Walk On!: A Guide for Babies of All Ages

by Marla Frazee

Trying something new is never easy. Like walking, for instance. But aren't you sick of sitting on your bottom day in and day out? Hasn't lying around all the time become a little bit boring? This handy guide, both practical and inspirational, is here to help. With useful tips, common pitfalls, and Marla Frazee's adorable illustrations, this book is perfect for anyone--from a baby to a graduate to a grown-up--who's about to take a scary first step.

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Self Esteem, Contemporary, Fiction, Coming Of Age

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2006

About the author

Marla Frazee was awarded a Caldecott Honor for All the World and A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever and the Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Picture Book for The Farmer and the Clown. She is the author-illustrator of Roller Coaster, Walk On!, Santa Claus the World’s Number One Toy Expert, The Boss Baby, and Boot & Shoe, as well as the illustrator of many other books including The Seven Silly Eaters, Stars, the NYT bestselling Clementine series, and God Got a Dog. Marla has three grown sons, a Little Free Library in her front yard, and a studio in her back yard under an avocado tree.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

He looks like a baby Tintin! Great instruction guide for the young and old!

[Chadi Raheb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contains life lessons :) <3

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sure, you can read it straight to a baby getting ready to walk. Or gift it to anyone facing a challenge, for example a graduate. But I think the most fun might be had if it's read to (or by!) the older sibling of a one-yr-old. I do love Frazee's art style as an illustrator, and her own books are smart and fun, too.

[David Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for all ages, and this book would be great to read before the children start a new and difficult lesson. It teaches the children that it takes time before someone can master a new skill. You measure your success by the progress that you have made and not your current product.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I also think that it is not just telling you that a baby can leaner how to walk it takes practices. It's telling you that it's okay to fall down but you need to get up and try again.

[Drew Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning to walk can be a tricky and daunting business, but this guide for babies of all ages will help them overcome any hesitation and anxiety and before you know it, you too can be a master at walking!

Blessed was the day we discovered Marla Frazee! Her books are all hilarious and delightful and sometimes heartwarming in a nicely subtle way. This how-to book on the risky but rewarding convention of walking is funny from start to finish, especially for parents of a little one who is just starting to put one foot in front of the other all on his own, and more all-encompassing than it at first seems. The text is humorous but also just right, and the illustrations are bright and engaging (and the character can even be interpreted as a girl or a boy -- we both imagined it as a boy, but that's our world right now). Walk on, baby!

[Kelly Havens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recently introduced to this text and was instantly drawn to its symbolism. This picture book goes through the steps of taking those scary first steps in learning to walk. Frazee’s how-to guide is articulated in a humorous manner and will be just an entertaining as it is practical. Even better, this book is more than just a how-to into walking, but has an underlying theme. If you look to the dedication page, you will find it is actually about Frazee’s son taking his first steps into the independence and learning experiences that happen in college. I would recommend using this picture book when teaching about theme and having the students point out the second time through what Frazee is telling her son on each page.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot express how much I like this book!
It is a motivational children's book that, for all ages, young and old. It can be used for children who are just beginning pre-school or elementary school to the old people who are not sure in certain things in life. Even the title of the book can talk to everyone to “walk-ON”! This book can encourage anyone who reads it to keep their head up and have faith. No matter of the situation, the step maters! Never give up, never stop walking! I want to tell my students that sometimes the school is hard (I do not want to lie to students), but it is possible to make through. I love the illustrations , especially the baby step image! I want to buy this book as soon as I would be able to, and also place on the shelf in my future classroom.

[Jennesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for kids of all ages, even high schoolers! The book is very symbolic to having a tough time and "falling down," so to speak, and getting right back up and fighting through the tough times. Throughout the story, the baby is trying to walk by himself and is having a difficult time trying to do that. He crys and throws a fit but at the end of the book he figures out how to stand back up and take those first few steps and realizes that walking becomes very easy if you put your mind to it! When talking about morals in my classroom, this book would be a great one to fall back on when I need something to symbolize determination and perserverance.

[Erin Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. People of all ages, at different times in their life, going through any kind of change or preparing for something new can easily relate to this book. As a teacher this book can be used to teach kids that you have to take chances and go for your goal. Get up and try. If you fall on your butt a few times get up and try again. Being in a new situation or trying something new can be scary and can make us a little wobbly and maybe even uncomfortable at times but you need to push on and push through that initial fear to accomplish what it is you set out to do. A must have book for my library.

[Jenilyn Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I wasn't really sure how I liked this book because I thought it could only relate to babies. But then as it kept going, I realized that the words not only applied to babies, but could also be applied to any person trying to make their way through life. I found it to be very inspirational and comforting. I liked the positive message of "it's ok if you mess up a little bit, you'll get there eventually" in this book. It would be a good one to read to a classroom towards the beginning of the year.

[Scarlet · Rating 4 out of 5]

From children to adults this book shows how we all learn how to walk. Whether looking at a baby that is learning the physical act of walking, to watching a child learning how to walk in the sense of growing up and trying new things, and even an adult now learing how to walk through attending collage, raising children, and having a career, this book reminds us that everyone falls down sometimes and that we all have to keep trying to get to where we want to go. I would recommend this book fo all ages and for every teacher's bookshelf.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a motivational children's book that, like the title says, is a book for all ages, young and old. It can be used for children who are just beginning pre-school or elementary school, for young adults who are entering college or a new career, or for anyone who is starting a new activity and may feel a little scared or uncertain. It's a fanatastic story that encourages anyone who reads it to keep their head up and have faith in themselves. I will most definitely be buying this book to place on the shelf in my future classroom.

[Katie Jelinek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book focused primarily on the emphasis of a fantastic theme of evolving and growing up as individuals are placed with many obstacles that life may throw at them. As this book serves as a guide for babies of all ages to learn how to walk,with descriptions, encouragement, and advice, it is also a metaphor for anyone, of any age, to understand the fact that before you are ready to conquer anything, you need to learn how to crawl before you can walk. Overall, a good starter book, with a good message.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It is not a book of many words, but the words that are written are simple and to the point. The book uses a baby learning to walk, but metaphorically it applies to everyone. You must fail to succeed. I feel like that is the motto of this short story. I believe every educator and parent should read this book to their students and/or children. Sometimes we all need that little push and encouragement. This book shows how important it is to get back up on your feet, no matter how hard the problem is.

[Priscilla Schelling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that it would be a mistake to judge any book by its cover. This book looks as though it would be for little children but it applies to people of all ages. Baby steps can be taken literally or figuratively in this story. For a child, it can apply to their first steps to learning in each grade. I link the tale to my personal life in that I'm taking very big steps by choosing a career as a teacher and taking the classes necessary to become one. It can also apply to everyone in their own personal way.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows a baby as he or she learns how to walk. Advice for success is given along the way. The advice given is applicable to facing struggles in life.

I think that this book would be a great book to give for a fifth grader moving on to middle school.

In the classroom, I would read this and have students come up with a list of things needed to persevere through challenges. Then I would have students write a response that included a connection of a time they accomplished something in their own life.

This book received the 2006 Parents' Choice Silver Honor Award.

[Nashiea Edmiston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book that can be used for many situations and ages. In it's simplest interpretation, the book details the struggles of a baby learning to walk, it goes on to add the likely obstacles the baby will encounter along the way. The book also provides the listener with natural reactions expected from the baby. The author did a superb job of cueing the reader w/appropriate ways to animate their voice/tone by using different colored font. The metaphor here being that no matter how difficult an adventure may seem, you can get through it and be ok!

[Kelly Thevenot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walk on is an instructional book that walks through the steps of learning how to pick yourself up and walk. It also has a deeper meaning to which it is important in everything you do to keep trying your hardest. Sometimes you may fall down, but you just have to pick yourself up and keep going. Walk On is also a book that includes scaffolding. Young children would pick up on the repetitive words after hearing the story many times. This book would be great for the preschool age and even younger.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a literal "how-to" for toddlers, this book is loaded with humor and appeal. As an extended analogy for taking on new challenges at any age, this could be used with beginning first graders facing so many new demands, for a high school or college graduate, or even for someone embarking on a new career or job change. Frazee's text is perfectly simpler but, as such, they can apply to all of the above. Her toddler images are irresistible!

[Sara DeVinck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a baby taking his first steps and the struggles he encounters along the way. But all the things being described can be used as a metaphor for anything new or challenging someone may be encountering. This is great book to read aloud to any age elementary students especially if students may be encountering something new or going through changes in life. I really enjoy this book and want it for my future classroom.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute. In addition to being a good book for toddlers the 'message" lends itself well as a gift book for those in need of a little encouragement or beginning a new phase of life (i.e. graduation, divorce, recovery from an illness, etc.)

[Kenneth · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to books are always a good read. Like all how to books, reading them are easier than doing what is in the book. This book has clever illustrations and simple wording. Recommend for parents to read to help their child walk.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable. A motivational picture book for everyone. Baby needs to learn to walk, and it has advice like "Only begin when YOU are ready" and "Imagine yourself as already there." Plus, the fat diaper-bottom and bald head of the baby are cuteness.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, I think it's good for anyone about to try something new. I'm not very good about trying new things but I think this book changed the way I think about these things.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

While babies really won't get this book, it is fun for adults or older siblings. And you could use it for anyone who needs a little motivation to do something.

[Sherry Scheline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for new moms. Also a great book for graduates 🎓

Important
don’t look down at your feet.

look toward where you want to go.
Imagine yourself as already there

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A metaphor for life...every adventure begins with a first step.

[Hannah Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book that explains life. In this case the baby first had to learn how to stand without falling, then how to maintain balance, and finally to walk. Usually it takes time for babies to feel comfortable enough to walk. Life is like a stepping stone. We have to learn to understand the world around us with what we know. Careers involve a process. Steps may involve going to college, passing tests, and training in the field. Things may bring us down, but if we stick to the career that we choose, then the end result may be rewarding. The rewarding part in the book is when the baby can walk.

[Morgan Hollen (Marengo, IN) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Walk On” by Marla Frazee was a well thought-out children’s book that had a really good message it was portraying. Since she wrote it to her son who was going off to college, you could tell who her message throughout the story was aimed toward and could foresee what more of it was about. Each of those steps the baby was making was like a metaphor for bigger life situations that her son will experience throughout college. I borrowed this book from my college professor, Barb. I would recommend this book to others.