book.

[Vicki]

A truer has not been written! Any family with a baby would truly appreciate this book. While it was published in 2001, it's not too out dated.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice rhyming, soft pictures. More a joke for parents than kid inclusive but can make for a fun read.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, funny, and so true! This baby reminds me so much of my own.

[Aspasia]

With all the "stuff" baby has, she prefers the simple things.