Customer Reviews

Babies Don't Eat Pizza: A Big Kids' Book About Baby Brothers and Baby Sisters

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was blown away by Babies Don't Eat Pizza! Like all good books, it has the potential to affirm, educate, and challenge. It is an entertaining, honest, and loving tool for adults to prepare children for the daunting arrival of a new baby. It can be read straight through as a picture book or presented in small pieces to foster important discussions. Children have different abilities and interest levels and a book like this allows adults to use their discretion in adapting its content to a child's needs. Younger children might respond most to the beautiful illustrations. Older children can participate in more complex discussions. Each experience is extremely valuable. As a preschool teacher who has worked with children for over 30 years, I am thrilled to find this book and would give it my highest recommendation!

This book is described as a reading level for ages 4-8 . . . and I think that's a bit of a stretch. Yes, I've known some 'advanced' four year olds that might have understood this book, but the amount of the text alone is daunting. I got this for my cousin and her husband, who have a 4 year old (Braden), and are pregnant with their second, and there is no way Braden would have sat through this book. I didn't even read all the writing, I started skimming . . . it's overwhelming. And I read, a lot, and I also enjoy childrens books, but this one . . . I just couldn't get into it.

I wanted a book to help introduce him to the idea of another baby, and this is a little TOO factual. Yes, the information provided is very good, and as an adopted child I'm pleased to see adoption mentioned (however briefly) but to be honest, what 4 year old needs to know that the baby's eyes may change color and you won't know what they'll be till their first birthday, or need to see pictures of the baby in the uterus (what 4 year old even needs to know what a uterus is?). I did like that they said the baby came out of the mom, I don't like books insinuating a stork or something else brought a baby, it comes out of a person and there's no reason for that to be taboo, but I thought the line about C sections was a bit much. "They're pushed out - through an opening between moms' legs, or lifted out - through a cut made in moms tummies by their doctors. (Those moms have surgery and get a special medicine so it won't hurt.)" Even though they add that it wont hurt . . . it's a 4 year old. Telling them someone might be cutting open their moms tummy . . . Braden almost started crying when I jokingly said he was so cute I wanted to eat him (some kids think that is really funny, he, did not). I showed this book to my mom and she immediately agreed, she thought it was way too wordy, and too factual, for a 4 year old. Or even a 5 or 6 year old.

If you have a child that is very inquisitive, and likes to know everything about something, and has a really good attention span, especially for books, then yes, get this. It's great, in that sense. But as a book helping a small child learn about being an older sibling? No. This is more a book about pregnancy and just a baby, in general. What do babies look like, what do they eat, what do they like to do, etc. Those are good categories if you have one or two small answers, not entire paragraphs.

Anyways, I feel bad being the first non 5 star review on this book, but I feel like people need to know. The other book we got was "I'm a Big Brother" by Joanna Cole and Maxie Chambliss and it was much smaller, shorter, and we liked it a lot more (http://www.amazon.com/Im-Big-Brother-Joanna-Cole/dp/0688145078/ref=pd_cp_b_1). I'm also going to get "The New Baby" by Mercer Mayer (http://www.amazon.com/New-Baby-Mercer-Mayer/dp/0307119424/ref=pd_sim_b_4) because I grew up with that (probably got it right before my parents adopted my younger brother) and I remember it well and both my brother and I enjoyed reading it. There's nothing wrong with a factual book, but know your audience. I don't know many 4 year olds that will have an interest in learning about a womb.

My 3 year old granddaughter was awaiting the arrival of her new baby sister. This book explained in a most sensitive manner the bump in mom's tummy, helping with the new baby, not ever being rough, even cuddling with mom while she nursed. And only the big kids get the privilege of eating pizza! We are reading this book -- over and over again. :o)

I was so pleased to see that adoption is included as just one other way to add a new baby to a family. Ms. Danzig has such a comfortable, factual way of treating all the events -- pregnancy, birth, coming home and then continues on with baby's development. I love the way she blends the excitement of a new baby with the inevitable downside, and does it with an overriding message of unconditional love and understanding. What a great way to demonstrate the best of parenting and being a big brother or sister! Charming and a must-have.

Perfectly age-appropriate for new older brothers and sisters 4-10. Entertaining and informative, nothing objectionable, clear and concise. Great tips for parents at the end. Even though we're having our baby biologically, I appreciated that the book talked about if you were picking up your adopted baby, too.

I love this book. It is well written and very creative. I even bought extras to give as Baby Shower gifts. The response has been great so I will definitely order more. The author has an exceptional ability to deal with sensitive issues in an honest, straightforward manner that is still child-friendly and often lighthearted. The last page with suggestions for parents is excellent.

My daughter is two and thinks this book is fabulous. She has been working on memorizing it because she really likes, "Do this, don't do that" rules. The bits about what kinds of toys are good and bad for babies is her favorite part. She is starting to ask if other babies we see in public are crying because they are hungry or because they are tired, so I feel the book is excellent at communicating information.

I also appreciate the detail and specifics. I'm not interested in books that are going to talk down to my kid and assume she's an idiot just because she is young. This book completely avoided that problem.

This is a fantastic book! It is fun and entertaining. This book presents factual information regarding the waiting and welcoming of a baby into the household. It is very inclusive and even talks about premature babies and adoption. While discussing the exciting times with a new baby, it also recognizes some of the uneasy feelings of the older sibling/s. One of my favorite lines in the book is "Sometimes you might want your parents to send your baby far, far away (but you know they won't)." It is accompanied by an adorable "Timbuktu" picture. This book would be serve as a wonderful big brother/big sister gift!

This is an excellent book--perfect for the siblings of newborns. I have shared it with several of my 2nd grade students (and their families) who will soon have new brothers or sisters. They love the illustrations and the text itself leads to some great questions! This book is not meant to be read in a single setting--it should be spread out for several days.

I bought this book to share with my two stepchildren who are 3 and 5. We specifically wanted to ensure that the 3-year-old understood what was going on and how a baby is different than him, as he hasn't spent much time with young babies. When I first read it I was disappointed because there is a LOT of text, so for children that young I knew it would be difficult for them to follow. However, we now 'read' it almost every night! The pictures are very descriptive and we basically summarize the text or only read the main sentences and then we look at the pictures and explain things.

What I love the most is that it covers a wide range of topics -- from what newborns look like, to breastfeeding/nursing, to how a baby doesn't "mind his manners" and might pinch your nose or pull your hair but that he never does it with the intention to hurt. That last one has been really beneficial for our 3 year old to understand that he must always be gentle with his baby brother, because the baby doesn't understand "no". In our family, nursing will be foreign to my stepchildren also. Every time they get to that part of the book they think it's crazy and amazing (well, it is, right?).

We are very happy with this book and how it has helped the children in our house prepare for the new baby, who will be here any day!