Bye Bye Baby: a Sad Story with a Happy Ending

by Janet Ahlberg (Illustrator), Allan Ahlberg

This is a sad story- but it has a very happy ending.Once, there was a baby with no mummy- but he wanted a mummy very much. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, he set off to find one.Along the way he met lots of new friends, none of whom could be his mummy but wanted to help him find one.When they met a lady with a pram and no baby, the baby finally found his mummy- there was just one more thing he needed- a daddy!A beautiful story about finding your family, it can be used to talk about adoption, fostering and changing families. This Janet and Allan Ahlberg classic is a must for every bookshelf.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Adventure

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 1989

About the author

Janet Ahlberg (1944-1994) was a British children's book illustrator, and the co-creator, together with her husband Allan Ahlberg, of the best-selling Jolly Postman series. Born as Janet Hall in Yorkshire in 1944, she studied at Sunderland Technical College, where she met Ahlberg. The two married in 1969, and began to work together, publishing their first co-venture - The Old Joke Book - in 1976. She won the 1978 Kate Greenaway Medal from the British Library Association - an award recognizing the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject - for Each Peach Pear Plum.

Janet Ahlberg died of breast cancer in 1994, at the age of fifty, having produced many beloved and bestselling books. Her daughter with Allan Ahlberg - Jessica Ahlberg - is also a children's book creator.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odd but pleasant little book about a solitary baby who decides that he is really too young to be doing his own cooking and cleaning and sets out in search of this unknown figure, a "mother". Along the way he collects various non-mothers, including a cat, a sentient wind-up chicken, and an uncle.

Slightly less surreal than it sounds, but still fairly odd as old picture books go.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A sad story with a happy ending."
.....
So then the baby set off down the road - Bye-bye, baby! - with the clockwork hen and the teddy and the cat beside him.
.....
" 'I'm a little baby, ' said the little baby, 'with no mummy. Will you be my mummy?' "
.....
" 'He wants his mummy!' shouted the old uncle.
'Mummy!' shouted the cat and the teddy.
'Cluck!' which meant, 'Mummy!' shouted the hen."
.....
" 'I'm a little baby, ' said the little baby, 'with no mummy.'
'There's a coincidence,' said the lady. 'I am a mummy with no little baby!'
'You were made for each other,' said the old uncle.
Then the baby said, 'Will you be MY mummy?'
And the mummy said, 'Yes!' "

[Ellie L · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd story and one that I wasn't entirely sure what to think of on a first read, and am no closer to knowing what to think having read it a couple more times. Bye Bye Baby is the story of a lone little baby, who, whilst capable of looking after himself, realises that he is far too young to have to be looking after himself. And so begins the journey of finding a mother, and leading an ecclectic group that he gathers along the way. Intriguing changes in family dynamics here, with Baby taking the reins and making all the decisions over the adults that he happens to find. Mainly just a nice note about the importance of a family, regardless of if you can manage on your own or not, and a story that questions traditional roles.

[Natasya Balqis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells a sad story, a baby who doesn't have parents, he really wants to have parents, until he is determined to go alone to look for people who want to be the baby's parents, he meets many people, finally he meets his new mother. , he was helped by many friends he met outside. he continues his journey again to find his new father, this story tells about adopting a child and taking good care of him, and the story has a happy ending

[Peddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far my favourite book as a child and one which I think every child should own. I still have my tattered copy and will occasionally read it again and remember the times it was read to me as a child. It presents themes that are very adult in a very child-friendly way, namely those relating to the pitfalls of a parentless childhood. Janet and Alan Ahlberg wrote and illustrated some of my favourite books and for this I thank them.

[Suzannah Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A baby all alone in the world sets out to find his mother. He meets many characters on the lonely road and gathers a family that's one of a kind.

This book is adorable but also unsettling. A baby all by himself in the world is a scary thing. The illustrations are beautiful, detailed, and melancholy.

I would maybe not use this because of its potential to upset small children. However, it would be good to show diversity of families. I recommend it, but with discernment.

[Michele Brenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book to read to my young son about fifteen years ago.
I ended up reading it to myself over and over.
It is lovely, slightly sinister and leaves you considering what happens next and how it could all have gone hideously wrong but didn't.
A work of genius with extremely cute pictures.
The one of him bringing himself a warm drink at bedtime is adorable.

[Irais Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

El tema es bastante extraño pero me gustó especialmente porque Valeria le puso atención y no cualquier libro logra que se quede quieta escuchando el cuento y no le este cambiando la página por que se aburre.

[Kitkat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wouldn't recommend it for young readers.
The story begins with a baby being left alone, which could be distressing for some children, particularly those with experiences of neglect, and loss. Young children often interpret stories literally. The idea that a baby could be left behind might cause unnecessary anxiety.
The playful illustrations and light tone can mask the darker undertones of abandonment.
There is a risk of reinforcing stereotypes. It plays into the trope of “the unwanted baby” who must seek belonging, which could be painful for children dealing with feelings of rejection or displacement. The narrative trivialises adoption by portraying it as something a child can control or resolve quickly. This may reinforce misunderstandings about the emotional and legal complexities of adoption.

[Cidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah one of my children's favourite books, Bye Bye Baby with its lovely illustrations and equally lovely story although I do wonder why his mother was so careless and where were social services in all this. It reads like a dream and children really get into the story but you have to show the pictures so they can point out the every growing number of people who are helping this little boy. Another one read to small relatives sitting on lawn with mother, my mother, holding court. Actually it was a nice day.

I must have read nearly a dozen children's books sitting on that lawn but I can't remember what they were all now. I'll have to have a little think ah hairy somebody from something dairy was another.

[Sarah Gerard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book rather bizarre and can't make up my mind whether I liked it or not. I am not sure about the concept of a baby going out to look for their own mum/ dad. However, having said that, I am a big fan of Ahlberg's books and the illustrations throughout are brilliant and could definitely be used with the children in an interactive way.

[Lara Girgis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very strange story. The main character is a baby who sets out to find himself a Mummy (and other family members). Could be a useful book to discuss about what it means to be a family (especially with kids in non-traditional family structures). Kids may ask how their own family came to be.

[Georgina Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book since childhood! This story features a baby looking for a mother and he meets so many new friends along the way. Great lesson about finding help in unexpected places and not giving up. A delightful read for parents and children. Lot of cute animal characters here too!

[Lynnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations were lovely as is to be expected in an Ahlberg book! I personally think it's a weird story, but my almost 17 month old loves it. There are more words than he usually likes on each page so he usually only likes it read once which isn't necessarily a bad thing for me!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet cosy story about a baby finding its family. I loved the concept of the baby doing everything for itself but then deciding it would be great to be able to have a mummy and then a daddy.

[Forest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vibe of Wizard Grandpa Stories❤❤❤

[Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janet and Allan Ahlberg succeed again with this sweet and touching tale about a very clever, independent baby. Despite being able to do many things by himself, there comes a time when amidst all the excitement of being very 'grown up', babies want nothing more to then to find their mummy.
This is a story loved by parents and children alike. It's one of those few books I still enjoy as an adult. Aimed primarily at younger children, this book has lovely illustrations containing large, easy to read text so despite the aim of reading together, a child (Key Stage 1) could reread this by themselves.
Not only is there humour and sadness, but a chance for children to think about a concept which brings intrigue and amusement yet slight horror to both parties, strengthening the carer/child bond through reading.

[Emma Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a bit unsure about this book if I am honest. The concept of a baby going out and finding his own mummy and daddy is a bit strange and I am not sure if I like the story or not. The baby goes along the streets looking for a mummy as he has been looking after himself for too long.
However, the story is still lovely with great illustrations. The pictures on each page tell a story on their own and would be great for EAL learners! Clear pictures of a cat, teddy, horse and others that could really allow EAL or SEN children to follow the story without having to read the words. This is such a powerful tool and these illustrations (and others like this) could be photocopied and used around the classroom to enhance learning throughout the school day.

[Paul Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story begins with a sad baby who is really sad because he has no mummy and therefore sets of to try and find one. Along the way he mneets various characters including a cat, a teddy, a clockwork hen and an uncle who do not want to be his mummy but who offer to help him on his quest to find a mummy. Eventually the baby finds a women who has no children and agrees to be his mummy. This leads to all the characters having tea together and reading a story, however the story is about a baby who has no daddy and this leads to another quest to find a daddy for the baby.

Once again the illustrations are brilliant and are very visual to aid learners with EAL and SEN.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're in lovely whimsical Ahlberg-land again, this time for ‘a sad story with a happy ending’, of a baby alone in the world, packing his tiny suitcase and heading out to find a family. He’s really a very small baby (just toddling) and the illustrations are full of pathos as he struggles to fasten his own nappy or brushes the floor with a broom twice his height. The narrative voice is charming and grandparently, oversweetness avoided with the help of the sotto-voce cat who says what the adult reader is thinking– “There’s another coincidence!”

[Mckinley · Rating 1 out of 5]

The idea of this story freaked me out. Finding a cat, a teddy bear and all, that was ok, even finding an uncle, but finding a mom and a dad was weird. If it has been obvious that they all were a family that might have been different.

[Heila]

This is an odd premise to be honest -- a baby lives on it's own, and then sets out to find a mommy -- and I wasn't sure I'd like it. But it ended up working for me, and partly because of the affectionate, softly humorous, somewhat messy illustrations.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es una historia muy bonita y emotiva de un niño que tristemente tuvo que madurar a tan corta edad y se va en busca de una mamá. Enseña, a través de sus aventuras qué es la familia. Viajan y se ayudan unos a otros. Muy linda historia, me llegó al corazón y las ilustraciones están bellísimas.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books when I was a little girl. :]

[Katy W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor baby, all on his own, has to feed and bath himself, even change his own nappy. One day he decides he's too young for all this and sets off to find himself a Mummy.

[Valeria Irais · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este es mi libro favorito no me cansó de el