What do you think?
Rate this book
Tumbleweed Baby
A large, loving family in the 1930s Dust Bowl finds a “tumbleweed baby”—a wild baby—in the plains near their cozy farm home. The baby’s new siblings discover the ways she fits and doesn’t fit into the family, ultimately deciding that her wildness makes her one of them. The rhythm and voice of the text make this feel like a classic tall tale, and it pairs perfectly with the dreamy, warm art from master illustrator Charles Vess.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2014
1 person is currently reading
26 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 16, 2014
I think this book *might* be less creepy with different illustrations. I tried to keep an open mind, but this is a nope for me.
May 9, 2017
love it so much
August 8, 2017
The tumbleweed baby is the child that just doesn't fit in with the rest of the family and can feel like an outsider. It can be a foster child, adopted child, black sheep of the family, or just a child that isn't quite like everyone else in the family and feels apart and alone sometimes. The members of the family in this story make room in their hearts for their tumbleweed babies.
January 25, 2015
I'm not quite sure what to make of this one. What a weird book! Thought the ending would have more emotional payoff.
August 26, 2018
I actually really liked the art, it was a bit whispy but sort of reminded me of old cartoons or even comics, but definitely something I watched at some point as a child.
The kids find a baby inside a tumbleweed and bring her home, and all of them want to keep her [except the smallest girl]. The tumbleweed baby is wild, and energetic, and a force of nature in the quiet little house. But the family is determined to love her [except the smallest girl]. And they love "almost all the wildness out of her", which I took to mean they loved her until that little house in the sand felt like a home to the tumbleweed baby.
It feels like this is another story where it's trying to teach younger kids, about being accepting of new members of the family, like new baby siblings, adoptive siblings, foster children. But it looks more like the smallest of all girl, as she is the youngest is afraid of being replaced, or losing her place as the smallest girl, because the tumbleweed baby is here to stay, which makes sense with my original statement about what this book could be teaching.
But then at the end, when the smallest girl accepts the tumbleweed baby as part of the family, she tells her she was a tumbleweed baby too [which I feel makes more sense because she actually doesn't match the family, everyone in the family is either blond like dad, or a redhead like mum, but the smallest girl has black hair, and I know genetics doesn't always work that way, but it's a quick way to show kids hey this person doesn't match everyone else, ya notice that]. This confuses me a little, shouldn't she as a previous tumbleweed baby be interested in another tumbleweed baby, like we both came from tumbleweeds kind of connection. Instead she is the most [and only] antagonist of the tumbleweed baby staying.
I think what they were going for was, that the previous tumbleweed baby, now the smallest of the girls, matches the family less than the new tumbleweed baby [the new one has the same hair color and would make sense as being a child of those parents than the smallest of girls; if we're going based on looks alone]. And that the smallest of girls might be worried that this new tumbleweed baby is going to match the family better than she will and they'll love her less, or find no need for her.
It's a very implied thing, I feel that kids will understand the love and tolerance and accepting someone into the family bit, but they won't understand why the smallest of girls was so against the tumbleweed baby staying [especially when they find out she was was a tumbleweed baby too]. Frankly I feel most adults won't understand it the first few reads.
The kids find a baby inside a tumbleweed and bring her home, and all of them want to keep her [except the smallest girl]. The tumbleweed baby is wild, and energetic, and a force of nature in the quiet little house. But the family is determined to love her [except the smallest girl]. And they love "almost all the wildness out of her", which I took to mean they loved her until that little house in the sand felt like a home to the tumbleweed baby.
It feels like this is another story where it's trying to teach younger kids, about being accepting of new members of the family, like new baby siblings, adoptive siblings, foster children. But it looks more like the smallest of all girl, as she is the youngest is afraid of being replaced, or losing her place as the smallest girl, because the tumbleweed baby is here to stay, which makes sense with my original statement about what this book could be teaching.
But then at the end, when the smallest girl accepts the tumbleweed baby as part of the family, she tells her she was a tumbleweed baby too [which I feel makes more sense because she actually doesn't match the family, everyone in the family is either blond like dad, or a redhead like mum, but the smallest girl has black hair, and I know genetics doesn't always work that way, but it's a quick way to show kids hey this person doesn't match everyone else, ya notice that]. This confuses me a little, shouldn't she as a previous tumbleweed baby be interested in another tumbleweed baby, like we both came from tumbleweeds kind of connection. Instead she is the most [and only] antagonist of the tumbleweed baby staying.
I think what they were going for was, that the previous tumbleweed baby, now the smallest of the girls, matches the family less than the new tumbleweed baby [the new one has the same hair color and would make sense as being a child of those parents than the smallest of girls; if we're going based on looks alone]. And that the smallest of girls might be worried that this new tumbleweed baby is going to match the family better than she will and they'll love her less, or find no need for her.
It's a very implied thing, I feel that kids will understand the love and tolerance and accepting someone into the family bit, but they won't understand why the smallest of girls was so against the tumbleweed baby staying [especially when they find out she was was a tumbleweed baby too]. Frankly I feel most adults won't understand it the first few reads.
March 15, 2018
SO GOOOOOODDDD!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2018
it was really good
August 27, 2019
I got this as the illustrator was Charles Vess. The story was good and heart warming.
June 15, 2015
The Upagainstit children are walking home from school when the biggest boy is knocked right down by a tumbleweed.
Yes, Upagainstit. Say it out loud. UP-against-it. Get it? Good. Now back to the story.
The Upagainstit children are walking home from school when the biggest boy is knocked right down by a tumbleweed. Out of the tumbleweed sticks a foot. When he takes a closer look, he discovers that nestled inside is a “wild-all-over baby.” Against the better judgement of the littlest girl, they take her home to their falling apart house.
The littlest girl is sure that keeping the wild baby is a bad idea but Mama knows what has to come first — this baby needs a bath. It seems that bathing a tumbleweed baby is a lot like bathing a cat and soon water and soap are everywhere. Dinner isn’t much calmer and bedtime? Bedtime is something else.
At this point, Mama and Papa are pretty certain this isn’t going to work. But the biggish boy wants to keep her – it will make him stronger. And the smallest boy knows that chasing after her will help him be the fastest at recess. The not-so–big girl needs the practice so she can be a teacher.
Papa still isn’t sure but then Tumbleweed Baby snuggles up close and he’s a goner.
I’m not going to tell you how the littlest girl and Tumbleweed baby reconcile. It’s just to “Awwwww.” You’ll have to get the book and read it yourself.
Charles Vess used colored ink and pencil to crate the illustrations for this book. His picture remind me somewhat of the murals of Thomas Hart Benton in the Missouri State Capitol. Somehow the pieces are both larger than life, but so down-to-earth and real that you can almost feel the grit.
This is definitely a story for every wild child who doesn’t easily conform as well as the people who love these active, strong-willed children. Frankly, I think it would make an excellent gift for the first grade teacher who didn’t even flinch when my own pointed out that he didn’t have time to read, thank you very much. But it would make a good gift for patient teachers, moving parents and classrooms who nurture all of the special children who find their way inside.
Originally reviewed on The Bookshelf (suebe2.wordpress.com).
Yes, Upagainstit. Say it out loud. UP-against-it. Get it? Good. Now back to the story.
The Upagainstit children are walking home from school when the biggest boy is knocked right down by a tumbleweed. Out of the tumbleweed sticks a foot. When he takes a closer look, he discovers that nestled inside is a “wild-all-over baby.” Against the better judgement of the littlest girl, they take her home to their falling apart house.
The littlest girl is sure that keeping the wild baby is a bad idea but Mama knows what has to come first — this baby needs a bath. It seems that bathing a tumbleweed baby is a lot like bathing a cat and soon water and soap are everywhere. Dinner isn’t much calmer and bedtime? Bedtime is something else.
At this point, Mama and Papa are pretty certain this isn’t going to work. But the biggish boy wants to keep her – it will make him stronger. And the smallest boy knows that chasing after her will help him be the fastest at recess. The not-so–big girl needs the practice so she can be a teacher.
Papa still isn’t sure but then Tumbleweed Baby snuggles up close and he’s a goner.
I’m not going to tell you how the littlest girl and Tumbleweed baby reconcile. It’s just to “Awwwww.” You’ll have to get the book and read it yourself.
Charles Vess used colored ink and pencil to crate the illustrations for this book. His picture remind me somewhat of the murals of Thomas Hart Benton in the Missouri State Capitol. Somehow the pieces are both larger than life, but so down-to-earth and real that you can almost feel the grit.
This is definitely a story for every wild child who doesn’t easily conform as well as the people who love these active, strong-willed children. Frankly, I think it would make an excellent gift for the first grade teacher who didn’t even flinch when my own pointed out that he didn’t have time to read, thank you very much. But it would make a good gift for patient teachers, moving parents and classrooms who nurture all of the special children who find their way inside.
Originally reviewed on The Bookshelf (suebe2.wordpress.com).
February 3, 2015
Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum
A large, loving family in the 1930s Dust Bowl finds a wild baby in the tumbleweeds. In some ways she fits perfectly in their family and in others, she doesn't at all. The youngest daughter is especially wary of her. Eventually, the entire family warms up the the Tumbleweed Baby, but not before questioning whether they should return her.
The setting of this story was interesting and unique, written in a fun dialect and not something that you see every day. At first, the illustrations didn't draw me in, but I found them growing on me as the story went on. My real problem with the story was in the 'aboutness'. At first, I thought this would be a cute adoption folk-like tale. However, when the family starts to discuss whether they should just return the tumbleweed baby, I instantly knew this would not be an appropriate book to read to a child in foster care or who has been adopted. These kids already have a lot of abandonment issues and worry about fitting in with the family. The idea that their family, or even one sibling, would not like them and their behavior would make their parents think about returning them is no bueno.
A large, loving family in the 1930s Dust Bowl finds a wild baby in the tumbleweeds. In some ways she fits perfectly in their family and in others, she doesn't at all. The youngest daughter is especially wary of her. Eventually, the entire family warms up the the Tumbleweed Baby, but not before questioning whether they should return her.
The setting of this story was interesting and unique, written in a fun dialect and not something that you see every day. At first, the illustrations didn't draw me in, but I found them growing on me as the story went on. My real problem with the story was in the 'aboutness'. At first, I thought this would be a cute adoption folk-like tale. However, when the family starts to discuss whether they should just return the tumbleweed baby, I instantly knew this would not be an appropriate book to read to a child in foster care or who has been adopted. These kids already have a lot of abandonment issues and worry about fitting in with the family. The idea that their family, or even one sibling, would not like them and their behavior would make their parents think about returning them is no bueno.
September 27, 2014
I kept wondering why the 'littlest-of-all girl' didn't sing, feel sad, cheer and wanted to name her Sauerkraut even though she did not like it, not even one little bit.' Very satisfying ending when we find out why!
Illustrations reflect the dusty setting. Some of the proportions are odd - sometimes the Tumbleweed Baby looks more like a troll or muscle-man. Does this signify her wildness or strength?
I wonder why they tried to name Tumbleweed Baby and on her naming day she named herself while the others apparently did not have names - did each of them chose their own? If so, why weren't the names used?
Younger listeners to the story would probably not need a lesson in what 'upagainstit' means, but older children could explore it in depth and see how the illustrations portray that concept.
Illustrations reflect the dusty setting. Some of the proportions are odd - sometimes the Tumbleweed Baby looks more like a troll or muscle-man. Does this signify her wildness or strength?
I wonder why they tried to name Tumbleweed Baby and on her naming day she named herself while the others apparently did not have names - did each of them chose their own? If so, why weren't the names used?
Younger listeners to the story would probably not need a lesson in what 'upagainstit' means, but older children could explore it in depth and see how the illustrations portray that concept.
November 8, 2015
I was rather underwhelmed by this book. The idea of a baby found in tumbleweed who causes all kinds of problems (but is ultimately loved and accepted into a family) is charming and has much potential, but I don't think that the author quite managed to fully plumb the story or the characters. Vess' artwork was also surprisingly tame, considering that he usually works so well within the subjects of wild magic and young children. Maybe if the story had been more developed then the art would have been able to be more effective as well.
January 13, 2015
What do you do with a wild child? Can you love the wildness right out of them? When you have love to give another, should you hold on or let go? Deep questions like these are tucked away in this beautiful book--cannot get enough of Vess's illustrations!--which Madam and I enjoyed last night. Guess everyone has to answer these questions in their own way.
November 3, 2014
I am digging the use of dialect in this, it makes for a really fun read aloud. Though, I'm not really sure what the message is here. Is the tumbleweed baby a metaphor for something? An adoption folk tale? I need a serious author Q&A here.
March 12, 2015
Lame story with uninteresting pictures. I don't know why so many think Charles Vess is such a big deal. Way overhyped, in my opinion. And if he is so good, he shouldn't associate himself with below average books like this.
December 6, 2015
Tumbleweed Baby (2014-Picture Book)
I was very confused with this book. I think it was meant to be a story about adoption and family but it was poorly written. The ending was very rushed. The illustrations for the book was okay, nothing extraordinary.
I was very confused with this book. I think it was meant to be a story about adoption and family but it was poorly written. The ending was very rushed. The illustrations for the book was okay, nothing extraordinary.
February 9, 2016
Except for the first page, which states this story is set in Nowhere, Texas, the book doesn't seem particularly Texas-y. The story could just as well have been set in any 1930s prairie, dust-bowl state.
October 23, 2014
Weird and endearing. Love the illustrations.
October 31, 2014
fun language in this book.
April 15, 2015
I bet it's liked better in Texas. I'm just not getting it so much. I like the illustrations, though.
May 16, 2015
Not quite what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it. A sibling tale.
May 22, 2015
Such a fun book by Anna Myers. Love seeing her venture into the picture book category after such a successful career as a middle grade historical fiction writer!
June 13, 2015
Great Vess illustrations, as always.
October 27, 2015
Another Story Time success. Parents and kids are both sucked in and the illustrations are just...GUH. It reads so beautifully and the illustrations are award worthy.
October 12, 2015
This is a lovely story about creating a family with a touch of sibling rivalry thrown in. The title invites those unfamiliar with tumbleweeds to engage in a bit of geography.
May 20, 2015
Both the 7 & 2 year old like this one...and so do I.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews