The Belly Book: A Nine-Month Journal for You and Your Growing Belly (Potter Style) [Hardcover-spiral]

Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 7, 2006 | Series: Potter Style

Before you get to meet your baby, you spend a swell (so to speak) nine months getting acquainted with your growing belly. The first pregnancy journal devoted 100% to you and your belly, The Belly Book is organized by trimester and includes pages for “time-lapse” belly photos and ultrasound images, as well as prompts for writing about morning sickness, food cravings, maternity clothes you never want to see again, and much more.

Product Details

• Hardcover-spiral: 96 pages
• Publisher: Potter Style (March 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307336182
• ISBN-13: 978-0307336187
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 1 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (363 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Parenting

More About the Author

Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a person who likes to make things.

Some things she likes to make:
Children's books.
Grown-up books.
Short films.
Salads.
Connections with the universe.
Something out of nothing.
Wishes.

According to The New York Times, Amy's award-winning children's books "radiate fun the way tulips radiate spring: they are elegant and spirit-lifting." Her 20+ books for children include !, WUMBERS, PLANT A KISS, LITTLE PEA, SPOON, THE WONDER BOOK, COOKIES: BITE-SIZE LIFE LESSONS, AND DUCK!RABBIT!.

As for her adult work, Amazon named ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AN ORDINARY LIFE one of the top 10 memoirs of the decade.

A long-time contributor to NPR, she is currently the host and creator of Mission Amy K R.com produced by Chicago Public Radio.

Her short films include The Beckoning of Lovely, 17 Things I Made, ATM Always Trust Magic, The Kindness Thought Bubble, and The Money Tree.

Amy lives with her family in Chicago and online at whoisamy.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

181 of 184 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Memory Book December 19, 2006

By Rachel

Format:Hardcover-spiral

I first bought this book after looking at many - MANY - on the shelves in a bookstore. I was searching for a gift for my unmarried pregnant friend. SO many of the books put an emphasis on the marriage of the parents, and this book light-heartedly refers to the father as "hubby/partner".

Moreover, this book is light hearted and humorous throughout the 9 month journal. Answer choices to questions throughout the journal often include an option that will lead to at least some light laughter. Going from memory (so wording may be wrong) a few examples I can think of are:

I think you are a:
__boy
__girl
__twins
__a boxer

My complexion is:
__glowing
__the same
__green

Number of days I've worn the same pair of sweat pants in a row:____

My energy level is:
__Great! Never better!
__About the same as usual
__I can't even complete a senten

Now, whenever I hear those magic little words, "I'm pregnant", I rush out and buy this book. Everyone I've ever given the book to loves it. Married, single, it doesn't matter. This book's tone doesn't make anybody uncomfortable.

PLUS, there is space for weekly pictures of your growing belly. Using a digital camera and making simple prints from your computer works perfectly. There is also space for copies of ultrasounds, and space to write how you are feeling and what you are thinking.

I cannot say enough about how great this book is. I highly recommend it.

UPDATE: When I found out I was pregnant 2 years after writing this review, I ran out and bought myself this book.

92 of 95 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best keepsake for you and your baby June 20, 2006

By Lynn Blake

Format:Hardcover-spiral

When I found out I was pregnant I went out and bought three different pregnancy organizers/journals/keepsake books. This one is by far and away my favorite. The others are very bogged down with extra information that you will already have if, like me, you also bought a small library of pregnancy reference books. This fun and beautiful book is larger and more of a keepsake book than the others, which are more like organizers. I like that there are places to include photographs, which the others are too small to have. This will be a joy to look at in years to come to remember my pregnancy, and my baby will enjoy having this special record of our time together during pregnancy. I will buy this as a gift for all of my pregnant friends in the future.

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The perfect pregnancy journal June 27, 2006

By Decorating Fanatic

Format:Hardcover-spiral

The day I found out I was pregnant with our first child I begin a search for a good journal. This book is broken down into trimesters and then further divided into your pregnancy week by week. There are spaces for you to record your own reactions and those of family members to your pregnancy, details about cravings, morning sickness, growing stats, appetite changes, mood swings, and just general thoughts about the baby. You are prompted by the author to answer certain questions week by week but there is additional, limited space to add your own comments. I was sold on the blank spaces to attach photos week by week of belly growth and ultrasounds pictures.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE this book!! August 3, 2007

By Jennifer

Format:Hardcover-spiral|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book at the bookstore. I wanted to find a journal-type book to document my pregnancy. My memory was starting to go, and I didn't want to forget anything! Thank goodness I got this book. My memory is gone now! :) I love this book. There are so many different areas in it. The beginning has a spot for your name, age, and which pregnancy this is for you. It has three divisions: first, second, and third trimesters. The tabs are colored, too. Each section has questions relevant to that trimester. For example, the first trimester: Where and when I took the home pregnancy test and First reaction when I realized it was positive. There's a spot to put your doctor's name, your starting weight, and your plans for delivery. There's a section in every trimester titled Cravings & Aversions (food you love and hate at the time). There is room for pictures on every page. There are pages strictly for ultrasound pictures. You can write something on every page. It goes week-by-week. I just LOVE it! I would HIGHLY recommend this book to every pregnant woman out there. It's a great way to document your pregnancy, and a great momento for the child it's about. One day, I'll give this book to my baby. I hope she'll appreciate it as much as I do. :)

43 of 52 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Really cute journal, but didnt fit my needs November 30, 2007

By Kissta A

Format:Hardcover-spiral

We tried to get pregnant for two years, and when it finally happened I wanted to document everything. I found this book and thought it was adorable. What a neat keepsake. But as my pregnancy went on, I realized that a lot of the sections didn't apply to me. There weren't enough spots for my ultrasound photos, I didn't have adversions, I wasn't sick, etc. So much of the book stayed blank. It's a great idea, but really check out each section and each page before purchasing.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Pregnancy Journal! March 31, 2008

By ddfris

Format:Hardcover-spiral|Amazon Verified Purchase

I shopped around quite a bit for the perfect journal to record the milestones and info leading up to baby's birth day. In fact, I purchased 4 journals...and this one is my favorite. The layout is charming (shaped like a growing belly) and there is enough space each week to write whatever you desire, as well as to include a photo each week if you so choose. I have photos pasted on some weeks...and others have lots of my ramblings filling up the entire page.

There are separate pages in each section for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester prenatal appointments, ultrasounds (and photos), name ideas, and full pages at the end of each trimester for mom/dad's "closing thoughts".

I like that there are some occasional lead questions, but not too many that it is cumbersome or overly rediculous with petty questions. The type is also light enough that if you wish to ignore a question...well, I write right over it. :)

The cover is hard covered board, and inside it is spiral - making it very easy to turn and lay open to write. There is also an elastic strap that wraps around the entire book and keeps it tightly closed -- I have placed photos, envelopes, and other special mementos inside and they do not fall out!!

My only wish is that it included 40 or 41 weeks (for those of us who do tend to carry to full term) rather than the 39 it currently has. I used the "closing remarks" pages at the end of the 3rd Tri for my Week 40.

I have had fun with this book and will certainly purchase another for our next baby-to-be.