Welcome, Precious

by Nikki Grimes, Bryan Collier (Illustrator)

Literary award winners Nikki Grimes and Bryan Collier celebrate life, love, and family with this gorgeous new picture book.

"Welcome, Precious. Welcome to the warm circle of your daddy's arms, the slippery kisses of your giddy grandmother, and the cool tickle of Mommy's nose rubbing against your belly button."

Lulling, poetic text and captivating illustrations welcome a new baby to the wonders of the world, from peanut butter to moonlight. A perfect gift for expecting parents, big brothers- and sisters-to-be, or anyone who wishes to remember life's first magical moments.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Fiction, Childrens, Poetry, Kids, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2006

Reviews

[Janice Coney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really can connect with this book on a personal level, especially since I have a ten-month-old son. I love the way the author welcome their baby to the world, family and their love. It was as though the author had stepped inside my heart and wrote it. As I read the book and observed the pictures, I could see small resembles of my son. The illustrator did a great job of focusing on the words of the author, and it was amazing to see how it ended up being a big party for the baby. Which, is what I wanted to have for my son but it just so happened my daughter was graduating within the same time frame.
However, I do feel that this would be a great book to read in class as well to help the children get excited about welcoming a younger sibling or cousin into the family.

This book would be a great book to discuss on how to be excited and happy about a new family member without feeling like they would lose their place in their parent's heart. Even though the book does not go that far into the dynamics of family, it does open the door for discussion.

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful new baby book

[Stephanie Croaning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful picture book to welcome a new baby to the world.

Picture book
Interest level: Pre-K, new parents
4 out of 5 stars

Nikki Grimes has written a beautiful poem that shows family welcoming a new baby. It is full of love and warm moments, and highlights the joy of new life in a family. Bryan Collier's illustrations show the baby engaged with the family in everyday moments, and also special connections between a grandmother and each parent.

This book would be a perfect gift to families expecting a baby, or who have recently had a baby. It makes a good bedtime read with the soft, flowing text and gentle illustrations.

[Grant Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a unique book that welcome a newborn into the world. The newborn is welcomed to the world by the beautiful language in the book. It is so beautiful because the author welcomes the baby to some of the beautiful things in life. And by the end of the book the important things expressed are that the newborn is loved and protected by his/her parents. I liked this book a lot, very lovely.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd love to write a 'Welcome' poem built around the structure of this poem. This is about welcoming a newborn to the world, but it could work for any other scenario as well, like starting school or a new job or moving to a new home or experiencing a new relationship. Collier and Grimes is kind of a dream team collaboration. I'm surprised this book doesn't get more attention for that alone.

[Parker Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome, Precious is by Nikki Grimes, the story contains three main characters baby who has no name and no gender, his/her father, and mother. The parents want to welcome their precious baby to sights, sounds, and snuggles that they will all experience over a busy day.

In the beginning of the book it talks about the world as if there is nothing to worry about and everything is perfect. The parents want their baby to be happy, and to enjoy everything so they paint a perfect picture for him or her.

When the parents take precious out to experience everything during the day they try to explain why things are a certain way. After a exhausting day of showing their baby everything they go home and begin to wash up. As they go through the steps of getting ready for bed they continue to keep explaining to continue precious experiences of new things like bubbles and laughter.

Once precious was done with her bath they begin to hold precious trying to make precious fall asleep. While they where doing this they begin to explain how hopefully if lord willing they will wake up the next morning to experience more happiness, and excitement together as a family. But for now they want precious to rest in a, "love lullaby".

This book was a very welcoming but a easy read. There are lots of great warm feeling moments throughout the book. This being said I have always loved a good book that makes you feel happy and safe. This is why I rated the book the way I did. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read it.

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely book about a new baby and what the world has to offer him/her. Beautiful illustrations, simple text and the love that the parents have for their baby create a solid picture book. I am glad to find this older picture book in my public library and have the chance to read it.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely love the artwork in this book; it's what takes the book from 3 stars to 4.

Per Amazon, ages 2-3

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful family story!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

<3

[Felicia Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book about the simple joys a new baby is going to experience after it's born.

[Marisol Sanchez-Matias · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it is about a baby that is being born. I think a lot of students can relate when a new baby is being born in their household. I would use this in my classroom during a read aloud so students know I care about them and their family.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for many reasons. The first is that it shows diversity in a very good light. The characters in the book are not white, middle class Americans. However, they are shown in a positive light. This will help to bring diversity to a classroom without being over dramatic about it. Secondly, the book is about welcoming a new baby to the world. I think this book would help students that are experiencing a new addition to their family. This might be a brother, sister, niece, or grandson. In today's world we never know. many times elementary students do not know how to handle new family members. I think that this book will help them understand how great babies can be. It will give them ideas on how to welcome their newest family member. It will help them without calling attention to the fact that they are uncomfortable about their family situation. Finally,the pictures are amaing in this book. The detail and the way that the book matches the text perfetly is amazing. The author and illustrator work together to make the story as real as possible for the readers.

[Elizabeth]

I didn't love the illustrations (the people often looked weirdly flat to me -- I think it was an intentional illustration style, but it didn't work for me), but I like all the sensory language of the poetry (sun-sparkle and moonlight, rain-swept earth, the sticky joy of peanut butter, the warm circle of your daddy's arm, the squeaky surprise of a yellow ducky -- including various senses, indoors and outside, actions the baby takes and actions taken on/around the baby).

And I appreciate the mom and dad co-parenting (in contrast to so many images in the media of African-American families).

It also occurred to me on reread that nothing in the text explicitly genders the baby. I was reading Precious as female in some illustrations and male in others; the baby's in a light-blue outfit most of the time, but it doesn't scream AMAB, and has hints of purple at times (and I think the bedtime onesie is light green), plus there's a pink towel in the bath scene, so it's basically going gender-neutral.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Welcome, Precious" by Nikki Grimes was okay. I enjoyed it in that it portrayed an African-American family in a positive light - just enjoying their child, and I believe that it's very important for my daughter to view those types of scenes. However, as I was reading it to my daughter, I noticed the language was a bit "over-her-head." I mean, while the words were simple, there were too many to go with just the one picture, and they did not call for the reader to be interactive at all. I think that, as a result, this caused my daughter to linger more and listen instead of being interactive with the book like she was in "Whose Knees are These" and "Whose Toes are Those" by Jabari Asim just to name a few.
I give it 3 stars.

[Paul Hankins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki Grimes's gentle text is like a love letter to newborns coming into our world. And why wouldn't this make a nice bedside nursery read-aloud as an early experience between parent's and baby?

But more than this possibility is an opportunity to see the world through the lens of beauty and opportunity. And what better place to introduce this sentiment to the whole family than those early read-aloud experiences.

Collier's paintings are simply gorgeous. . .now. . .who do I know that is getting ready to have a baby. . .

[Sadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a criteria for rating baby board books based on different plus points mainly from my son's perspective. For this book, however, I rated high for myself. The illustrations are not as eye popping as most baby book illustrations, but they are artistic...more appreciable to an adult audience. The verse too is not rhythmic or fast paced enough to keep up with an impatient child, but the words are deep, beautiful and heartfelt.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel that this book would be a bit indulgent for a parent to read to a child. For parents, it is touching and sentimental. A perfect time to read this is to a baby. The pictures are lovely for the baby to look at the parent can savor the beauty of the words. For children, I could take it or leave it.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story to read to siblings with a new baby in the family! It is touching and heart felt. Although the illustrations represent an African American family, the words don't specify a specific culture.

[Ms. Isreal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute picture book and a simple story about a young couple who welcomes their new born child into the world. I always like picture books with characters who look like they could be real people and in this book the illustrator uses this type of realism with the illustrations.

[Susannah Goldstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is really remarkable in this book, and the text is very sweet and hopeful. The last few pages of text were a bit too sentimental for my tastes, but overall I think it's a nice picture book. (I would've given it 3.5 if I could)

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a long poem in book form. It is beuatiful.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a family who is welcoming a new baby into their lives. It would be good book for children who have recently had a younger sibling born.
Ages 3-5

[Roseann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story that would make a lovely bedtime tale for a little one. It gives the hope of what the world has to offer and asks that the child only live and be happy.

[Lucia]

Sweet rhymes welcoming baby to the family. Beautiful illustrations, showing brown faces throughout. Love Nikki Grimes!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful poem by Nikki Grimes accompanied by Bryan Collier's signature collage illustration style.

[Joan Arbogast · Rating 5 out of 5]

A baby is welcomed into the world and told of simple pleasures ready to greet him. A fresh approach to a welcome baby book!

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

LUV this illustrator.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduce poetry to your little ones! Lots of description, some personification, simile/metaphor.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welcoming a new baby to the world can be fun, there is so much a new baby gets to learn. Welcome to a world full of of rainbows and wet kisses from grandmom. Welcome to the sun and welcome to the moon. Welcome baby to yummy ice cream and sticky peanut butter. When the day turns to night, now it is time for dreaming. Welcome to dreaming baby and sleep tight.

I gave this book a three star rating because it was a good read, the first time but I don't think I would ever read it again. The story was cute, not there was not really an educational message behind the story that I could use in the classroom. The illustrations were amazing though. It looked like the illustrator used the water coloring technique and used black, greens, and blues on the majority of the pages. This book would be a good gift for someone expected but just is not a good book for a classroom setting in my opinion.