Baby Brains: The Smartest Baby in the Whole World

Baby Brains

by Simon James

Simon James's story about the smartest baby in the world will have little ones howling with laughter and may have big ones smiling wryly with self-recognition.

It's never too early to start bringing up the smartest baby in the whole world. So thinks the expectant Mrs. Brains, who reads to the baby inside her tummy every night and plays music and language tapes to her baby during the day. And soon enough, Mr. and Mrs. Brains have their very own Baby Brains! He reads the paper, fixes the family car, and works as a doctor in the local hospital. Now even the space program is calling on him. Is there anything Baby Brains can't do?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Humor, Fiction, Storytime, 1st Grade

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 2004

About the author

Simon James is the award-winning author-illustrator of many children’s books, including such favorites as DEAR GREENPEACE, LEON AND BOB, and the Baby Brains series. His stories often concern a child’s relationship with the natural world. Simon James lives in England.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a school librarian, I read this book (as well as Baby Brains Superstar)every year to my first graders and it is by far THE biggest hit of the year. In fact I read it early on in the school year as everyone wants to check it out over and over and this gives them the whole year to get their hands on it.

For myself, my favorite thing about the book are the illustrations. Baby brains is absolutely the cutest. And the premise is pure fun. It opens your mind up to imagine this situation happening in real life and how absurdly funny it would be.

A book that deserves to become a classic!

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cute, clever story about a baby whose parents are raising him to be the smartest baby in the world. As a mom, I appreciated the satire of the weird competitions parents get into with each other and the impacts it can have on kids. My own kid was delighted by the sheer silliness that results from Mr. and Mrs. Brains’s efforts. Ultimately their aspirations are, quite literally, brought back down to earth, and the heartwarming ending will reassure both little kids and parents that they are perfect just the way they are.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We recently read Baby Brains and RoboMom and when I posted my review here, I discovered there were three books about this charming little guy. So, of course, we had to check them out.

This was a fun story that describes Baby Brains's first days and shows how incredibly smart he is. I love that the story depicts that no matter how smart, successful, educated or talented a child is, he is always allowed to want his Mommy (especially when he's only a few weeks old!)

The illustrations are fun and the story is entertaining. We enjoyed reading this book together and we will have to look for Baby Brains Superstar: The Smartest Baby in the Whole World at our local library next.

[Margo Tanenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby Brains is a hilarious story about Mr. and Mrs. Brains, who make sure to read to their baby and do whatever they can to make sure the baby is smart while he is still in utero. When he is born, he is so smart that he goes to school at a day old, then goes to medical school, and finally becomes an astronaut, all while still in diapers. It is a foregone conclusion that Baby Brains, despite his smarts, still needs his mommy, but the story is told with such wit and humor that you can’t help but love him and his family.

Part of a series based on classic picture books, this gift pack includes a full-color hardcover picture book, a disc which is an animated DVD of the book on one side, and audio on the other (complete with page-turn signals so children can “read” on their own), as well as a colorful activity pack consisting of a poster and stickers themed to the book.

[Laura Noto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a picture book for Kindergarteners to Third graders. It is a book about a baby born to Mr. and Mrs. Brains that is the smartest baby in the world. He is able to read the newspaper, go to college, and even help with a space mission. This baby is so smart that he can practice medicine and complete other adult tasks under a year old, but something happens in the end of the book that makes the reader remember that he is still just a baby. The problem is quickly resolved with a comforting and humorous ending. The pictures in this book are large and colorful. The plot is funny yet familiar for all children to read.

[Edna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Brains' baby is the smartest baby in the world! Their prenatal care involved reading books aloud, playing classical music and listening to the news while Baby Brains was still in vitro.

In a matter of weeks, Baby Brains learns to read, fix a car, attends school, finishes medical school and becomes a surgeon. It's no surprise when scientists call and ask Baby Brains to help with a space mission.

When does Baby Brains and his parents decide enough is enough? Simon James, author of Baby Brains, offers a hidden message, with a sense of humor, for parents who presume too much.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a silly book that kids love to listen to and some adults definitely need to hear - your child may be smart, but they likely won't be performing brain surgery next year. So, don't encourage too much too soon. All babies really need to be successful is your unconditional love and comfort.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest and entertaining books I have ever read. My fellow staff member and I had a real chuckle over this re-issue of Baby Brains. This would make a really terrific book to gift new parents!

[Danielle Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Baby Brains is one cute and clever baby; going to college, becoming a doctor, and getting invited to help with space missions-Baby Brains can do it all! Or can he? This witty book will get you chuckling!

[Miss Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baby Brains is so smart that he moves through typical child milestones in days as opposed to the months it takes a normal baby. Before you know it he's finished school, college, and is a practicing doctor. What will happen when he is recruited to be the first baby in space?

[Nasrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember fondly getting this book when I was in year 2 and my teacher would read it to us as a class, and we were so eager to find out what would happen next! This book is amazing for its illustrations; they really do bring the book to life! Any key stage 1 classes would be highly recommended!

[Maren Prestegaard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not love this book even though it was in Trelease's handbook.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite cute.

[Rhian Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a funny story to start conversations on what we want to be when we grow up!

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby is born super smart, goes to school on day two, college on day three. Gets a space mission after the weekend. And decides he wants his mom!

[Kathleen Vincenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's a fun read aloud, read again book.

[Melissa the Librarian]

Even the smartest baby still needs mommy from time to time!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby Brains is a genius, but he still needs that something that we all need...

[Willow Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another book I loved as a child, so when I saw it at my grandma's house when I went to visit, I just had to read it again! Little Baby Brains is so cute.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the watercolor illustrations in this whole series! Extra amusing for those parents, like myself, who tried all these quirky ideas to help their baby be smarter while expecting ;).

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

My class thought this was hilarious - 3*

The one thing I love about Y1 or it might be just my class, they LOVE reading. Like they are hooked on every single word...

[Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious for me & dada. Both 4 & 2 yo love it even though most of it is over their head.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids all (12, 10, 6, 4) wanted me to read this over and over again! Cute and funny.

[Felicity The Magnificent · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, there was a mom and dad that were just about to have a baby. They wanted to make sure their child was going to be very smart. They were very excited when they had him. The next morning when Mrs. Brains was going down the stairs, she heard strange noises in the living room. There baby was reading the morning newspaper. In the afternoon their baby was fixing the car. In the evening Baby Brains spoke his first words. "I'd like to go to school tomorrow," he said. At school the next day, Baby Brains answered all the questions. When they were going home from school, Baby Brains asked if he could go to college and study medicine. After just two weeks Baby Brains began working. One day, space scientists called and asked if Baby Brains would like to join their next space mission. One day Baby Brains said goodbye to his mom and dad and blasted off into outer space. Everyone held their breath as they watched Baby Brains take his first spacewalk. Ground Control asked Baby Brains how he was feeling on his first space mission. He looked at the whole world and mumbled something. Ground Control couldn't hear him. Then he shouted, "I want my mommy!" He was flown home as quickly as possible. Then he finally saw his mom and dad. Then Baby Brains asked if he could go home. His mom gave him a nice warm bath which made him feel a lot better. Mr. Brains tickled him. From that day on Baby Brains spent most of him time at home doing the things that most babies do. Except, that is, on the weekends. He still helped out at the hospital. -by Felicity

[Kid Lit Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Babies seem smarter each year, so it’s no surprise when a genius is born. A real, out-of-the-womb ready-to-show-its-smarts kind of genius. Mr. and Mrs. Brains son, Baby Brains, is the real deal. His first day home, he reads the newspaper—before age 1-week! Later that day, Baby Brains shocks his daddy when he fixes dad’s clunker of a car. And, by evening Baby Brains speaks his first words. A genius? You bet.

Baby Brains is hysterical for new parents and a great gift. For kids, maybe not so much. Kids who are smarter than the average bear, or who tend to be clever and say clever things, Baby Brains will seem familiar. The big takeaway, for both kids and parents is a simple one, yet often forgotten: Kids of all ages, no matter how smart or ahead of the class, need time to . . .

I'd love to end the year with loads of comments and/or likes. If you are interested in Baby Brains, and read the review at KLR, please at least click on the like button at the end of the page. If you choose to comment, I will reply. To read the full review and see interior illustrations, go to: http://bit.ly/BabyBrains2016

[jacky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up because it looked kind of cute. We always kid how Natalie is a genius, so I thought the extremes of this book would be fun. I knew going into it that it would be a book for me, more than for her. However, now that I've read it, I think it is a book for parents, not children. The age it is targeted at won't get the satire about the parents trying to make their baby smart before birth. Also, young children won't understand how absurd the baby's capabilities are, unless they have a baby sibling. For me, I walked away feeling this is a book for pushy parents about not over stimulating their children. If it was an adult book, I'd give it a higher rating, but for its target audience of children, I wasn't impressed.

[Annie Carbutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. and Mrs. Brains want to ensure that their soon-to-be-born child is very smart, so they prep him in all the trendy ways. But when Baby Brains is born and progresses from school boy to doctor to astronaut in a matter of weeks, everyone learns that what he most needs is to just be a baby. This book has a great story line and fun, expressive pictures. Because of the light-hearted, easy-going style of the book, the moral behind the story does not come across as preachy, but rather, amusing and well-put. This is a great book that I definitely intend to read to my children one day. Kids need to be kids, not geniuses. Well said.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a super cute and funny picture book about a baby who is crazy smart! On his first day home from the hospital, he reads the newspaper, fixes the car, and asks to go to school.

The story was very cute, I liked the simple illustrations, and I think kids would get a real kick out of this story. The climax of the book comes when Baby Brains gets sent to space - my worst fear!!

Anyway, I can definitely see myself reading this to my class. Maybe they could write about other things that Baby Brain should do!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. and Mrs. Brains are the proud parents of Baby Brains, a super intelligent infant who reads the newspaper, fixes the car, and learns to talk on his first day of life! After going to college on his second day and becoming a doctor, he is asked to go on a space mission where he discovers that he only wants his mommy! Life settles into a normal baby routine after that...except for the days he goes in to help with surgery! Great read aloud! Students could suggest other goals for Baby Brains and might be a good gift for new expectant parents!