Waiting for Baby

by Annie Kubler

Waiting for Baby is a story without words which follows the forthcoming birth of the new baby brother/sister, from the scan and buying new toys to decorating the playroom and visiting mum in hospital.

Genres: Childrens

14 pages, Board Book

First published September 1, 2000

Reviews

[Lil Old Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel weird saying I "read" this book, seeing as there are no words, but here we go. I loved the illustrations, and it was a nice way for my daughter to visually see what happens as mommy gets ready to have the new baby. But when I borrowed it from my library sight unseen, I was hoping for some words, a story she could hear me read and then we could talk about. That wasn't this book, and that's ok, it's just not what I wanted.

[Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel sightly cheeky saying I've read this book, when the only words involved are on the cover, but I felt it deserved a review. There are no words inside the book whatsoever, but the pictures are quite special in illustrating how a child might experience a mother's pregnancy. It does not include anything about how a child might experience life once the baby's arrived so you would need a separate book to look at that. As there are no words, Waiting for Baby is best suited for a parent explaining the pictures - or, indeed, asking the child to express what they see in each event depicted. The pictures consist of:

- mum, child, and cuddly toy bunny take a nap with child curled up around her bump
- mum, dad, child and bunny are looking through a baby catalogue
- mum is weighing herself and child is weighing himself with a doll stuffed up his jumper (I remember a lot of this from my nephew when his sister was due - he'd stick a teddy under his t-shirt, fall on the floor and go "owwwww!" and yank the teddy out - quickest labour ever bless him lol). The child actually looks quite shocked at his "pregnancy" weight which I find rather hilarious. I expect a mum to be or two knows that facial expression!
- mum is having her blood pressure checked by a doctor while child supervises
- mum is having an ultrasound and the technician is showing child the baby on a screen. They all look very excited in this one which is sweet.
- child is excitedly carrying a heap of baby toys, romper suits, teeters, bibs etc over to a rather shocked looking lady behind the till (perhaps because he's trailing toys behind him as he goes?!). The child isn't tall enough to really see over the counter. He looks so small and sweet, bless him!
- child has his apron on and he's helping his mum decorate the nursery, holding the frieze while she sticks it on the wall.
- dinner time! Dad arrives with a dish while child waits to serve up the food. Mum and bump put their feet up with a nice drink. Seems fair to me!
- child helps dad build the cot
- dad phones (presumably the hospital) while child and bunny rush to meet nan and grandad who have just arrived
- child, his cuddly toy bunny, and nan wave as dad helps a somewhat solemn looking mum into the backseat of the car with an overnight bag
- nan, grandad, child and bunny have been to bed and are woken by a phone call at 05:55 AM. Nan and grandad look excited, child looks sleepy and a bit grumpy
- dad brings child carrying a pressie and a massive bouquet of flowers into the hospital room
- mum lies in bed and cuddles child in one arm and baby in the other while dad and child meet her. Baby has received a bunny rabbit of her very own.

A lot of info packed into fourteen board book pages, all ready for you to ad lib whatever information suits your situation. A good buy.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent board book for introducing younger children to the idea of a new baby coming. Illustrates some of the changes during mom's pregnancy (lap is smaller, for exampler = ), and what the new stuff is for baby, all the way up to the hospital when baby is born.
No words, so you can emphasize different things each time and vary the telling to keep their interest.

For the next stage, of understanding what life will be like once new baby has taken up residence (and so much of mommy & daddy's time), get a copy of Joanna Cole's I'm a Big Sister or I'm a Big Brother - also excellent!

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great chance find for us as William's due date approaches. This book has no words. Instead, it is a series of ten or so pictures showing this family getting ready for their new baby. Some of these worked very well for us, including the doctor's office and the grandparents coming. Since Natalie is still so young, the parts about preparing the room weren't meaningful for her. She did ask to read the book several times.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a wonderful precursor to this baby being born. Even though it has no words, just pictures, we are able to talk about all of the pictures and what happens in order. Now Porter is praying for grandma and grandpa to come so that mama can go to the doctor and get her arm fixed (blood pressure taken) and then he can come and see the baby. It is definitely a good one.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book. There are no words, but that worked out great because we can make up the story as we explain to Christopher about our new baby.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cute book on this topic. Not my favorite, nor my least favorite.