Welcome to the World: By the author of The Gruffalo and the illustrator of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

by Julia Donaldson

From two bestselling and awardwinning creators comes a magical, lyrical celebration of babies' first experiences.

From the comfort of home to the adventure of the great outdoors, from family to first encounters with nature, Welcome to the World revels in the joy that comes with sharing this new world with children, and seeing it through their eyes.

A perfect read-aloud story for sharing from Julia Donaldson and Helen Oxenbury.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Growing up
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).

Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.

I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.

Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.

The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.

I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.

One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.

My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.

I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.

Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.

When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.

Reviews

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This new baby picture book has sweet, rhyming text and lovely illustrations, but it is way too long to read to actual babies. I would rate this higher if the author had chosen fewer scenarios to include to make this the right length.

[Sophie Sanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

This storybook focuses on the senses, people, experiences and places enjoyed by children in their first year of life, and paints an idyllic picture of childhood. Each sentence starts with the word 'welcome', creating a warm and friendly tone. This is enhanced by the colourful illustrations in which the characters have wonderfully expressive faces. However, I would argue that the characters and experiences contained within the story do not reflect the diverse socioeconomic contexts, cultures, and familial structures and found in most school catchments. Sadly, there are many children whose early years have not been filled with the tea, scones, parties and beautiful green spaces which are described and illustrated in this book. I would therefore be hesitant to recommend this book widely - only after a careful consideration of a school's context and catchment would I read this book to an EYFS class.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet poetic story about all the things that a new child will get to experience in this crazy, but beautiful thing called life. While I enjoyed this I did think it was very simple (which isn't bad) but to the point, I felt that I've read this a million times in a million different ways before. Also, the pictures weren't very memorable. They aren't terrible, but there was nothing that really stood out, outside of the cool poem format that I enjoyed. From the little things in life to the big, this book covers a lot. My rating - 3/5

[Erin Buhr]

WELCOME TO THE WORLD The perfect book to read to a new baby in your arms. I love the pairing of Julia Donaldson's rhythmic and rhyming text with Helen Oxenbury's gentle, warm illustrations. The illustrations are full of babies and families of all kinds that little ones will love. The book is light and gentle and full of love. A delight.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like other books that celebrate baby's introduction to the world, this book shows adorable babies of different races and cultures joyfully eating, playing with friends, and being with family. There wasn't anything very new or exciting about this, and it is much longer than it needs to be.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books you can imagine being a popular gift at baby showers. Multicultural families shower love upon their youngest members and celebrate their milestones seeing multiple aspects of the world.

[Annika Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cute, and I love that it features a black mama breastfeeding! It's hard to find books that show nursing, and even more rare to find one with POC, so I was pleasantly surprised to see this!

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scenes of baby’s first year … day, night, jingling keys, seeing shapes, trees and clouds, swinging, finding toes, singing lullabies, granny & grandad…. All told in a delightful rhyme. “Welcome little baby, welcome to our love”

[SamSamSam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this at first for the parallel structure, solid rhymes, and overall concept. But honestly I'm just so tired of the "boys and girls" binary, I don't need any more picture books like that. The illustrations were also really not my taste.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that they included a variety of races and genders as the little ones and the grown ups caring for them, but it felt odd that they had passages for moms, grandmothers, and grandfathers, but not dads.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benvenuta nuova vita e benvenuto a tutto ciò che prende nuova forma e nuovo significato. Libro molto semplice, illustrazioni bellissime e pelle d’oca costante. Benvenuto al mondo - questo mondo è per te.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. But it was a rhyming book. I was quite horrified by the ladybugs and snails eating the plant! My husband and daughter garden, and I don't like when bugs eat their plants. The pictures and plot were okay.

[Pam Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love! This will be a new go-to for gifting to new parents. Love the illustrations and the rhyming text.

[Victoria Whipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oxenbury's beautiful watercolor, guache, and pencil illustrations portray a cast of characters with a range of skin tones and hair colors/textures. A lovely welcome for a new family member.

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a cute book for a baby storytime, but I will have to do a lot of selection/editing to make it the right length. It's much to long for the intended audience.

[Kelly]

I think this is a great book to give to parents for them to read to their children. It even grows with them from baby to first birthday.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet, rhyming book about welcoming little ones into families. It could be used for adoption also.
A nice gift for anyone welcoming a new little one into their family.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storytime Themes: Baby and Me, Family

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet.

[Y.Poston]

a sweet introduction to exploration
of love & life on this earth!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to give as a baby shower gift!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rhymes are good; this is an easy shower gift that a new parent will appreciate reading to their newborn. But it's kinda long, and far from unique. Shrug.

[Clarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely bedtime read aloud to a baby or young child.

[Mari]

The world welcome felt a bit too repetitive and the rhyme felt quite simple.. which is fine but it went on for too long.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. 18 month old liked it too

[Lynnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect baby and toddler book. not very many words on a page and the words were very soothing. Helen oxenbury has such a wonderful soft style. the rhymes were fine

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Instead of a creative animal adventure, this is a sweet welcome to any and all babies. It really brings back memories of all of the babies we've had.

[Great Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a loving poem celebrating babyhood’s simple joys, Julia Donaldson evokes all the senses and savors the preciousness of little one’s first experiences. Paired with Helen Oxenbury’s iconic watercolor and ink illustrations of cuddly babies and their adoring families, this picture book makes the perfect gift for young families. Reviewer 8

[Vonnie Skaggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Donaldson and Helen Oxenbury together!!!
What a stellar combination and what an absolutely gorgeous book they've compiled. Helen Oxenbury's water colour illustrations are so lovely along with Julia's rhythmic text.

This book is a SUPER gift idea for any family with a new baby. The sweetest welcome for a baby in to life and all of the charm's of it's first year.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhyming text.
A glorious introduction to a baby's world. Diversity in characters, including body size, and a parent and baby using sign language.