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Girl Talk #21
Baby Talk
Is Allison ready for a new member of the family?
Allison thinks having a new baby in the family will be great. After all, babies are cute, cuddly, and sweet. But when she can't go to a sleepover for the millionth time, because she has to watch her seven-year-old brother Charlie, Allison realizes it's time to let the Cloud family know that she counts, too!
Allison thinks having a new baby in the family will be great. After all, babies are cute, cuddly, and sweet. But when she can't go to a sleepover for the millionth time, because she has to watch her seven-year-old brother Charlie, Allison realizes it's time to let the Cloud family know that she counts, too!
- GenresYoung AdultChildrens
120 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 12, 2024
Baby Talk
Allison has to get Charlie ready for school because her mom is resting. Charlie is acting hyper. He won’t eat his breakfast. He knocks over a plant. Then he almost misses his bus. He does forget his lunch and Al has to take it to him at school. This makes her late for school. Something that *never* happens!. Since the new baby is moved into Al’s room, she’ll be getting a new roo,. There will be an add on built in the back. Sabs says they can have a sleepover and she’ll bring her magazines and they’ll help Al plan to decorate her new room.
Alison is told that her new room won’t get started on until Wednesday. She’s disappointed that her mother isn’t as disappointed as she is. All her mother seems to care about is the baby (She’s sorting through their old clothes with Al’s grandmother). Allison wants to go to her room, sit in her window seat, and read but her mother tells her to watch Charlie. Allison really isn’t in the mood but does it anyway. At dinner, Allison’s mom brings up going to a baby store, but her father can’t go and her grandmother can’t go. Allison reminds her that she’s supposed to sleep over at Katie’s. They tell her that she’ll have to stay there and babysit. Allison tries to suggest an alternative but its no good. Allison is practically in tears and she says the sleepover is especially her but they say she’ll just have to reschedule. Allison makes a dramatic exit and says they’ll have to count her out from now on.
The next day at school, Sabs tells Allison about her notebook. She says it’s a decorator’s notebook for her new room. In one section there are articles for ideas. There’s another section for their ideas. Sabs tells her the first thing they need to think of is a color scheme. Katie says she has a book left over with color samples. Sabs says they can take all the ones they think are possibilities and put it in the notebook. Katie’s mom says they can make brownies. Randy says there’s a great horror flick they should rent. Allison tries to say something but she’s cut off by the bell and they all head off in different directions. After this Allison tutors Billy on a poem by Elizabeth Barett Browning. Lila is touched by Ken’s speech and realizes that she’s missed out on the chance of getting to know Olivia because she’s been a snob. As she cries, Todd appears to comfort her.
After school, Allison’s mom suggests they have a snack and talk. She says that the construction has started on her new room. Mrs. Cloud tells her she’s been so busy planning for the baby she’s taken for granted that she’s been putting Charlie off on Allison. She says she’s arranged for Charlie to stay with a friend so she can go over to Katies. But when the baby comes she has to help as much as she can to help Noma and Charlie. Allison agrees. Then they start to talk about her new room and where the windows will go. She’ll have three different views from the windows and even a terrace.
At the sleepover, Sabs makes Al take a personality quiz so they’ll know how to decorate her room. Allison is described as a “Twilight person” (down to wearth, knows how to dream, is quiet, creative, and surroundings are important to you). They decide on a grayish purple for the walls an a royal purple for the woodwork and frames Allison also wants a floral bedspread with a light purple background and Katie wants white curtains. (It sounds really nice!) Michel comes up with the idea to throw Mrs. Cloud a baby shower. It’ll be a surprise. Al will invite all her mother’s friends and they’ll get the guys to help. They’ll even make a banner and use some of the wall paper samples that Katie has to make it colorful.
While shopping for the shower, Allison admits to Katie that she’s scared that once the new baby gets there she’ll have to babysit all the time. Katie says that if she’s learned anything its that she has to talk to her parents about the way she feels. Allison tries to bring it up when she gets home, but her parents and grandparents are occupied with the subject of a lady that died on the reservation passed and what should be done about her granddaughter. So, Allison sees it’s not a good time. For the party, Randy makes a special tape of songs with the word “Baby” in it (ex “Baby Love” by the Supremes).
People start to show. The piles of presents gets bigger. Finally, Mr. Cloud’s car shows up and Mrs. Cloud walks in. She’s surprised and hugs Allison. She greets the guests and opens her presents. Her first gift is a basketball from Sam. Mrs. Cloud loves it! All the girls say their present won’t be ready for a little while (Sabs, Katie, and Randy_ Aunt Vivian gives a musical mobile. Aunt Pauline gives teething toys and rattles. Arizonna gives the baby a tiny tie die shirt and booties. Billy’s present is a book (Pat the Bunny). The book is one with sentimental value to Billy because his mother use to read it to him. (She passed away). It’s about a little boy that’s kind of wild. A man comes late with a delivery. Her father says he’ll take care of it and makes Allison go into the kitchen. Allions aunts them start talking to her about how much she’s grown and she forgets about the dlivery. After the party, Allison decides to talk to her parents about wanting some private time.
So, her dad says Mary Birdsong (the great-granddaughter) is looking for a job so she can be the full time baby ssitter. He’ll give her his old study and she can move in. Allison can’t believe it she may not ever have to babysit if she doesn’t want to. The delivery it turns out for Allison. Its’ Allison runs to her room. It’s finished (minus the furniture). There’s a white wicker swing set on the terrace. It’s already Allison’s favorite part of the room. She LOVES it! That night Allison decides to sleep in her new room. That night her mom goes into labor. The next day she calls her friends and tells her she has a new sister. Her name is Barrett Cloud after Elizabeth Barett Browning.
Allison and her father go to the reservation to pick up Mary Birdsong. She seems cool and she likes to read. Allison warns her about Charlie. But it looks like she can hold her own against Charlie. She asks if he’s a pirate then he must have a special place and he takes her to see his tree house. All her friends come by and they bring Allison a teddy bear and a present. She gives them a tour of her room. Sabs says it belongs in a magazine and she bets she could get it in one. Allison says she’s not sure about that but she loves it. Then Allison takes them to meet her new sister. They ask if she misses the room. She says she’ll miss the window seat but now she can watch Barett grow up in it and that makes her miss it less. The bear is for Barett and inside the gift is a pillow with her name on it and a cloud (Barett). That’s why they couldn’t give it to her then. They didn’t know her name. Allison thinks she gave her a gift too her name. Maybe one day she’ll sit in the window seat and write poetry.
My Thoughts:
Allison’s room sounds really nice! A while back I was thinking of redecorating my own room. I liked the color’s she picked (the grayish-purple walls and the floral bedspread with the purple background). It reminds me of a skirt I own. The party decorations also sounded cute with the teddy bears. At first, I thought Barett? But I think the name is growing on me. The only thing I would have probably done differently about the room is since Allison had three windows, I would have asked for another window seat. I know they can be built because my Uncle built the one at his house. I always tried to get him to build one for me, but sadly he never got around to it. I am glad tho that I never had to worry about Allison’s concerns because my mother decided 1 was enough and it was very much enough for me also!
Rating: 5
Allison has to get Charlie ready for school because her mom is resting. Charlie is acting hyper. He won’t eat his breakfast. He knocks over a plant. Then he almost misses his bus. He does forget his lunch and Al has to take it to him at school. This makes her late for school. Something that *never* happens!. Since the new baby is moved into Al’s room, she’ll be getting a new roo,. There will be an add on built in the back. Sabs says they can have a sleepover and she’ll bring her magazines and they’ll help Al plan to decorate her new room.
Alison is told that her new room won’t get started on until Wednesday. She’s disappointed that her mother isn’t as disappointed as she is. All her mother seems to care about is the baby (She’s sorting through their old clothes with Al’s grandmother). Allison wants to go to her room, sit in her window seat, and read but her mother tells her to watch Charlie. Allison really isn’t in the mood but does it anyway. At dinner, Allison’s mom brings up going to a baby store, but her father can’t go and her grandmother can’t go. Allison reminds her that she’s supposed to sleep over at Katie’s. They tell her that she’ll have to stay there and babysit. Allison tries to suggest an alternative but its no good. Allison is practically in tears and she says the sleepover is especially her but they say she’ll just have to reschedule. Allison makes a dramatic exit and says they’ll have to count her out from now on.
The next day at school, Sabs tells Allison about her notebook. She says it’s a decorator’s notebook for her new room. In one section there are articles for ideas. There’s another section for their ideas. Sabs tells her the first thing they need to think of is a color scheme. Katie says she has a book left over with color samples. Sabs says they can take all the ones they think are possibilities and put it in the notebook. Katie’s mom says they can make brownies. Randy says there’s a great horror flick they should rent. Allison tries to say something but she’s cut off by the bell and they all head off in different directions. After this Allison tutors Billy on a poem by Elizabeth Barett Browning. Lila is touched by Ken’s speech and realizes that she’s missed out on the chance of getting to know Olivia because she’s been a snob. As she cries, Todd appears to comfort her.
After school, Allison’s mom suggests they have a snack and talk. She says that the construction has started on her new room. Mrs. Cloud tells her she’s been so busy planning for the baby she’s taken for granted that she’s been putting Charlie off on Allison. She says she’s arranged for Charlie to stay with a friend so she can go over to Katies. But when the baby comes she has to help as much as she can to help Noma and Charlie. Allison agrees. Then they start to talk about her new room and where the windows will go. She’ll have three different views from the windows and even a terrace.
At the sleepover, Sabs makes Al take a personality quiz so they’ll know how to decorate her room. Allison is described as a “Twilight person” (down to wearth, knows how to dream, is quiet, creative, and surroundings are important to you). They decide on a grayish purple for the walls an a royal purple for the woodwork and frames Allison also wants a floral bedspread with a light purple background and Katie wants white curtains. (It sounds really nice!) Michel comes up with the idea to throw Mrs. Cloud a baby shower. It’ll be a surprise. Al will invite all her mother’s friends and they’ll get the guys to help. They’ll even make a banner and use some of the wall paper samples that Katie has to make it colorful.
While shopping for the shower, Allison admits to Katie that she’s scared that once the new baby gets there she’ll have to babysit all the time. Katie says that if she’s learned anything its that she has to talk to her parents about the way she feels. Allison tries to bring it up when she gets home, but her parents and grandparents are occupied with the subject of a lady that died on the reservation passed and what should be done about her granddaughter. So, Allison sees it’s not a good time. For the party, Randy makes a special tape of songs with the word “Baby” in it (ex “Baby Love” by the Supremes).
People start to show. The piles of presents gets bigger. Finally, Mr. Cloud’s car shows up and Mrs. Cloud walks in. She’s surprised and hugs Allison. She greets the guests and opens her presents. Her first gift is a basketball from Sam. Mrs. Cloud loves it! All the girls say their present won’t be ready for a little while (Sabs, Katie, and Randy_ Aunt Vivian gives a musical mobile. Aunt Pauline gives teething toys and rattles. Arizonna gives the baby a tiny tie die shirt and booties. Billy’s present is a book (Pat the Bunny). The book is one with sentimental value to Billy because his mother use to read it to him. (She passed away). It’s about a little boy that’s kind of wild. A man comes late with a delivery. Her father says he’ll take care of it and makes Allison go into the kitchen. Allions aunts them start talking to her about how much she’s grown and she forgets about the dlivery. After the party, Allison decides to talk to her parents about wanting some private time.
So, her dad says Mary Birdsong (the great-granddaughter) is looking for a job so she can be the full time baby ssitter. He’ll give her his old study and she can move in. Allison can’t believe it she may not ever have to babysit if she doesn’t want to. The delivery it turns out for Allison. Its’ Allison runs to her room. It’s finished (minus the furniture). There’s a white wicker swing set on the terrace. It’s already Allison’s favorite part of the room. She LOVES it! That night Allison decides to sleep in her new room. That night her mom goes into labor. The next day she calls her friends and tells her she has a new sister. Her name is Barrett Cloud after Elizabeth Barett Browning.
Allison and her father go to the reservation to pick up Mary Birdsong. She seems cool and she likes to read. Allison warns her about Charlie. But it looks like she can hold her own against Charlie. She asks if he’s a pirate then he must have a special place and he takes her to see his tree house. All her friends come by and they bring Allison a teddy bear and a present. She gives them a tour of her room. Sabs says it belongs in a magazine and she bets she could get it in one. Allison says she’s not sure about that but she loves it. Then Allison takes them to meet her new sister. They ask if she misses the room. She says she’ll miss the window seat but now she can watch Barett grow up in it and that makes her miss it less. The bear is for Barett and inside the gift is a pillow with her name on it and a cloud (Barett). That’s why they couldn’t give it to her then. They didn’t know her name. Allison thinks she gave her a gift too her name. Maybe one day she’ll sit in the window seat and write poetry.
My Thoughts:
Allison’s room sounds really nice! A while back I was thinking of redecorating my own room. I liked the color’s she picked (the grayish-purple walls and the floral bedspread with the purple background). It reminds me of a skirt I own. The party decorations also sounded cute with the teddy bears. At first, I thought Barett? But I think the name is growing on me. The only thing I would have probably done differently about the room is since Allison had three windows, I would have asked for another window seat. I know they can be built because my Uncle built the one at his house. I always tried to get him to build one for me, but sadly he never got around to it. I am glad tho that I never had to worry about Allison’s concerns because my mother decided 1 was enough and it was very much enough for me also!
Rating: 5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2012
Makes you feel like if you were to have a baby brother:)
July 9, 2013
these books were like reading a diary each book was different though it was like you were in school again.
June 24, 2016
all books from this serial were with me in my childhood and puberty-time ;) and in that time it was great. One time...I will read it with my daughters
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews