One Beautiful Baby

by Martine Oborne, Ingrid Godon (Illustrator)

Overview

In this tender story, a mother counts all of the special things that make up her beautiful baby. From one sweet smile to ten sticky fingers, this baby's day is full of wonderful surprises. Parents, expecting parents, and young children will delight in this playful counting and sharing book.

Author Biography: Martine Oborne is the author of several picture books.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316065627
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	09/01/2002
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.98(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.34(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

Editorial Reviews

Oborne (Juice the Pig) adds up (from one to 10) the things that make a baby special in this good-natured offering. Godon's (What Shall We Do with the Boo Hoo Baby?) full-bleed pastels make the most of Oborne's simple phrases, one to a spread. A fine black line on brown paper delineates the baby's activities from the time it wakes up (with "one sweet smile") to its morning bottle (the baby perches on the mother's lap with its "two adorable eyes" open wide) to a walk in the park. Godon works into the illustrations judiciously placed fabric swatches that lend a homey feel. In a spread showing baby at breakfast (where father peels one of "three big bananas"), for instance, she covers the table with a red-and-white checked cloth. The artist even injects some humor into the proceedings: a lichen-green background provides calming contrast as the bare-bottomed baby flings "four clean diapers" from the changing table. Clearly defined objects make it easy for youngest booklovers to count along. Ages 6 mos.-4 yrs. (Sept.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-This simple, unpretentious story is essentially a counting book. The cover art sets the stage with a winning close-up of a baby holding a stuffed zebra. While the illustrations are done in a minimalist, cartoon style with smooth pastels and a soft, black outline, the infant's sunny smile and purity of expression radiate warmth and genuine delight. A short new phrase is introduced on each page: "Take one sweet smile,/two adorable eyes,/three big bananas," and thus builds page by page as the numbers advance. Mom packs up, "four clean diapers," puts baby in his jacket, "six yellow buttons," and strolls to the park where there are eight ducks, and nine strawberries result in "ten sticky fingers!" "Put them all together and what do you get?" The answer is, "One beautiful baby!" This is a perfect book for toddlers; it's bold, direct, and full of beguiling smiles. Youngsters will be counting without even being aware that they're learning.-Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Beginning with "one sweet smile" peeking out from a warm and cozy crib, a mother and child number all the things, from one to ten, that it takes to make up "one beautiful baby." Whether it is begging for a bite of "three big bananas"; tossing "four clean diapers" off the changing table; or licking "ten sticky fingers" after a feast of "nine juicy strawberries," mother and baby turn a simple outing into a fun counting game. Pastel drawings on textured paper are rendered in a soft palette, drawing the eyes in close to look for the sometimes-hard-to-find numbered objects. Young and older readers alike may need some help to find the nine tiny strawberries or counting the baby's babbles, but the close scrutiny will only make readers appreciate the delightful drawings that accompany the simple text. Counting has never been such a delight. (Picture book. 1-3)

Kirkus Reviews