A Baby for Grace

by Ian Whybrow, Christian Birmingham (Illustrator)

When her parents bring home their new baby, Grace must adjust to a new presence in the household. Any "soon-to-be sibling" and of course, any parent expecting the arrival of a newborn, will find the simple, rhythmic text easy to identify with and a joy to read aloud. Friends and relatives will find this tenderly illustrated book the ideal new baby gift they have been searching for.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1998

About the author

Ian Whybrow is a British writer of children's books, first published in 1989. He has written over 100 books for children, has been translated into 27 languages and is published in 28 countries. His books are humorous and range from picture books to novels, short stories and poetry.

Reviews

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

ages 2-4- A new sister comes home and Grace adjusts; beautiful illustrations.

[McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book by Ian Whybrow and Christian Birmingham follows the story of young Grace becoming a big sister. Throughout the book, Grace is told “no” a lot in regards to things she can and can not do. This of course causes her to become upset; however, she is able to recognize how these “no”s are in place for her own good. As the book progresses she matures in her understanding of change and the changes in place of having a new sibling. I enjoy this book because I feel as if it has a lot to do with a child’s emotions and how they process the world around them. I think that this book is a great read for children who are experiencing a big change in their lives (especially those whose families are growing in size). I would use this book in a classroom setting when discussing difficult topics such as change and the emotions it brings. As an elementary school teacher, it is very likely that my children will experience a situation similar to this one, so it's important to tackle those confusing emotions that come along with change. I think that this book would be a great way to open up those conversations and have a real discussion.

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about a little girl hearing “no” from what seems like all the adults in her life in anticipation of her new sibling. And how she feels better.

[Harriet Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Baby for Grace is a short illustrated story about a young girl being introduced to her first younger sibling. The story begins with Grace not knowing where her mother is, and finding out that she is in hospital with the baby. The following pages describe Grace's experiences in the run up to the baby coming home, including; watching her father speak to lots of people on the telephone, her Grandparents coming over to tidy up the house, and observing the decorator finishing up the baby's bedroom. Grace begins to feel left out and tries to get involved with the different activities, but keeps being told 'no'. The baby soon comes home with Grace's mother, and while Grace continues to be told 'no', when the baby cries the parents and Grandparents say 'ah yes', this makes Grace jealous so she goes outside and tries to cut some flowers for the baby. When Grace's father catches her with sharp shears he gets cross, which makes Grace cry. However, he then realises Grace was feeling sad so he helps her to pick some flowers for the baby, which makes everybody pleased with Grace once again.

This story is perfect for younger primary school children because it describes a situation that many will be able to relate to, and one that some may find very difficult. This story can be used to start discussions about how a new baby may affect an older siblings life. It could also be used to try and get children to open up about themselves, by speaking about somebody that they love very much; which could increase their confidence when speaking in public. The story is dominated by illustrations, which explain a lot of the story as there are few words. This story would also be suitable as a first reading book due to the simple narrative and wording.

[Lisa Rathbun]

This is a wonderful story! The way Grace responds is so realistic. The pictures are great - in the cover illustration, the artist captures Grace's pride, nervousness, and anxiety to please while holding her little sister.