These Little Feet

by Hayley Rawsthorne, Briony Stewart (Illustrator)

A Celebration of Love, Hope, and Dreams

"These little feet, so tiny and new. The places they'll go, the dances they'll do.

The mountains they'll climb, The dreams they'll pursue."

For new parents and their favorite pair of little feet, here is a warmhearted celebration of family. A perfect gift for moms and dads alike in the tradition of The Wonderful Things You Will Be; I Wish You More; and You Are My I Love You.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

24 pages, Hardcover

Published October 3, 2023

Reviews

[Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a wonderful picture book that has a sweet message about how many different things people can do in life. The illustrations are gorgeous and the story was so lovely.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little book. Plus the spot to put your child's footprints at the front??? Freaking adorable. And I loved that each baby grows up to have their own baby and tell the next part of the story

[Audrey | WellReadandUndead(ish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was just freaking cute. No notes. Loved it.

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Took some time and came back with more flushed out thoughts. I really want this book to do well because it's a little jewel. So here you are:

I found everything about this book to be perfect. It starts out with a page with an intricate border and a blank oval in the center for a child's footprints and a caption reading "These little footprints belong to: ___" You can tell the author/publisher really foresee this book being a favorite on the bookshelves of little babies and cherished as a keepsake by guardians. The art is stunning, often using flowers as ornamentation around different scenes and/or motifs throughout the book. There's a single sentence per page, each of which rhyme with the prior page. I also enjoyed that we get a new little vignette for different children/families each time the rhyme finishes. It uses this opportunity to make the story more widely appealing by featuring a variety of different family structures, races, health conditions, etc. The diversity in this book is well done.

All of these things are the intricate details that really make the core story soar. The most memorable part, especially for the adults who read this book, is how each vignette focuses on a different body part (feet, hands, eyes, etc.) and imagine how the child will grow up to use those in powerful ways. It invites guardians to imagine the possibilities of what life will hold for their little ones. At the end, you get a last rhyming set as you look through a collage of pictures from over the years for each family. For children, these pictures are interesting things to look at and talk about, and for the adults this is where you'd start bawling.

The book ends with the very sweet line, "This little one, so perfect and mine." And that's what this book is, little and perfect. I will not only recommend this to my library system and continuously recommend it in reader's advisory, but I've also bookmarked this as the best book to give for baby showers and early birthdays.

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

These little feet so tiny and new.
The places they'll go the dances they'll do.
The mountains they'll climb, the dreams they'll pursue.
These little feet so tiny and new.

It is a heartwarming picture book by Hayley Rawsthorne that celebrates the boundless potential and dreams of a newborn child. Through lyrical prose, Rawsthorne envisions the myriad experiences awaiting the child—from the places their feet will take them to the songs their ears will cherish. The touch their hands feel and the beauty they view from eyes, everything was perfect LOVE for each of the parents in their lives. The rhythmic, poetic structure makes it a delightful read for both parents and children.

Illustrated by Briony Stewart, the book features soft, watercolor illustrations that beautifully complement the text. Stewart's artwork captures the tender moments between parent and child, highlighting the diversity and warmth of family life. The endpapers, adorned with a space labeled "These little footprints belong to:", add a personal touch, inviting readers to connect deeply with the story.

This book is a perfect gift for new parents, offering a gentle reminder of the hopes and dreams they hold for their child. Its universal themes of love, growth, and the future make it a timeless addition to any child's library. "These Little Feet" is a celebration of the journey ahead, filled with endless possibilities and the unwavering support of family.

My NetGalley review

[Cara Woodham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute little book to introduce little ones to reading. I liked the illustrations. The writing is sweet and it's a good book to read to your kid for bedtime. I like that the drawing include a diverse group of caregivers and their children. My favorite was the baby with the tubing in his nose. I read it to my second grader who is probably not the audience but would have enjoyed it if she was preschool age.

[Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable! The illustrations remind me of the books from my childhood and something felt very nostalgic about the writing. The rhymes are cute and it flowed nicely.

I will buy this upon release. I cannot wait to read it with my toddlers. I’ll also be recommending to the moms in my life!

Thank you NetGalley, Marble Press, and Hayley Rawsthorme for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

Solid baby storytime title.

[Mariana Perino · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Little Feet by Hayley Rawsthorme is an absolute delight - so sweet and beautifully written. The words flow in a rhythmic, poetic way making it such an enjoyable reading experience. The imagery on the pages is stunning, truly bringing the words to life.

This book beautifully captures the magic of a child's growth, celebrating the little milestones that shape their every day world. I especially love how each page explores a new phase in a child's development, highlighting how their body parts, as they grow, will help them discover more about the world around them.

This would make a perfect gift for expecting parents - a heartfelt story to be read to their little ones again and again.

Thank you NetGalley, Hayley Rawsthorme and Marble Press for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those love-letter-to-someone-far-too-young-to-read-books books, this has a spread of parents itemise their babies' feet, hands, eyes, mouth and finally entirety, and celebrate them and all they will lead to. The images show a potential growth and life for the child, before bringing the pair back to the current state of doting parent and helpless, beloved infant. The visuals have some nice cameo-styled effects, and show a slightly old-fashioned quality that is matched by the very competent verse. It's all colour-blind, too, for diversity's sake. If you are in need of such a volume to gift to a new parent, there is little to worry about here.

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Little Feet
I'm in love with this book! An adorable celebration of the love we have for our little ones. This book shows our love, what we dream for them and more. The illustrations are simple yet they are so colorful. They really show us the message of the book. This is a great
book for your snuggle time with your little ones. Enjoy it with your family!

Perfect Gift for new babies!

[Kayla - kaylasbooklist · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Little Feet is an adorable rhyming story with darling pictures. I loved reading it and thinking of my daughter’s little feet when she was a baby. Truly a sweet story that would make the perfect baby shower gift. The page at the front for baby footprints makes it even sweeter!!

[Aryani Siti · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Little Feet is a book about love, dreams, and new beginnings. With simple rhymes, it follows tiny feet as they grow, explore, and follow big adventures. It is a perfect book for little ones and their parents to share.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

With each new birth comes the promise of a life yet to be lived, and families of all kinds imagine a child’s potential from that child’s very first moments. This heartfelt picture book is a love letter to all new babies with eyes, ears, hands, and mouths that, while small to begin with, have complex and unknown stories that are waiting to be written. The narrative of this book is based on a rhyming, repetitive meter that starts over with each child introduced within the story. This predictable structure provides a pleasant quality when read aloud, and much like Dr. Seuss’ Oh the Place You’ll Go, the narrative offers a plethora of potential imagery and meaning while using very few words. The illustrations in this story are beautifully crafted to support the otherwise open-ended text, featuring babies and family members of a variety of skin tones and seeking to be reflective of a wide range of human characters. Each image depicts one of the many potential futures for the infant featured in the relevant segment of the story, and the love the caregiver feels for the child is evident in the interactions, as well. Because the number of words included in the story is relatively small, the book is particularly well-suited to being read aloud to young children, whether they can appreciate the images yet, or not. This lovingly crafted picture book is a delightful addition to home library collections for new babies and their families.

[Teaching Little Fishies · Rating 5 out of 5]

👶🏼 Awwwww! This one is CUTE! A great use of repetition and rhyme to show your little one the wonderful places they might go and the things they might experience throughout their lives. Celebrating each journey as their own.

🦶🏼 We begin with the ideas of where our feet might take us through life. Then what our hands may touch and feel, the wonderful things our eyes might see and explore. We visit the sounds that may fill our ears and the things our mouths may taste and the conversations we may speak.

👶🏼 A perfect book to read to your little one and to have as a little keepsake for them to cherish.

🧠 Teaching Point:
ANALYSING — Pose the question to your students, ‘what does the author do to keep you interested?’. Build an understanding with your students that Hayley has used rhyme and repetition to help engage the reader.

[Mariana Perino · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Little Feet by Hayley Rawsthorme is an absolute delight - so sweet and beautifully written. The words flow in a rhythmic, poetic way making it such an enjoyable reading experience. The imagery on the pages is stunning, truly bringing the words to life.

This book beautifully captures the magic of a child's growth, celebrating the little milestones that shape their every day world. I especially love how each page explores a new phase in a child's development, highlighting how their body parts, as they grow, will help them discover more about the world around them.

This would make a perfect gift for expecting parents - a heartfelt story to be read to their little ones again and again.

Thank you NetGalley, Hayley Rawsthorme and Marble Press for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 5 out of 5]

THESE LITTLE FEET is a charming story that puts a new parent’s hopes for their child into a beautiful poem. In rhyming, lyrical language the author considers feet, hands, eyes, ears, and mouth and the wonderful things it will experience over the child’s lifetime. The illustrations brings these simple hopes to life with tenderness while representing a diverse range of parents and children. The absolute perfect book to gift to a new mom this Mother’s Day or bring to your next baby shower.

[Emma VanOrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Marble Press for the ARC! This was a great story to showcase all of the opportunities a child has to use their senses as they grow up. I like that it seems it's from a parent's point of view. Allowing hopes and drums of what a childhood into adulthood looks like for their child. The illustrations were pretty good!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Marble Press through NetGalley.
Tender story of parental love for their babies. Readers see them share their dreams and hopes for their child through talking about what different body parts will do and see. The illustrations capture the love and wishes as parents play with their babies. A lovely gift for new families.

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC from Netgalley.

Just too sweet for it's own good. Cute, adorable, etc. etc.

[Ossy Firstan · Rating 4 out of 5]

🫶