Hello Baby! [Hardcover]

Mem Fox (Author), Steve Jenkins (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2009 | Age Level: 3 and up

After meeting a bevy of baby animals— including a clever monkey, a sleepy leopard, and a dusty lion cub—the baby in this story discovers the most precious creature of all . . . itself, of course! With an exuberant rhyming text by bestselling author Mem Fox and adorable cut-paper illustrations by Caldecott Honor recipient Steve Jenkins, this book is an irresistible celebration of the joyful connection between parent and child.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mem Fox is the author of many acclaimed books, including the bestselling Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, Where Is the Green Sheep?, Time for Bed, and, for adults, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever. She lives in Adelaide, Australia. Steve Jenkins has written and illustrated several award-winning children’s books, including the 2003 Caldecott Honor recipient What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? He lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Beach Lane Books (May 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416985131
• ISBN-13: 978-1416985136
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #233,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for toddlers, June 18, 2009

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hello Baby! (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

With its rhyming tour of the animal kingdom, Hello Baby! pretty much riffs on the whole Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? formula, but its lack of originality is more than offset by its simple, charming rhymes and gorgeous artwork. Mem Fox understands that a simple rhyming cadence is the most effective way for the "story" to sink in, and doesn't go overboard with too many words. Steve Jenkins' artwork owes a lot to Eric Carle, but I've never understood Carle's appeal, so to me, Jenkins' less geometric animals are easier on the eyes.

My 3-year old son enjoyed Hello Baby!, but not as much as he would had we discovered it a year ago. When his Brown Bear/Polar Bear/etc. phase was in full swing, it probably would have been one of his daily favorites. I'd absolutely recommend this book to parents of toddlers. It has fun rhymes, eye-catching artwork, and a ton of "again, again!" potential.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For young kids... not adults... and that's a good thing!, June 4, 2009

By 

Paul "Paul" (SF Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hello Baby! (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

If I had written this review before I read this book to my 2 1/2 year old I would have said that it didn't really make much sense, the choice of animals is a little weird, and the whole thing about baby being the most precious animal of all doesn't really make any sense. And the whole idea of having a dust jacket on a children's book is well... not a good idea.

But... she gets it... she calls out the names of the animals and makes noises and plays with the baby's hand at the end of the book. And after all, am I the audience? No not really.

This keeps her entertained a lot more than some of the other books that we have so I have no complaints.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The rhyming text is soothing and this story would make an excellent cuddle up bedtime story!, October 9, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hello Baby! (Hardcover)

There are all kinds of babies in the world. There are funny looking monkeys, porcupines that twitch their noses, sleepy leopards, elephants sticking their noses in the air, hairy warthogs, quiet, scary crocodiles, thirsty zebras and winking owls. Can you think of some other baby animals you have seen?

"Are you an eagle exploring the skies?
Perhaps you're a gecko with rolling eyes.
Are you a lion with dust on its paws?
Perhaps you're a hippo with yawning jaws."

The collage animals in this book are amazingly well done. Although this type of illustration is not for all adults, it will have great appeal to the little ones. The rhyming text is soothing and this story would make an excellent cuddle up bedtime story. Can you guess who the most treasured baby of all would be?