Hello in There!: A Big Sister’s Book of Waiting

A little girl eagerly awaits her new sibling. She talks to the baby in mama’s belly about cupcakes, strawberries, sailing and swimming; sings songs extra-loud to be sure baby can hear and wonders what her new sibling will look like. The enthusiastic big sister is rendered mostly in black and white, with a large smiling face, upturned nose and a sprinkling of freckles. Each left-hand page depicts a pregnant belly in profile, gradually growing from a small bump until it finally crosses the center line and begins to crowd in on the right-hand page. Each rendering of the belly features a hidden flap under which can be found an adorable baby with closed eyes, a sweet smile and rosy, red cheeks. The flap and the baby it conceals grow bigger as the belly does, until finally, the big day arrives. Big sister waits patiently at home, getting dressed up for the occasion, until mother and father return home and place the little one, eyes wide open now, in big sister’s arms.

Howler

A extraordinary follow-up to the popular Rover, this hilarious adventure features one puzzled dog trying to make sense of the strange human world that he lives in-especially when a small human arrives on the scene! The new baby, dubbed “Howler” by the dog, diverts everyone’s attention-so no one notices the poor pooch. Only by fathering puppies of his own is he able to bring the family together again. A fantastic story about sibling rivalry and the arrival of a new baby-from the dog’s point of view.

Bye-Bye Baby Brother!

Tiring of a newborn sibling who demands all her busy mother’s attention, Ruby gets bored with endless solo activities and imagines creative ways to make her baby brother disappear, adventures that become so much fun that she decides to tag along.

Soonchild

In the cold north, when Sixteen-Face John, a shaman, learns that his first child, a soonchild, cannot hear the World Songs that inspire all newborns from their mother’s wombs, he sets out on a quest that takes him through many lifetimes and many shape-shifts, as well as encounters with beasts, demons and a mysterious benevolent owl spirit, Ukpika, who is linked to John’s past.

Chicken, Pig, Cow Horse Around

chickenChicken to the rescue!Chicken, Pig and Cow are very happy together in their barn, so not everyone is pleased when Horse arrives. Horse is clever and strong, but, as Chicken points out, he also takes up a lot of space.When Chicken suggests they play a game of hide-and-seek, Horse merrily trots off. But when he disappears, a frantic search ensues. Horse is nowhere to be found — until Chicken finally spots him inside the fishbowl. Feeling guilty, Chicken jumps in to save him, only to realize that Horse is actually outside the bowl. So who will save Chicken? All ends well when Pig, Cow and Horse — with the help of Dog — team up to rescue their friend.The adorable toy characters Chicken, Pig and Cow (and real-life Dog) continue to delight young children with their charming adventures and subtle messages about friendship, acceptance and working together.

What’s He Doing Now?

When a young boy named Lewis finds out that his mother is going to have a baby, he is full of questions: What is the baby doing now? How does his mom feel with a baby growing inside her? When he touches her tummy, it feels like she swallowed a bunch of butterflies! When the baby has hiccups, it sounds like popcorn! Month by month, he becomes more and more curious about what the baby is doing inside his mother’s tummy.Lewis thinks that having a new baby around could be kind of neat… but a bit worrisome at the same time. He begins to wonder if the baby will like him, and becomes a little afraid that he is not special to his parents anymore. However, he soon discovers he has an important place in his family — and being a big brother is actually kind of fun! An ideal book for parents and children to share.

The Wish Pony

When the balloon was born I was going to tell it exactly what I thought about it, how sick it had made my mother and how it had ruined my life. Ruby’s mum is having a baby, but why does she need one of those when she’s already got a Ruby? To make matters worse, her best friend Sarah has just found another, BETTER friend. It seems like everyone is abandoning her. But when Ruby meets the mysterious Magda, who gives her a very special gift that might, just MIGHT even be a bit magical, everything begins to change.

The Wish Pony was Catherine’s first exploration of magic realism. It was partly inspired by a small ornamental horse she once saw in a relatives display cabinet.

When the World Was Waiting for You

When the world was waiting for you, the air was bright,the sun seemed new. From readying the baby’s crib to the very first visit from friends and family, When the World Was Waiting for You is a lyrical celebration of all the events surrounding a birth.

 

The Man Who Knew Too Much: A Moral Tale from the Baila of Zambia

A husband does not believe it when his wife tells him that their crying baby is comforted by a huge eagle who flies down with its sharp talons and alights on the baby.