From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K. Many expecting parents will applaud the arrival of this addition to the existing body of literature. Unique in its focus on young children's separation from their mothers who are about to give birth, it depicts a traditional birth experience in terms of being hospital centered with newborns kept mainly in a nursery. While Rosenberg doesn't indicate the length of the mother's hospital stay, she reassures youngsters with promises of phone calls and a visit. Full-color photographs of several families and babies appear throughout, and the tone is generally upbeat and positive. The use of dialogue helps children imagine what it will be like to see their mothers in the hospital. Information is included about how infants look and act, and how older siblings can help with their care. For parents who expect only a minimal hospital stay or choose to give birth at a birthing center, at home, or in another nonmedical environment, this book will be less useful but not without merit in preparing preschoolers for the experience.?Melissa Gross, Beverly Hills Public Library,
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Ages 3^-6. Little ones left behind when Mom goes to the hospital to have a new baby are always full of questions, and although this book is no substitute for a trip to the maternity ward or the hospital nursery, it is certain to answer some of the questions. In easy-to-understand, reassuring terms, Rosenberg talks about Mom's room and food and about the new baby's hospital experience. In the gentlest of terms, she also guides older sibs on how to behave during a hospital visit. Maass' pictures are occasionally a little blurry, and because they depict more than one family, they may be difficult for some children to follow. They are, however, always warm and straightforward, showing the baby surrounded by nurses, in a hospital crib, ready to nurse with Mom, in the arms of a big sister, and finally going home. The genuine quality, in both art and text, saves the day.
Stephanie Zvirin