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Baby Brother
Mia writes to her grandmother all about her cat and, as an afterthought, her new baby brother.
- GenresChildrensPicture Books
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 18, 2019
I had not heard of Tanneke Wigersma and Nynke Mare Talsma. They are from Holland. I love discovering new authors and artists. I don’t know where their book was set but everything about it, cat and person alike, is familiar to modern homes and families everywhere. “Baby Brother”, 2005, might bear the title of a human’s birth but besides a subject as sweet as that, I bought this beautiful hardcover at a charity sale this April because it was clearly about a cat having a litter of kittens. I love the idea of a little girl writing letters about this momentous, miraculous event to her Grandma. I haven’t had Grandmas since 2001 and cherish my cards and notes from them, as well as one Great-Grandma. I wish we could enjoy Grandparents and our family cats far into adulthood.
The joke is that Mia’s letters and the tender visual portrayals are all about her cat, Stripe, preparing for her children’s birth; whereas announcing news of a newborn brother is added at the tail end. Indeed, in our family, all of our cats are equal family members, who are always worthy of news, notice, and focus! I have twice witnessed the birth of kittens and especially as a grown-up eight years ago, am moved by the miraculous birth of creatures I love dearly. I kept my Mother and her litter these eight years. I also remember the arrival of my second baby brother, who provided our parents’ human Grandkids.
While in town for this sale, we visited my Mom in a hospital. I knew “Baby Brother” was just the kind of brief but bright, cheerful, and colourful book to read for my Mom. She did love it! Let’s please pray that my Mom heals and goes home from the hospital, now too.
The joke is that Mia’s letters and the tender visual portrayals are all about her cat, Stripe, preparing for her children’s birth; whereas announcing news of a newborn brother is added at the tail end. Indeed, in our family, all of our cats are equal family members, who are always worthy of news, notice, and focus! I have twice witnessed the birth of kittens and especially as a grown-up eight years ago, am moved by the miraculous birth of creatures I love dearly. I kept my Mother and her litter these eight years. I also remember the arrival of my second baby brother, who provided our parents’ human Grandkids.
While in town for this sale, we visited my Mom in a hospital. I knew “Baby Brother” was just the kind of brief but bright, cheerful, and colourful book to read for my Mom. She did love it! Let’s please pray that my Mom heals and goes home from the hospital, now too.
February 26, 2021
Normally I don’t rate picture books, but the toddler I was babysitting made me read this book aloud like 5 times in a row so I think this warrants being counted in my yearly reading goal
February 22, 2017
Very cute!!! Great for talking about a new baby joining the family!
August 28, 2020
This book was delightfully cute. It's the story of a girl with a pregnant cat and a pregnant mother, but the whole story is told while the girl is following her cat around. You can see mom in the background, but the narrator is pretty blissfully unaware of her mom, and instead follows her cat around. RELATABLE.
February 25, 2018
An oblique sort of new baby story that would be more useful for a slightly older kid to say that it's okay to have mixed feelings or be a little resentful of a new baby when they understand what is going on than it would be for a younger kid to explain things to them.
November 16, 2009
Steve read it and didn't like it. Cat having kittens, mom pregnant--letter to grandma...may explain cat pregnancy...not so sure about human one.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews