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Littles: And How They Grow

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In the beloved tradition of Robert Munsch s Love You Forever and Emily Winfield Martin s The Wonderful Things You Will Be comes a beautiful rhyming ode to babies from a New York Times bestselling author/illustrator duo perfect for baby showers, newborn gifts, first birthdays, christenings, and anytime babies are celebrated.
In this unforgettable, squeal-filled, tear-inducing love song to babies and how quickly they grow up, author Kelly DiPucchio s heart-tugging rhyme meets the gorgeous, dimple-cheeked, multicultural babies ofillustrator AG Ford. With adorable scenes from the busy life of a baby peekaboo, feedings, tantrums, giggles and a final scene that reminds us how they become big kids all too soon, this is the ideal gift for any new parent and their child."

26 pages, Hardcover

First published June 13, 2017

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About the author

Kelly DiPucchio

61 books265 followers
Kelly is the award-winning author of several children’s books, thousands of To-Do lists, and a few recipe cards. Two of her books, Grace For President and The Sandwich Swap, were New York Times bestsellers.

Like most kids who grew up in the 1970’s, Kelly had a pet goat and bought all her clothes from the Sears catalog. Like most teenagers who grew up in the 1980’s, Kelly had really big glasses and feathered hair.

Today, Kelly lives with her husband and three children in southeastern Michigan, where she enjoys writing just about everything except her own bio.

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5 stars
215 (31%)
4 stars
261 (37%)
3 stars
190 (27%)
2 stars
15 (2%)
1 star
9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
Profile Image for Orion Kopf.
195 reviews3 followers
April 21, 2018
Cute! My mom liked that it had a nursing mom, a babywearing mom and a lesbian couple who adopted a baby of another race. I liked turning the pages and ripping one, oops.
Profile Image for Abigail.
8,062 reviews272 followers
July 26, 2019
With rhyming text and cute-as-a-button artwork, author Kelly DiPucchio and illustrator AG Ford offer this picture-book tribute to babies, AKA 'Littles.' From the cuddles and embraces that are showered upon them, to the feeding and play they engage in with family and pets, all the love and care they are given is depicted here.

Littles: And How They Grow is a cute book, one featuring a text that reads well aloud, and adorable illustrations that depict a diverse range of babies and families. That said, it does feel more like a book aimed at parents, than at children themselves, especially with that last, nostalgic page reminding everyone that 'littles' grow up in a blink of the eye. With that in mind, I'd recommend this one to new parents, to be read with their own littles.
Profile Image for Jessica.
1,007 reviews
May 2, 2018
Adorable - love how diverse the babies and families are, and it’s a sweet story. Thanks Dolly Parton for sending it!
Profile Image for Barbara.
15.3k reviews314 followers
June 12, 2017
More for caregivers or new parents than for young readers--although they might like looking back at how much they've grown, this picture book celebrates little ones. In rhyming text, the author describes how much love is showered on newborns and little boys and girls as they learn how to crawl and eat. Each line of the text and each illustration is filled with much love and a reminder that just about everyone who encounters those little ones loves them while they are little. The last page is rather poignant since it remarks on the fleeting nature of time and how fast youngsters grow and features four children, no longer little, climbing onto a school bus. Not only is the story charming, but the author and illustrator have included a baby photograph of themselves when they were little.
Profile Image for Katelyn.
1,426 reviews100 followers
September 11, 2017
This book will make you cry at all the sweet ways parents take care of their babies and how fast they grow. Would make a great baby shower gift.
Profile Image for Kelsey.
2,354 reviews66 followers
July 30, 2018
Age: Infants-Preschool (good for siblings)

Beautiful and up-to-date illustrations of baby living including a diverse assortment of babies and grown-ups. Can be shortened for storytimes, if need be.
Profile Image for Angie.
197 reviews6 followers
July 11, 2017
A book that celebrates babies. The illustrations feature mixed and diverse families. The text is simple and straight-forward. This would make an excellent baby shower book.
Profile Image for Rose Rosetree.
Author 15 books461 followers
February 15, 2023
Kelly DiPucchio, I've liked other books by you, but this one is simply too sugary to be true. It makes my teeth hurt and also makes my heart ache.

Every single child who's old enough to sit down for a picture book very likely knows more about life than what's portrayed here.

* Family members who scream
* Unpleasant relatives
* Homeless people on the street
* Illness. Poverty. Alcoholism. Drug use.

ACCORDING TO LEGEND, THE PAMPERED YOUNG BUDDHA NEVER ENCOUNTERED AGING OR DEATH OR POVERTY

He was shielded from life's grim realities. (What he did after that illusion popped for him... is beautiful history.)

As for the rest of humanity, we're not so lucky. Hey, this is "Earth School." We see things. We hear things. We feel things.

How long does it take before we know another child who isn't so loved, nor treated so well. And sometimes a reader of this book knows how it is to live as such a child.

Let's not fool ourselves about that, Goodreaders. (Bet you aren't fooled anyway, being a savvy Goodreader.)

MOST CONCERNING, TO ME

It's well known that children who grow up with tragedy, abuse, and such...

Often they believe that every other family is like the version of childhood that's portrayed in this book.

Which makes THEM abnormal or crazy or both.


LOOK, THE IDEA OF HELPING YOUNG READERS TO LEARN ABOUT HOW BABIES GROW UP?
THAT'S SO IMPORTANT, POTENTIALLY SO BEAUTIFUL.

I'd like to see that as an inspiring book... only one that still describes reality.

By contrast, how did reading this book make me feel? Like I was drowning-and-choking in a giant-sized bowl of Cap'n Crunch "Berries" Cereal.
Profile Image for Baby Bookworm.
1,642 reviews108 followers
November 12, 2017
https://thebabybookwormblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/13/littles-and-how-they-grow-kelly-dipucchio/

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Today’s review is the sentimental and sweet Littles, And How They Grow, written by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by AG Ford, a lovely book of about growing babies.

There are so many special things about Littles (little babies, that is): their little toys, their little smiles, their little clothes that show off their adorable dimpled knees. There are Little books, Little games, and wonderfully messy Little meals. Most of all, there are lots of friends and family who love their Little so very much. And all too quickly, all those Littles, with their giggles and tantrums and naps and cuddles, are not-so-little anymore.

There’s a grand tradition of books about babies becoming big kids, and this is a welcome addition to it. Sweet, simple rhymes and universal reflections on all the magical things about babies create a warm and gentle story that’s fun to read. And the illustrations, in addition to being appropriately adorable, are fantastically inclusive. LGBTQ, multicultural, mixed-race, and non-traditional families are shown raising babies of many ethnicities, and there was a wonderfully welcome illustration of a baby nursing that can help teach children about breastfeeding. The length was great, and JJ adored all the little babies and their antics. A sweet celebration of the joy of watching babies grow, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!


Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
Profile Image for Tasha.
4,165 reviews140 followers
July 3, 2017
This picture book celebrates the first year of a little one’s life. Told in rhyme, the book doesn’t start with the birth but instead has babies wriggling on their tummies, swaddled and warm, and being cuddled close. Baths, food and tantrums appear on the page, filled with bubbles, messes and tears. Reading books and taking walks are also part of the fun as the book then shows how quickly the littles grow big.

This simple picture book is great for new siblings to see the fun that is to come once their new babies get bigger. The book is full of the busyness of having a baby and the joy that comes with it too. DiPucchio’s rhymes are confidence and easy, never feeling forced. The rhythm is lovely as well, rollicking and joyous.

Ford’s illustrations are bright and celebratory. He shows little ones of all races and cultures with mothers and fathers all involved. There is a lovely playfulness to the illustrations that works well with the subject matter.

A bright and warm look at new babies, this one is a great gift for expectant parents or the older sibling. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
200 reviews13 followers
July 27, 2023
Kelly DiPucchio’s easy rhyming couplets make for a soothing read as she covers the ups and downs of the very early days (and weeks and months) of parenthood, when parents and the world are starry eyed over the beauty of babies. AG Ford conveys these times, from feedings to snuggles, tummy time and tumbles, in soft but bright pictures, any one of which could be turned into nursery wall art. Shown with a variety of families including a biracial couple, two women, grandparents and siblings, it hits home that babies and their families are all unique and a child’s all too fleeting innocence should be celebrated while they are young, because all too soon the “littles grow BIG in the blink of an eye.” Perfect to share with kids asking “what was I like when I was a baby?” or maybe families soon welcoming home a new little one.
Profile Image for Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*.
6,111 reviews219 followers
October 21, 2017
DiPucchio, Kelly. Littles: And How They Grow, illustrated by AG Ford. ress, Year. Price. Content:
A book all about little babies and how they play, are taken care of, and loved. From bubbly baths to snug sleepers, to teeth and tantrums, songs and stars. Little ones become big so fast, “in the blink of an eye.”

Illustrator AG Ford does a fantastic job of showcasing all sorts of different parents and babies of different races. The illustrations are as cute and cuddly as a newborn baby. This book is perfect for new parents and for siblings who need to learn what to expect from their new baby.
Pre-K - ADVISABLE. Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
Profile Image for Tracey.
2,252 reviews
January 30, 2018
This picture book is told in rhyme and shows how babies are cared for while they grow up. Dipucchio pens the words while Ford draws the art. I completely loved this book. It is so cute. This would be a great read for toddlers who now have baby siblings. It shows them that they were babies once too and you should look after your brother or sister. The rhyme scheme makes this ideal for a story time. And the art goes along with the words beautifully. Ford did great with drawing all types of families and not bringing attention to it. It’s all love when it comes to families.

But shout out to the scene showing a mother breastfeeding her child. A baby eating should be acceptable to any and every one in all forms of media.
Profile Image for Cindy Dobrez.
736 reviews33 followers
June 1, 2017
When my youngest was a toddler, her favorite books (after Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?) were those featuring babies and jaunty rhymes. This is another loving tribute to babies, illustrated with a diverse cast that makes me smile. Add this to your cuddly read aloud sessions, or to your baby shower gift book list.

New parents will be reminded not to blink...babies grow quickly and before you know it they are boarding a school bus, or in my case, graduating from college.
Profile Image for Bree.
731 reviews26 followers
November 14, 2018
I love this children's book. Me and my mom saw it at Barnes and Noble and read it together and I instantly started tearing up. I've been with my baby cousin a large part of his life and this book perfectly explains how fast they grow up. If you have a little one in your life that just has been growing right before you're eyes. Buy this book for them. You can even buy this book for new parents who might not know yet how fast it all goes by. The family's they featured in the illustrations were perfectly different, because in real life no two family's are the same. Loved it all. A new favorite for me in children's books.
Profile Image for Erika L..
64 reviews
October 10, 2018
I did this for toddler storytime, but I could have probably done this for Book Babies as well. I LOVE THIS BOOK! After reading it, I told the parents and caregivers that I chose this book because it showed families of ALL kinds and it's very important for kids to be able to see themselves reflected positively in books, and it's also important for kids to read about people who look or live differently than them. Books teach children empathy in that way. This book is also great for teaching toddlers about growing up as it shows the littles as newborns and it ends with them as big kids getting onto a school bus.
Profile Image for Becky.
948 reviews6 followers
June 16, 2017
This isn't a mind blowing book, but it's SO super cute! Diverse babies, diverse families, diverse facial expressions, diverse emotional reactions... this book manages to cover just about everything very succinctly. Great for babies who want to see other babies and baby faces, great for new parents who will probably weep at that last page, and ok for new older siblings who need some books with ideas of what to expect from a new baby (though other books are better for that purpose). I'm a sucker for DiPucchio's books, and she continues to deliver.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
852 reviews9 followers
March 7, 2018
I'm not crying.. it's allergies. This is a very sweet book that I'm debating reading in storytime but at the same time I'm not sure that I could make it through reading it out loud to a bunch of littles. I love how this book shows such a diverse number of families- it does a great job representing so many of the families around the world and that's so very important for both parents and kids. The illustrations are adorable and capture the spunkiness of young children and the joys (and frustrations) of being a parent. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Read  Ribbet.
1,823 reviews17 followers
June 5, 2017
Shades of 10 Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, Little is a poetic story that shows the similarities and a few of the differences in infants in different families. Littles is illustrated by AG Ford who chooses to show a mother nursing, a biracial couple and a same sex couple as part of the images in the book. With focus mainly on infants, it might be a better fit for home versus school collections.
Profile Image for Nicole.
293 reviews23 followers
October 18, 2018
This is one of the most adorable books EVER! So cute I can barely stand keeping it to myself. This will now be my go to baby shower gift, especially if it's a second baby, I can just see the new big brother or sister eating this up! My 4-year-old wanted multiple readings of this sweet rhyming text!
I love the style of illustration, but beyond that I also love the variety of children and families and situations.
The feedings, the baby-wearing, the boppy pillow, it brings me right back!
Profile Image for Villain E.
4,096 reviews20 followers
June 2, 2019
I guess, since Everywhere Babies is now adult age, someone decided it was time to do the exact same book for a new generation. Exact same book: rhyming, babies being cute, beautiful artwork, inclusive families. Everything you liked about Everywhere Babies is right here; cute and enjoyable and redundant.

The title is inaccurate. The book is a celebration of babies' adorableness. Only on the last page does it bum you out by reminding you that they grow up.
Profile Image for Jared White.
1,384 reviews36 followers
October 19, 2023
Adorable illustrations and cute rhyming text show littles doing what littles do and how their caregivers love them. This has great racial diversity and it not only shows mother and father caregivers but also grandparents and siblings too.

I think this would make a great gift to a family who's just gotten a little of their own. This would, of course, be wonderful to read to your very own little but I think could also work well in a toddler storytime.
Profile Image for Ang.
617 reviews5 followers
July 19, 2024
Summary: New parents and siblings will love curling up with this unforgettable, squeal-filled, tear-inducing love song to babies and how quickly they grow up. With adorable, dimple-cheeked scenes from the busy life of a baby, and a final heart-tugging scene that reminds us how they become big kids all too soon, this ode to babies is the perfect book for showers, newborn gifts, birthdays, starting kindergarten, and anytime "Littles" are celebrated. - inside left jacket flap
4,112 reviews29 followers
June 10, 2017
Toddlers love books with babies and this one is sure to be a favorite with the really youngest of readers. Adorable illustrations of babies and their great diversity of families all engaged in familiar activities. A nice rhyming text accompanies the pictures and reminds the readers that babies grow up way too fast.
Profile Image for Valleri.
1,113 reviews
June 22, 2017
In this sweet lullaby-style picture book, author Kelly DiPucchio conveys how loved Littles are and how quickly they become toddlers. Incorporating several family types and a diverse collection of ethnicities, this book not only ensures a child knows they are loved but it also helps every child realize they are special and worthy of that love.
Profile Image for Kelly.
8,895 reviews19 followers
July 14, 2017
This book has really nice illustrations. But better than that, DiPucchio keeps up with today's different types of family units. She is so subtle about it that I had to look twice at many of the illustrations to notice them. The story is a neat little rhyming story about babies and their little, young lives.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews