Hush, Little Baby

by Brian Pinkney

Mama has errands to run, so it is up to Papa and big brother to stop baby sister from crying. And, as families familiar with this popular American lullaby know, they will try just about anything to convince baby to smile again. Award-winning artist Brian Pinkney's version of the classic song is an exuberant and affectionate tribute to a father's unconditional love.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Childrens, Family, Folklore, Storytime, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, (Jerry) Brian Pinkney was raised in an artistic household. "My two brothers and sister and I played musical instruments, and we were always drawing, painting, or building things," the illustrator once recalled of his childhood. While his mother, children's book author Gloria Jean Pinkney, would inspire all her children with a love of reading, it would be his father, illustrator Jerry Pinkney, who would serve as a mentor to young Brian. "I did everything he did," Pinkney would later admit. "My desk was a miniature version of his desk. The paintbrushes and pencils I used were often the ones from his studio that were too old or too small for him to use. I had a paint set like his and a studio like his. Except my studio was a walk-in closet, which made it the perfect size for me."

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/jerry-br...

According to the book back flap, he has played the drums since he was eight years old. He still keeps a set of drumsticks in his studio where, when resting from his illustrations, he sometimes taps out rhythms on the back of his chair.

With his wife, writer Andrea Davis Pinkney, he makes his home in Brooklyn NY.

Reviews

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really have an affinity for old american folk and southern music. I thought when I started playing the piano as a child that I would only play classical and Christmas music but I never expected to have such a love for old folk tunes.

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set to the lyrics of the traditional lullaby, a little girl spends a sleepless night helping her parents buy items to try to distract the wailing infant keeping them all awake.

This book was a family favorite, read again and again, as we lingered over the pictures filled with skillful character pantomime and wonderful Appalachian setting.


FOR REFERENCE:

#1550 in our old book database. Rated "Good" by Rod and Adelia.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sang this song over and over to my babies, and, like Frazee, always wondered what kind of a story would be the best fit for it. She created a pretty good one. But what I really love is her style of art, especially as it brings alive the expressions on the father's and sister's faces as they deal with the events of the night.

That being said, some will love this, some will think it a waste of time. I won't recommend you do anything but consider trying it yourself, iff you're interested.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure I could give anything illustrated by Marla Frazee less than four stars; I love her style! That said, I didn't like this one quite as well as some of her others (All the World & The Seven Silly Eaters, for example) probably because "Hush, Little Baby" has never been one of my favorite rhymes. That said, I really appreciated Frazee's creativity in tying the story back to its Appalachian roots (though I wanted some sort of Illustrator's Note telling more about this) and adding more delightful details to the story. I was especially intrigued by the old man peddler--in the final picture, I think he looks just a bit like Santa Clause and I wonder if that was intentional? Anyway, do check this out if you're a fan of Frazee or Appalachian settings.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text is classic to the song. The pictures are classic to Marla Frazee.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely, detailed artwork that literally gives new meaning to the verses.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art by Frazee is always worth studying; it not only illustrates the text, but tells its own story. Here she uses a grumpy-looking peddler as the source of all the gifts that "Papa's gonna buy." That's a nice touch.

I wish there had been a note from Frazee giving a little background about the song, and explaining why she decided to use a peddler in Appalachia for her setting.

[Carolynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a folk song I can remember from my own childhood (I remember being very sad when that looking-glass broke!), but Marla Frazee has given it a new, fresh, delightfully humorous twist. Frazee has set the picture book in 19th century rural West Virginia, honoring the song's Appalachian roots. But unlike the sweet, passive infant of some versions, Frazee's little baby is agressively inconsolable and the subject of a little sibling rivalry. But big sister pluckily helps her patient father make the trades that (Spoiler ahead!) finally bring the family some peace. The peddler, incidentally, is a bearded gentleman in a long red cloak that bears some resemblance to another character in American folklore. See for yourself!

Frazee owes something to the humorous drawings of Caldecott winner Robert McCloskey (compare especially to Honor books _Blueberries for Sal_ and _Journey Cake, Ho!_) and the period charm of Elizabeth Orton Jones, also a Caldecott winner. See if you can find Jones's version of "Little Red Riding Hood," long out of print. But she has put her individual stamp on this traditional material, which Pete Seeger describes as "Captivating!" No Lexile measure is available, but the predictable nature of the song would make this book good for early readers.

[Clive · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loves this book! Loves books about babies.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hush, Little Baby: A Folk Song with Pictures" by Marla Frazee is a well illustrated children's book that goes along with a familiar and classic song. The interesting part of the illustrations is that they offer a visual description of things in the song that many children today would be unsure or unfamiliar with. These illustrations also offer a humorous quality to the book and provide children with a lot of detail, something that makes it visually more appealing to children. There are also very few words on each page so this would be a good book to read to younger children who are still new to reading.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these illustrations. I'm not sure what they remind me of, but something from my childhood. (Edit to add, it reminds me of The Seven Silly Eaters) I never knew Hush, Little Baby, the nursery song had been put to a picture book so this was something that I found amusing and enjoyable. I'd be glad to own this one on our shelf. I wish I knew if the board book was abridged to order a copy. We read this through inter-library loan.

[Madison Hurlbut · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a remix on the lullaby. It is about the mischievous behaviors of an older sister who awoke the baby and now won't stop howling and crying. The girl then convinces her father to buy the mocking bird that won't sing and so on. The book is set back in history more. There is a candlelit log cabin that displayed that. The images in the book tell a lot of the story. It is a very cute book that I would read more around a nap time in a preschool.

[Kaylynn Johnsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book of this song I've ever read. Brilliant! The story starts in the endpapers, don't rush past them or you will miss why the baby is crying.

This exhausted but loving family is at its wit's end trying to soothe the crying baby. Good thing the tinker is in town as they buy item after item in order to pacify the child, even taking the baby on a long ride in the tinker's cart (we've all been there).

Gorgeously illustrated. A true masterpiece.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated board book with the subtitle A Folk Song with Pictures.
A mother and father are tucking their sleeping baby into a cradle with his jealous little sister looking on. Giving the cradle a push, she wakes the baby who then cries and cries with no hint of stopping. His sister tries everything she can think of to make him stop, promising him things from their daddy. Very cute illustrations match so well with the words.

[Chancela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a good way to introduce folk songs/lullabies to students. I honestly think this book is a little bit strange, but the illustrations are very good, like usual with Marla Frazee's work. She always shows a great mixture of colors to go along with the story, and somehow always manages to bring emotion with every page turn.

[Maria Hatzialexiou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because it really brought the song to life. Marla Frazze does a fantastic job at doing just that with her illustrations. I would not read this book to a group of children in a classroom but maybe a child at home. This is a short and simple story that allows the readers to see exactly what the words mean in the folk song, “Hush, Little Baby”

[Jennifer Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another one of my favorite childhood books. This Folk story is different from the original version due to the fact that the older sister is more apparent in this story. The illustrations in the book are so beautifully drawn, and the story is so simple for a beginning reader in a younger grade level.

[Samantha Chafin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic lullaby that many people know today. I think that it really shows how parents will give anything to their children to let them know they're loved. Even while they are pulling their last straw. This is an excellent book you babies because they are becoming familiar with words that are rhyming and east to learn. This is a great story with wonderful illustrations.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute take on the nonsensical lullaby. In the author's note on the back it was learned that it has Appalachian roots. I was unaware of the other verses. It was very enjoyable and would make a great bedtime book. The illustrations are very detailed.

[Gabriella Bruno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. My mom use to sing this song to me when I was little. It was fun to have pictures to go along with the song. I highly recommend this for children. This would be great to sing to a child before bed or a nap.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations really steal the show here, too bad the song goes too fast to really enjoy them as a read aloud. This one would make a nice one-on-one read but make sure you take time to enjoy the pictures!

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books that you can sing to children. And I love how many in the family are trying to meet the needs of the baby. Is it time for an updated version of this song with Mama and Sister and Brother all buying things instead of just Papa.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sweet lullaby with funny illustrations. An older sister wakes up her baby brother (setting him off for a major crying spell) so her parents can buy different items from the traveling peddler to try to appease the baby.

Read-aloud rec: infant to preschool

[Carina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids bonded with this book. I used to sing this to them as babies, and adding pictures to it, made it fun— and even more so for me, Mom. The pictures were fun to interpret and an accurate portrayal of parenthood.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Marla Frazee's artwork so much, it even makes me enjoy the world's most repetitive lullaby outside of "Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall."

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the back story in the illustrations. This book is singable!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for these illustrations of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and love.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated classic.

[Fluttershy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the song but wasn't crazy about the illustrations.