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How to Be a Baby: By Me, the Big Sister
 
 

How to Be a Baby: By Me, the Big Sister (Hardcover)

by Sally Lloyd-Jones (Author), Sue Heap (Illustrator)
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
RRP: £10.31
Price: £7.76 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 40 pages
  • Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books (13 Feb 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0375838430
  • ISBN-13: 978-0375838439
  • Product Dimensions: 29.7 x 22.4 x 1 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 333,409 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Product Description

From THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 2007

This book is adorable, original, well-illustrated and
fabulous.


Between the title, which perfectly sums up the tone and content of the
book, and the foregoing sentence, there's really nothing else you need to
know. If I were you, I'd jot down the title so you can check it out later,
skip the rest of this review and get on with the book section and/or your
day.


If, however, you insist on reading on -- which I assure you will involve
more or less a reiteration of the above but with a few additional 25-cent
adjectives -- then here you go.


Sally Lloyd-Jones and Sue Heap created this book in such a way that it
feels as though the concept, story and approach were all ripe and whole
somewhere in idea space, just waiting to be plucked, and they were the ones
who grabbed it.


The story begins with the infinitely wise guru of an older sister
announcing, "When you're a baby, you are in a crib and not in school." This
wonderfully abrupt and confident opening sets the stage perfectly: big
sister knows everything in the universe, big sister is doing new baby/us an
incredible favor by imparting all this wisdom, and new baby is (at least
for now) not so much a person as he is an audience.


The how-to manual covers a wide range of topics including "real clothes"
versus pajamas, reading, food, fears, baths, manners, friends and sleep, to
name a few. Talking: "You talk, but no one knows what you're saying,
because you just make it all up." Singing: "You don't know the words. Or
the tune. (I know the words and the tune AND THE DANCE.)" Car seats: "You
don't even face the right way. (I prefer to sit in a seat like a normal
person.)"


There are supplementary "what else" lists throughout the book, like "Here's
What Else You Can't Do" and "Here's What Toys You Don't Have and You're Not
Allowed to Play With." One of the last such lists -- "Here's What Else
Babies Are Good At -- cues the book's emotional shift, and the final eight
pages celebrate siblinghood while still keeping it real (i.e., maybe you're
not so bad after all, and I wish you well as long as you don't surpass
me).


Sue Heap's illustrations complement the text in just the right way, and I
can't imagine it looking any other way.


In other words, this book is adorable, original, well-illustrated and
fabulous. --Amy Krouse Rosenthal



From Booklist

*Starred Review* There are lots of books about kids and the babies
they must endure, teach, and love, but few get the interaction down as
perfectly as this marvelous melding of knowing observations and funny,
sunny, on-the-money art. The narrator, a little blonde girl, has a long
list of things that babies can't do. Go to school? No--stuck in a crib. Eat
normal food? No--yucky baby food. Thinking of things that are inappropriate
for babies reminds the girl of the many ways in which she's superior:
babies don't have any real friends, but she has lots. The tall format
offers plenty of room for the sweet, saucy, child-appealing watercolors,
some looking as though they were created by the child herself; certainly
the lines and squiggles on a few of the pages enhance that feel. Lists also
cleverly adorn many of the pages, with headings such as "Things Babies Do
That Are Illegal" (poop on the carpet). But in a heartwarming ending,
Sister lists things that are nice about being a baby (people don't tell you
to stop being a baby because you are one) and envisions the happy day when
her brother gets big enough to follow her around, learn from her, and play
with her friends (sometimes). With lots to look at, think about, and giggle
at, this book will get many readings. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Inside This Book (Learn More)
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book!, 30 Jan 2009
By L. Teasdale (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
At the age of seven, my daughter is finally about to become a big sister. When I read about this book, I just had to have it, as it is all about being the BIG sister. The book is very well written, funny, thoughtful and also has great illustrations. At the moment it is my daughter's favourite book. It really suits a girl who's a rather old sister (5-8), it makes her feel very grown and important. Love the book!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The Big Sister's viewpoint, 29 Jan 2009
By Richard Kennedy (Surrey, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I bought this book as a Christmas present for my five year-old granddaughter (she has a six month-old brother)following a review in a Sunday newspaper. She identified with the main character so much she was rolling around in glee. Were all my presents so successful!
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Good fun but not suitable for my 4 year old, 18 Oct 2009
A Kid's Review
This is a great idea for a book- but I don't think it has been carried out well, and I won't give it to my child. I bought it for my daughter, aged 4 (it's recommended for age 4-8) who is a new big sister. Some of the content is great- eg the illustrations and some text ('you sing songs, but don't know the words, or the tune...'), and lots about the main character being able to dress up as a princess etc that my daughter would love. However, I disagree with the tone of much of it,which is quite negative towards the baby until the last few pages- it mostly points out how relatively useless a baby is! Some parts of it I just plain disagree with and don't want my child to identify with (eg 'if you are very naughty you are put in prison' (picture of baby in play pen)... 'this is you IN PRISON' and 'you can't eat normal food, only yucky baby food', and 'you don't have any real friends (picture of a baby with only soft toys contrasting with lots of girl's friends...) I think I'm fairly relaxed about most stuff, but I am trying to create a loving atmosphere towards our new baby and a feeling that she is an equal member of the family. The last few pages of the book are quite loving and positive- shame it's not all like that!
The americanisms (pacifier etc) are a bit annoying, and as a side note though the baby is 'neutral' though most of the book, it is at the end a fairly definate boy)
Though my daughter will identify with the main character (I worry too much) and probably think it great fun, I don't think she's mature enough to undertsand the humour. This may be different for older children, who will also love its style, which is why I haven't given it a one star!
Shirley Hughes' 'Annie Rose is my little sister' is a much nicer, though still realistic look at siblinghood.
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3.0 out of 5 stars Differences in spelling
How to be a baby: didn`t realise this was an American book with consequent American spellings of some words (eg Pajamas, Mom) which may confuse children used to British spelling... Read more
Published 6 months ago by H. Morris

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