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BabyLit® Primers
Sense and Sensibility: A BabyLit® Opposites Primer
Observe the life and loves of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, in Sense & Sensibility: A BabyLit Opposites Primer. Learn the difference between big Norland Park and little Barton Cottage, happy Mr. Willoughby and sad Colonel Brandon, while hoping that one day Elinor and Marianne will leave their single days behind them and celebrate worthy marriages.
22 pages, Board book
First published February 1, 2013
About the author
Jennifer Adams
182 books199 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Jennifer Adams is the author of more than forty books. Her bestselling BabyLit board books (published by Gibbs Smith) introduce small children to the world of classic literature and have sold 1.5 million copies. She is the author of another series of board books, My Little Cities.
Jennifer’s picture books for children, Edgar Gets Ready for Bed, Edgar and the Tattle-Tale Heart and Edgar and the Tree House of Usher are inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven.” She also has two new picture books forthcoming from HarperCollins.
Her titles also include books for adults, including Y is for Yorick, a slightly irreverent look at Shakespeare, and Remarkably Jane, notable quotations on Jane Austen.
Jennifer graduated from the University of Washington. She has 20 years’ experience as a book editor, including at Gibbs Smith and Quirk Books. She currently works as a consulting editor for Sounds True, developing their children’s line. Jennifer works some evenings at her local independent bookstore, The King’s English, to feed her book habit. She lives in Salt Lake City with her husband, Bill Dunford, who is also a writer.
(bio from author's website)
Jennifer Adams is the author of more than forty books. Her bestselling BabyLit board books (published by Gibbs Smith) introduce small children to the world of classic literature and have sold 1.5 million copies. She is the author of another series of board books, My Little Cities.
Jennifer’s picture books for children, Edgar Gets Ready for Bed, Edgar and the Tattle-Tale Heart and Edgar and the Tree House of Usher are inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven.” She also has two new picture books forthcoming from HarperCollins.
Her titles also include books for adults, including Y is for Yorick, a slightly irreverent look at Shakespeare, and Remarkably Jane, notable quotations on Jane Austen.
Jennifer graduated from the University of Washington. She has 20 years’ experience as a book editor, including at Gibbs Smith and Quirk Books. She currently works as a consulting editor for Sounds True, developing their children’s line. Jennifer works some evenings at her local independent bookstore, The King’s English, to feed her book habit. She lives in Salt Lake City with her husband, Bill Dunford, who is also a writer.
(bio from author's website)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
June 24, 2018
Another great book in this great series!
October 15, 2014
Board books are a brilliant concept. A child’s first book sized for their little hands printed on cardboard pages that are practically un-rippable, and, it doubles as a teething ring for toddlers. Add to that a Jane Austen theme and you are on your way to creating the next literati in the world.
In 2011, Jennifer Adams introduced us to Pride & Prejudice BabyLit, her first Little Miss Austen board book. It was a big hit. She has now created a cottage industry out of board books inspired by classic literature for very young readers including: Jane Eyre, Moby Dick, The Hounds of Baskerville to name a few! Each one is exquisitely illustrated by Allison Oliver and handsomely published by Gibbs Smith, who excel at gift books and illustrated editions.
Sense & Sensibility: Little Miss Austen (BabyLit) is a beautiful package with a clever theme. On the front cover we find the image of Jane Austen’s two heroines Marianne and Elinor Dashwood. Anyone who has read the original book, or seen any of the popular movie adaptations, will recognize the two divergent sisters and understand the irony that they have been chosen to represent an opposites primer. The fact that Marianne is impulsive and overly-romantic and Elinor stoic and even-tempered will matter not to toddlers or kindergartners. It is the adult that is buying the book. They will connect with the association and want to teach their child about it too. After-all, you can never start too early with the education of Janeites.
The book has eleven illustrations of opposites helping the child learn the differences between big Norland Park and little Barton Cottage, happy Mr. Willoughby and sad Colonel Brandon and single Marianne and Elinor and then married, symbolically standing on top of their own wedding cakes with their bride grooms by their side. While the choices in Sense & Sensibility do not relate to the story as directly as they did in the Pride & Prejudice BabyLit counting primer, I still found the illustrations charming and the concept interesting and creative.
The BabyLit series is a fabulous way to introduce your budding scholar to the charms of literary classics, and ultimately introduce them to Jane Austen. I highly recommend them.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
In 2011, Jennifer Adams introduced us to Pride & Prejudice BabyLit, her first Little Miss Austen board book. It was a big hit. She has now created a cottage industry out of board books inspired by classic literature for very young readers including: Jane Eyre, Moby Dick, The Hounds of Baskerville to name a few! Each one is exquisitely illustrated by Allison Oliver and handsomely published by Gibbs Smith, who excel at gift books and illustrated editions.
Sense & Sensibility: Little Miss Austen (BabyLit) is a beautiful package with a clever theme. On the front cover we find the image of Jane Austen’s two heroines Marianne and Elinor Dashwood. Anyone who has read the original book, or seen any of the popular movie adaptations, will recognize the two divergent sisters and understand the irony that they have been chosen to represent an opposites primer. The fact that Marianne is impulsive and overly-romantic and Elinor stoic and even-tempered will matter not to toddlers or kindergartners. It is the adult that is buying the book. They will connect with the association and want to teach their child about it too. After-all, you can never start too early with the education of Janeites.
The book has eleven illustrations of opposites helping the child learn the differences between big Norland Park and little Barton Cottage, happy Mr. Willoughby and sad Colonel Brandon and single Marianne and Elinor and then married, symbolically standing on top of their own wedding cakes with their bride grooms by their side. While the choices in Sense & Sensibility do not relate to the story as directly as they did in the Pride & Prejudice BabyLit counting primer, I still found the illustrations charming and the concept interesting and creative.
The BabyLit series is a fabulous way to introduce your budding scholar to the charms of literary classics, and ultimately introduce them to Jane Austen. I highly recommend them.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
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August 18, 2025this is a 5 times a day read for me and Eliza
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April 7, 2015
Look, ma! I finally read Sense and Sensibility! These BabyLit books are awesomely adorable, and I plan to work my way through them all, even though I am totally an adult.
Also, if I have a kid, this is what we're reading. For sure.
Also, if I have a kid, this is what we're reading. For sure.
Read
April 19, 2025I got distracted a few times, but some pages really held my attention
Read
August 4, 2015These babylit primers are so much fun! I requested Alice in Wonderland: A BabyLit Colors Primer from another library because I did an Alice In Wonderland program last weekend, and since then Alicia has requested all the books she can get her hands on! Sadly we don't have all of them in the system, and I don't think MPL owns any of them. Still, super fun and a really clever introduction to literature.
April 29, 2015
SO CUTE.
Want to Read
July 11, 2014I plan to read this with Baby Hayes!
February 4, 2015
These Little Miss Austen books are amazing! Sense and Sensibility is my FAVORITE book and here it is in baby form! Genius ;)
April 7, 2015
Awwww so cute! Might buy for my nephew!
April 18, 2015
Not as adorable as the Pride and Prejudice, esp. seeing as all the men are rather paunchy. But the little joke of the couch from Willoughby and the drawings of the houses make up for a lot.
January 8, 2018
These Babylit books are so fun! I love the artwork. Love the little connections to the actual story. Love that I can enjoy this with my baby.
February 18, 2025
learning about opposites! exciting
February 15, 2016
As my third book review here on Goodreads, I give this book a 3-star rating based primarily on two things: (1) my other two reviews were both 5-star; and (2) it honestly did not do a lot for me.
By saying it didn't do much for me, I'm not saying it's a bad book - not by any means. But the style and my vision of reading the book - particularly with the kids I work with (preschool and elementary -aged) - just doesn't get me that excited. I can picture maybe some young girls enjoying this book, based on the two characters on the cover being cartoon illustrations of girls (among other reasons), but overall I don't find it very appealing.
Based on that, you'd think I'd potentially give this book a lower rating. However, I can appreciate many of the illustrations and some of the simplicity it offers in terms of making distinct contrasts (i.e. Happy and Sad, Empty and Full, etc.). I think some of the lessons it offers can be helpful and the illustrations mostly do well in this regard.
One last thing I'd like to mention about this book is it's English theme (at least in my mind). The overall illustration and content gave me the feeling it was published in England. It is not - it was published in Utah. But this was another reason this book just didn't enthrall me greatly.
Some details I noticed:
* For the "BIG" and "LITTLE" pages - the first two pages of this book - the illustrations were of a large home (estate or manor) titled "Norland Park" and a more moderate or small home, titled "Barton Cottage". This hopefully helps illustrate the English vibe (in terms of culture) that I felt. Moreover, I think maybe "Manor" or "Castle" and "Cottage" would have been more sufficient here.
* For the "OLD" and "NEW" pages of this book, clothes were the theme - specifically, womens' clothing. I liked the use of the different accessories to indicate more modern clothing ("NEW") and clothes more commonly found decades ago ("OLD"). For instance, "boots" ("OLD") and "fancy boots" ("NEW").
By saying it didn't do much for me, I'm not saying it's a bad book - not by any means. But the style and my vision of reading the book - particularly with the kids I work with (preschool and elementary -aged) - just doesn't get me that excited. I can picture maybe some young girls enjoying this book, based on the two characters on the cover being cartoon illustrations of girls (among other reasons), but overall I don't find it very appealing.
Based on that, you'd think I'd potentially give this book a lower rating. However, I can appreciate many of the illustrations and some of the simplicity it offers in terms of making distinct contrasts (i.e. Happy and Sad, Empty and Full, etc.). I think some of the lessons it offers can be helpful and the illustrations mostly do well in this regard.
One last thing I'd like to mention about this book is it's English theme (at least in my mind). The overall illustration and content gave me the feeling it was published in England. It is not - it was published in Utah. But this was another reason this book just didn't enthrall me greatly.
Some details I noticed:
* For the "BIG" and "LITTLE" pages - the first two pages of this book - the illustrations were of a large home (estate or manor) titled "Norland Park" and a more moderate or small home, titled "Barton Cottage". This hopefully helps illustrate the English vibe (in terms of culture) that I felt. Moreover, I think maybe "Manor" or "Castle" and "Cottage" would have been more sufficient here.
* For the "OLD" and "NEW" pages of this book, clothes were the theme - specifically, womens' clothing. I liked the use of the different accessories to indicate more modern clothing ("NEW") and clothes more commonly found decades ago ("OLD"). For instance, "boots" ("OLD") and "fancy boots" ("NEW").
February 14, 2021
I liked this one. It made more sense as a baby board book. But E doesn't. Possibly because the color scheme is darker.
January 5, 2018
So much yes! This one is a Jane Austen Sense and Sensibility inspired primer on opposites. I laughed out loud when I first read it (alone and not with kids Bc they were sleeping hahaha) when I got the page on “Happy Willoughby... Sad Colonel Brandon” so funny!
I found this at a resale shop by accident and then bought my second... in Bath, England at the Jane Austen Centre... and again a set from Costco. These babylit books are not only cute, clever, and have some really hilarious spots, they are just fun to read.
The “intro” into the classics is mostly the book name with character names and a few key words. It’s mostly just a fun idea for board books without being extremely educational, but the idea to have opposites, counting, etc makes it have that element in them.
I found this at a resale shop by accident and then bought my second... in Bath, England at the Jane Austen Centre... and again a set from Costco. These babylit books are not only cute, clever, and have some really hilarious spots, they are just fun to read.
The “intro” into the classics is mostly the book name with character names and a few key words. It’s mostly just a fun idea for board books without being extremely educational, but the idea to have opposites, counting, etc makes it have that element in them.
December 22, 2013
Colonel Brandon is sad. Willoughby is happy.
While this doesn't capture as much plot as its P&P cohort, this is a charming book with many delightful illustrations.
I see that the author and illustrator have tackled many great literary works. I'll need to find a bookstore and look at more. I'm putting these on my future gift list for the next baby showed I'm invited to.
While this doesn't capture as much plot as its P&P cohort, this is a charming book with many delightful illustrations.
I see that the author and illustrator have tackled many great literary works. I'll need to find a bookstore and look at more. I'm putting these on my future gift list for the next baby showed I'm invited to.
June 3, 2015
These are adorable primers/board books to introduce readers too - I'm buying the series which have titles of the Classics, for my granddaughter/grandson so that I can introduce them to reading right away. I love these books!
June 9, 2017
I love the Baby Lit books and was very impressed with this one. The illustrations are both fun and beautiful, and I appreciate the ways that the book hints at the story of Sense and Sensibility. This book is fun for kids and adults alike.
June 13, 2013
A great way to market a classic. Useful and charming. perfect for a baby shower gift for a literary friend.
July 16, 2013
Not quite as clever as P&P, but just as adorable.
September 2, 2013
A must-read for any toddler and/or Austen fan. I will add this to our home library and cherish it forever!!
February 22, 2017
Ummmm incredible concept for a boardbook!
August 16, 2017
A delightful introduction to the concept of opposites told through the classic story of Sense and Sensibility.
February 12, 2024
Adams Adventure #9
Baby Lit #4
Well this Baby Lit book has an even more tenuous link to the story than other books, and goes through a series of opposites.
Teaching the opposites is fine, and it is in a more interesting way than other resources, but would it teach anything about Austen here?
One would think not, and again it is for the parent.
Baby Lit #4
Well this Baby Lit book has an even more tenuous link to the story than other books, and goes through a series of opposites.
Teaching the opposites is fine, and it is in a more interesting way than other resources, but would it teach anything about Austen here?
One would think not, and again it is for the parent.
February 19, 2021
A tough read, as in durable! Got to love a well made cardboard book. The illustrations are well thought out and make great contrasts to the next page. This book is a great way to introduce new vocabulary to your young, early reader.
March 17, 2021
I love this BabyLit primer, just like all the others. My 2yo daughter loves it too, and has picked up very quickly on the pairing between opposites. Say "day", and she'll answer "night!" The illustrations are lovely and the opposite motif goes very well with S&S.
July 3, 2021
I love this cover; I already had the image on a pin and didn’t quite realize I hadn’t read this book. I think the last pages and second to last pages should be switched. “Day” and “night” is not the best ending; it should be “single” and “married”— the opposites on the previous page.
March 13, 2022
A board book about opposites based on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. Although I have no idea who is the intended reader, it does work as a book about opposites and Austen fans will find it amusing.
November 22, 2024
Opposites is a perfect subject for a BabyLit primer on Sense and Sensibility! It contrasts the different homes/lifestyles of the main characters central to the conflict, as well as contrasting Willoughby and Colonel Brandon, and Elinor and Marianne.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews