That's What I'd Do

by Jewel, Amy June Bates (Illustrator)

From an award-winning singer-songwriter, this book and CD package delivers a gentle lullaby that celebrates the limitless love between mother and child.

There’s no stronger bond than the love a mother has for her child. Morning, afternoon, and night, a mother and child’s day is filled with love. In this touching lullaby, a three-time Grammy nominee celebrates her newborn son. Lyrical and lovely, this soothing lullaby, accompanied by tender illustrations, is perfect for bedtime sharing.
     This package includes a hardcover book along with a CD of the lullaby being sung aloud.

“What I’d Do” music and lyrics by Jewel and Patrick Davis, from the album The Merry Goes ’Round (Mood Entertainment/Fisher-Price Music Series).

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Love

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Jewel Kilcher is an American singer, songwriter, actress, poet and philanthropist, generally known just by her first name, Jewel. She has received three Grammy Award nominations. Her debut album Pieces of You became one of the best selling debut albums of all time going platinum twelve times.

Reviews

[Laura Z · Rating 1 out of 5]

The rhyme and rhythm in this book is definitely written for a song, not a book, and it's very hard to read. It's slightly better with the CD. In fact, I would recommend that the book never be read without the CD playing--it almost gave me a headache trying to find the rhythm, which is almost non-existent. I think this is not going to be a book that parents pull off the shelf for a bedtime read--too bad, it had potential.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awwwwwww! I love Jewel and I loved this touching book she wrote and sang. The book would just be good without the cd accompanying it, but played along it is just beautiful. A mother’s love for her child is not something that can ever be described; however Jewel did a great job capturing that emotion with her song.

[Christiane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I may not have been in the right mood to read a sappy picture book by yet another "celebrity" author, so if you loved this book just ignore me. There seems to be an endless audience of new parents who adore books about how much they LOVE their baby...fine, there are some lovely books like that. Do we really need more? Especially ones with really, really awful rhymes? (Listening to the CD is slightly less annoying than actually trying to read the text.) I won’t even be using this for baby story time. If you need books like this, I suggest Mem Fox’s “Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes”, many of the Karen Katz books (“Ten Tiny Tickles”, for example) or the new (2012) “Ten Tiny Toes” by Todd Tarpley as far better alternatives. They’re still super-sweet but at least the rhymes are better, and I like that they often show multicultural babies.

[Danica Midlil · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh. Yet another skippable celebrity book.

[Felicia Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute book read it to baby Elizabeth :D

[Books, Brews & Booze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my friend’s four year old daughter and she loved it. She asked questions about the pictures and we counted things on the pages. An enjoyable read and very sweet. Haven’t listened to the song yet, but I reckon it’s more lyrical than my reading 😂

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about making wishes and dreaming all about love a mother has for a child.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

That the mom loves her baby and she wrote the book for her kid.

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This debut children's book by singer and songwriter Jewel has sweet, cozy and playful illustrations. The bond between mother and child is portrayed beautifully. The CD of the song, "That's What I'd Do" has music reminiscent of Janis Ian, particularly "At Seventeen." The song works, most of the way through. However, the lyrics struggle some without hearing or knowing the song. I found myself putting the CD in before I'd gotten a quarter of the way through the book, as I was frustrated by my inability to find the rhythm. It is offbeat, and the cadence frequently changes, as does the song. It is a lovely book, and would make a good present for an expectant mother, but make sure that CD is included.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a coworker. However, when I started reading it, it read really awkward. I didn't think about it until we were done reading, but I think that's because it's actually a song rather than a book. So the parts that said "That's what I'd do, do, do, do. Because I love you, you, you, you." were strange while reading, but probably would work in the song.

The story didn't have a whole lot of plot either. It does showcase the love a mother has for her child though. So I feel like this probably should have just stayed a song, rather than turn it in to a book. The song was included as a CD with the book, so I think I'll pop it in the CD player and see how it goes. I may increase my star rating after that.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genre: PB39

This book was not my favorite story. I think it s a good song when it is sung, but not so good as a story for young readers. I could not get into the story because it felt so choppy and did not flow well. I loved the illustrations and found them to be the one good part of the book. The illustrations of the mom and baby kept the story moving along and helped me to understand what the point of the story was. I lie the concept of the story, but just using the words of the song, it did not make for a great story Readers will like the pictures and enjoy the story if they hear or have heard this song.

Three words to describe this book: Song, Baby, Sweet

[Ethelen V. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jewel, & Bates, A. J. (2012). That's what I'd do. New York, N.Y: Simon & Schuster.

A bedtime story book written by singer, Jewel. In this story, she marvels and is awed by the love she feels for her newborn. Although the content is appropriate for its intended age level, I did not find it an enjoyable read. The wording just did not flow. After reading it the first time, I found the CD in the back that went along with the story. The music and lyrics are better than the book alone. The pictures are soft and enduring but those qualities do not make up for my overall impression of the book.

[Brandy Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this touching story written by an author who is a mother, one can see the love she has for her newborn child. This story has rhyme and is a lullaby. It also includes beautifully drawn illustrations though they are not drawn in reality since there are some parts like the painting of the sun with her paint brush. Yet the words of the lullaby are still being clearly expressed and shown. It shows the value of a mother's love for her child. There is not a specific cultural group being addressed here but one can assume which group the mother and child belongs to based on illustrations and the author. However it feels like a representation of what many mothers would feel for their child.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet song from a mother to a child complemented by colorful illustrations. We really enjoyed listening to Jewel sing the song on the CD while we followed along with the narrative in the book. The song is catchy and fun to sing along with, and we all sang together by the end of the book. Short, but very touching and perfect for parents to read with their children.

[Kristin Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 4 year old daughter loved this book. She listen to the accompanying CD with the book multiple times and read the pictures without the CD. I appreciated the lyrical expression of love between mother & child.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely text, and the illustrations really bring it to life.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my sons New favorites!

[ReadingWench · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book. The illustrations are fantastic and the words are actually the lyrics to Jewel's orginial song.

Good for preschoolers up to 2nd grade.

AR: unknown

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice picture of a mother and child on the cover. Jewel has a really nice voice, and it is a nice song, but I'm not sure I can make the translation to a picture book with the song.

[Phil Alcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very warm and lyrical.

[Valleri · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the illustrations are beautiful, the words or lyrics, left much to be desired. My children enjoyed this book for the most part but it isn't one I will be re-reading every night to them.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy June Bates' illustrations truly make this book.

[Miss Kelly]

This is a picture book/ song by Jewel. The soft illustrations are by Amy June Bates. I like the cd - song by Jewel, but to just read the book without the song is not impressive to me.

[Tamarah]

A mom shares her feelings and intentions of loving care with her child in this lyrical story.