Larkin's family welcomes Sophie into their home, caring for her and teaching her games and new words. They come to love this baby as their own, all...
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reviews
Jul 25, 2008
Kathryn
rated it: 
A lovely novella with surprising depth of characters and beautiful wording that can be read in about one sitting. The author is able to evoke vivid characters and much emotion with her uncomplicated but well-chosen words. I really love her style. I've left off a star for reasons that are not necessarily the book's fault, but because I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have thought as the jacket description was misleading--or, rather, left off what was the major theme of the book which was th
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Feb 06, 2012
Yumi
rated it: 
I finished reading "Baby" in English a couple of days ago. To tell you the truth, this is my second book in English this year. I guess some of my friends remember my New Year's resolution. This year I decided to read forty eight books in English. However, I am still reading my third book right now. I definitely have to push myself more.
This book "Baby" is written by my favorite American author for children books, Patricia Maclachlan. I read her five books already. T More...
This book "Baby" is written by my favorite American author for children books, Patricia Maclachlan. I read her five books already. T More...
Dec 19, 2011
Anne
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One of the advantages of volunteering in an elementary school library is the amazing stash of books there are to be discovered. Especially of one's children are in their late 40s and no longer bringing home stuff from the public library.
"Baby" (1993) is one of those on-two-levels stories, although not in the same way as Saint Exupéry's The Little Prince".
12 year old Larkin comes home from school early in the autumn to find a baby in a carry-basket, left in the More...
"Baby" (1993) is one of those on-two-levels stories, although not in the same way as Saint Exupéry's The Little Prince".
12 year old Larkin comes home from school early in the autumn to find a baby in a carry-basket, left in the More...
Dec 10, 2010
Maggie
rated it:
Words cannot adequately express how good this book is. As Larkin, the narrator, says, "Sometimes, there are no words."
This book is perfect. It's masterfully written in a lean, yet beautifully descriptive style, which is my favorite kind. It's sad and funny. I literally cried and laughed out loud within the same chapter. The mostly melancholy tone is punctuated with moments of hope and hilarity and just plain cuteness, which comes in the form of Sophie, the baby someone leave More...
This book is perfect. It's masterfully written in a lean, yet beautifully descriptive style, which is my favorite kind. It's sad and funny. I literally cried and laughed out loud within the same chapter. The mostly melancholy tone is punctuated with moments of hope and hilarity and just plain cuteness, which comes in the form of Sophie, the baby someone leave More...
Jun 15, 2010
Ashley
rated it:
MacLachlan, Patricia. Baby. New York: Delacorte, 1993. Print.
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Baby, by Patricia MacLachlan is a touching and heart filled story about a family who find a baby abandoned in their driveway. The baby has a note tucked in its basket informing the family that the baby’s name is Sophie and that she is loved. The note also informs the family that Sophie’s mother will be back for her someday (21-22). This story is told through the eyes of a little girl, Larken. The t More...
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Baby, by Patricia MacLachlan is a touching and heart filled story about a family who find a baby abandoned in their driveway. The baby has a note tucked in its basket informing the family that the baby’s name is Sophie and that she is loved. The note also informs the family that Sophie’s mother will be back for her someday (21-22). This story is told through the eyes of a little girl, Larken. The t More...
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Jul 24, 2011
Madison
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The thing I love about Patricia MacLachlan is that she can tell a story with perfect emotion. This story is heart wrenching but told through the eyes of a child who doesn't understand the grief she and her parents are going through. Her confusion makes the story all the more touching.
On a personal note my grandparents bought this book for me when I was eight. My parents read it to me and I remember they cried at the end of every chapter. I didn't understand why as the story was overall ha More...
On a personal note my grandparents bought this book for me when I was eight. My parents read it to me and I remember they cried at the end of every chapter. I didn't understand why as the story was overall ha More...
Mar 05, 2010
Jamie
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Borrowed this one. A very short, but satisfying book. I was beginning to give up on books, but this one serves as a nice reminder of why I loved reading so much as a child. A very touching story about love and loss. [return][return]It seems to be a theme today that publishers are making their children's and YA books as long as possible, and there's nothing wrong with a long story. Children can handle that. But, you don't need five hundred pages to tell a great story. Sometimes you only need a hu
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Jul 22, 2009
Kristy
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Admittedly, I DO judge books by their cover, and I was not impressed with the cover of this book or by the title Baby. Really? The basic storyline is this: a loving family with some unspoken hurt is left with a baby and a note, and they take it upon themselves to raise the child as their own... until, inevitably, the baby's mother returns. The plot is simple enough, but the author makes a strong point about the power of words -- written, spoken, and unspoken, and I (again) found myself really
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Apr 02, 2009
Kim
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Oh, I loved this book when I was a kid. I bet I read it six or seven times. It's a tearjerker about a family who finds a baby girl named Sophie left on their doorstep. The mother thought they looked like nice people, and she says in her note that she plans to return for the baby when she can. The family has recently had a baby die, I can't remember if he was stillborn or just died shortly after birth. The story is told through the eyes of their daughter, who is lost and confused amongst her
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May 27, 2010
Beth
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One of my all time favorites. I just read Baby to Leigh Ann. Leigh was in a terrible car accident on Aug 4, 2009. She is in a skilled nursing care facility and presents as one with serious CP. The high lite of me week is Monday afternoons as I read to Leigh Ann. As I finished Baby, Leigh was holding my hand. She kept bring my had to her face and it wasn't until I put the book down that I realized she was wiping tears away. Then she did Rock, Paper , Scissors in my hand. You have to read th
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Jul 29, 2011
Peachy
rated it: 
What would you do if a baby was left at your doorstep with a note from her mother saying she would be back some day? Could you care for that baby, even come to love her, knowing she could be taken from you at any time? I don’t know that I could be that selfless, deal with that loss. In Baby we bear witness to the quirky, loving and ill-fated family that must deal with such sadness.
Patricia MacLachlan proves to be a master of the metaphor in this beautifully written story that, at its core, More...
Patricia MacLachlan proves to be a master of the metaphor in this beautifully written story that, at its core, More...
Jan 10, 2008
BlissfullyBlundering
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I picked this book up on a whim while subbing for a fourth grade class because I recognized the author of Sarah Plain and Tall and it looked short enough to finish in a couple of hours. It is about a family who comes home to a baby on their doorstep with a note from the mother asking them to care for her until she returns. I expected a light children's book, but what I got was a heart wrenching, emotional roller coaster ride. I had constant tears in my eyes from the first page until the last. I
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Mar 27, 2009
Abdul
rated it:
twelve year old larkin ratkin returns home one day to discover a baby sitting in a basket in the driveway of her familys house. the only clue about where the baby came from is a note from the childs mother, hir name is sophie.
i conact this book to the would because ther is people how give ther kids to other people so they can take kir of them.also i think ther IS people how dont want ther kids.
i give this book 5 stares because it was nice and sad.also i think it was one of the b More...
i conact this book to the would because ther is people how give ther kids to other people so they can take kir of them.also i think ther IS people how dont want ther kids.
i give this book 5 stares because it was nice and sad.also i think it was one of the b More...
Sep 22, 2010
Lindsey
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I was surprised at how such an emotionally moving story could be packed into such a short book. There were quite a few characters, and I feel like I got a pretty good glimpse of them. Usually I like longer books because I feel that I get to know the characters better, but this one did a great job with such little space. There was even room for side characters and stories.
Dec 22, 2010
Clare
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"Wondrous words." Read this to my 10-year old daughter, who didn't enjoy it. Actually, she read the last 10 pages to me, since I started to cry. She said it was good bedtime reading because it was so boring. It's not boring! I hope she'll give it another try in a few years, because it deserves a second look!
Sep 21, 2011
Sara
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This book is beautiful. There's a lot of emotion in few words, yet the book's focus, to me, is wondrous words. The characters are individual and real. We love them all. It's a book contained in a short time and long memory, in a small place with a big sky, in few words yet in many thoughts.
Jun 10, 2011
Carly
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I read this in fifth grade for a reading assignment. It was this huuuge thing. I really liked the book. It had a lot of good lines in it, quotes and stuff. Good images and it meant something.
It would be a quick read for me now, and really anyone, but it's worth it.
It would be a quick read for me now, and really anyone, but it's worth it.
Mar 23, 2010
Shelly
rated it:
Can't say it better than this review by The Horn Book Magazine:
"Short, spare, powerful, this is a story which touches deep
emotions and lingers in the heart . . .it can neither be
overlooked nor easily forgotten."
Although this quick read is intended for young readers I'm not sure a youthful reader would appreciate the in-depth messages.
"Short, spare, powerful, this is a story which touches deep
emotions and lingers in the heart . . .it can neither be
overlooked nor easily forgotten."
Although this quick read is intended for young readers I'm not sure a youthful reader would appreciate the in-depth messages.
Oct 04, 2011
Laurie
rated it:
Reading it to the kids. Very poetic,beautiful. BUT, needs to be studied to really take it in. It deals with emotions on deeper levels that are not exactly for bedtime reading. Such a great human condition subject, though. Recommend!
Jun 12, 2008
Elaine
rated it:
Review from 2005
I thought Baby was a very sad and touching book. I was fun and easy to read. I finished it in a day. I liked that Larkin's dad tap danced and her mom painted. It is one of those books that I like, but don't have much to say about it. It was really cute shen Sophie did the soft shoe to Me and My Shadow and when Larkin learns it. I also liked how Lalo gave Larkin his "I know what you're going to do" look. I thought it was cool how everyone taught Sophie More...
I thought Baby was a very sad and touching book. I was fun and easy to read. I finished it in a day. I liked that Larkin's dad tap danced and her mom painted. It is one of those books that I like, but don't have much to say about it. It was really cute shen Sophie did the soft shoe to Me and My Shadow and when Larkin learns it. I also liked how Lalo gave Larkin his "I know what you're going to do" look. I thought it was cool how everyone taught Sophie More...
Mar 31, 2008
Allanna
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I first learned of this book in my Children's Literacy class in college. I kept meaning to read it. (About five years later, I managed. Go me! I should have done this sooner! It's a good book!)
Life for a family on a little island is changed when, on the last day of tourist season and as the last ferry leaves, they find a little baby girl left for them to raise. A note tells them that her name is Sophie, she's a year old and good, and that her mother will come back for her when things More...
Life for a family on a little island is changed when, on the last day of tourist season and as the last ferry leaves, they find a little baby girl left for them to raise. A note tells them that her name is Sophie, she's a year old and good, and that her mother will come back for her when things More...
Feb 22, 2010
GuyanaForever♡
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Great book! The only thing to complain about was the ending which I disliked a lot. I hated how the baby had to leave because they grew SO attached to her, I also hate how the grndma dies becuase she was so sweet.
Oct 06, 2009
Theresa
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i just finish reading this book this month. (October 2009) it was REALLY good. At sometimes it was sooo emotinal I just wanted to cry. I will request this book to all of my friends on goodreads.
Feb 15, 2009
Cindi
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I love the way Patricia MacLachlan uses words to convey feelings. Sometimes just a word or two says more than several paragraphs.
This is a sweet story about a family that takes in a baby left in a basket until her mother can come back for her, but it's also about this family grieving their own loss of a baby through community, poetry, art and loving each other.
This is a sweet story about a family that takes in a baby left in a basket until her mother can come back for her, but it's also about this family grieving their own loss of a baby through community, poetry, art and loving each other.
Jan 30, 2009
Hannah
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This book touched my heart. Even though I cryed while reading it, I told myself I HAD to finish the book, so you do too.
Jul 10, 2010
Katie
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I cry like a baby every time I read this book! It is a beautiful story. One that I can read over and over again.
Nov 08, 2009
Cheryl
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I was shelving books today at school and found this book...I have loved the Sarah Plain and Tall series, so I hope I like this one and the Edward's Eyes one too.
I finished both books...they were quick reads. This one was pretty cute. An unlikely situation for a family to deal with, but still interesting to read. It did deal with some "real" issues that a family may have to cope with. It would be appropriate for young readers.
I finished both books...they were quick reads. This one was pretty cute. An unlikely situation for a family to deal with, but still interesting to read. It did deal with some "real" issues that a family may have to cope with. It would be appropriate for young readers.
Jan 31, 2012
Gretchen
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Larkin, Lalo, Sophie. Island loveliness. Eating unbaked spice cake. Edna St. Vincent Millay. Oh yes.
May 28, 2011
Selvi
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Maybe when she's 10 or more. History of tragedy in the family which cannot be discussed at first.
Jun 20, 2011
Heidi
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A book that makes you think. It was well told with characters I could see and understand.
