Ninja Baby

by David Zeltser, Diane Goode (Illustrator)

"Funny and pitch-perfect."— Publishers Weekly , starred review
From the day she was born, Nina was a ninja baby. She obliterated her applesauce. She concealed herself at bath time. And she was training herself in advanced infiltration (of movie night). Nina wants to do everything by herself, until the day her parents bring home a Kung Fu Master (a baby brother). Now with a sibling, Nina will face the one thing she cannot do be part of a family. With verve and humor, David Zeltser and Diane Goode tell the story of an unusually gifted child, and the family that is more than a match for her.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Family, Storytime, Fiction, Martial Arts

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 3, 2015

About the author

David Zeltser is the author of Lug: Dawn of the Ice Age and its sequel, Lug: Blast from the North. These novels satirize humanity’s response to climate change and have been praised by Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and Al Gore, who called the first book “a great combination of humor and powerful insight.”

His debut picture book, Ninja Baby (Chronicle Books, illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Diane Goode), was a runner-up for the Magnolia State Book Award, featured in USA Today, and received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which called it “a funny and pitch-perfect story.” His more recent picture books include Codzilla (HarperCollins, illustrated by Jared Chapman) and The Night Library (Random House, illustrated by Raul Colón), which School Library Journal described as “sure to inspire people of all ages to pick up a book and experience the magic that unfolds.” The Universe Ate My Homework (Lerner Books, illustrated by Ayesha Rubio) was praised by NPR science journalist and Radiolab host Robert Krulwich, who kindly lent his voice to the book trailer.

David is also a screenwriter. He co-wrote the feature script Solo with director Joseph Greco; it is being produced by Oscar-winning producer Jonathan Sanger and James Trezza.

David and his friend Julia Chiapella co-founded The Word Lab, a free after-school writing center for kids. It’s in Santa Cruz, California, where he lives with his family.

Reviews

[Amy!]

This book is cute, but it would have been nice if the ninja baby had been, I don't know, maybe this is crazy, an Asian baby instead of a blond kid.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those picture books that will probably appeal more to adults than to kids. Nina is a precocious little kid. She's a ninja baby! Fiercely independent, she wants to do everything by herself and for herself. Soon, though, she's joined in the household by a Kung Fu Master. Suddenly, she's on her own not because she wants to be, but because the Master is taking all of her parents' attention. So she asks him what his secret is...

This is actually a pretty cute story about sibling rivalry... and cooperation. Ninja Baby and the Kung Fu Master eventually learn a lot from each other. Their parents are in for a few rough years!

The illustrations are simple, but cute. The facial expressions and amount of action depicted on the pages make me wonder if the illustrator has some sort of background in animation. The babies are quite cute, and the little pictorial twist at the end shows us where the kids got their skills.

Overall, this is a fairly strong picture book. The storyline reminds me a little of Princess Puffybottom ... and Darryl with its themes of rivalry and eventual truce. I'd recommend either book if you're looking for something along those lines.

Quotable moment:

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ninja Baby was a very active, self-sufficient infant. She made changing time a hand-to-hand combat practice session, had infiltration of movie night down to an art, and knew how to kick the pants of applesauce. Then her parents came home with Kung Fu Master (AKA, a baby brother), and suddenly she wasn't the center of attention any more. Did Ninja Baby really want to be alone, as she'd always thought, or was being part of a family a better option...?

A cute ninja take on one of the classic early childhood experiences - i.e.: adjusting to family life with a new sibling - David Zeltser's Ninja Baby is an entertaining story, one greatly enhanced by the droll artwork done by Diane Goode. The illustrations here, done in pen, ink and watercolor, won quite a few chuckles from me, as they expressively captured the eponymous ninja heroine's hi-jinks. Recommended to all young ninjas, as well as to anyone looking for new-sibling stories that are humorous and heartwarming.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right when she was born, Nina was a ninja baby. The doctor slapper her bottom to make sure she was breathing and Nina knocked him over with a ninja kick. Nina was immediately independent, working on her ninja skills even when taking a bath or having her diaper changed. But then everything changes when her parents bring home a new baby, a Kung Fu Master. He approaches everything differently, steadily taking over her parents’ attention and time, pulling them all under his power, and doing it all with a cute gurgle. There’s a lot a ninja can learn from a kung fu master and a lot a kung fu master can learn about stealth and attacks. Soon the children are working together to build their skills, so their parents had better watch out!

Zeltser embraces his ninja-themed picture book and doesn’t slow down. The ninja theme carries through the entire book, with baby Nina escaping her crib and doing sneak attacks. The humor of the book is dynamic and clever, offering a bright mix of ninja references and normal childhood experiences. But make no mistake, Nina is a true ninja, just as her little brother is a true kung fu master. It is this additional element that makes the book really work. Nina is stealthy and fast while her little brother takes on a completely different type of martial arts energy. The combination is pure delight, especially as they begin to learn from one another.

The illustrations by Goode are wry and cheery. They have a loose line about them that makes them very friendly. The images tell the complete story, making sure that readers know that Nina really is a little ninja and that she is truly gifted at stealth. The blissful new brother is also wonderfully depicted as a contrast to Nina.

A unique take on a new sibling book, this one will sneak up and steal your heart. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Kid Lit Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goode’s pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations deftly show Nina’s ninja movements and facial expressions, using sly humor and making great use of white space. Zeltser’s witty story contains perfect timing and a fun twist at the end. Sibling-rivalry has never had so much heart as in Ninja Baby.

To read more go to: http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2015/10/19...

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute! My son is definitely not a ninja baby. Stealth is not his strong point. Is there combat type that involves yowling and big cheeks? He's got that one on lockdown.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are now officially too many ninja picture books.

[Kirsti Call · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the idea of a ninja baby who came out of the womb doing ninja kicks and "obliterating" her applesauce. Nina is an independent toddler who is later flummoxed by the arrival of a new Kung Fu master brother. How does he stay so focused and keep the attention of the parents so well? Nina's feelings as an older sister are beautifully portrayed in this zany, clever, and perfect read-aloud! There are several laugh-out-loud moments in this book that makes you want to know more about Nina, her brother and her mysterious parents.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, fun, and my niece really liked the "surprise" ending. Would be great for a child who is about to become and older sibling. Enjoyed the ink and watercolor illustrations. Will make a good addition to the Ninja collection I'm starting for my students who lived Ninja! last year.

[Debra McCracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me giggle and smile. A book to be particularly appreciated by anyone newly becoming a parent, or who has ever been a parent of young children. Delightful and funny--a great gift to new parents!

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for children but I also appreciated it from a (grand)parent's point of view. Ninja baby meets his match as a toddler, when a baby sibling joins the family.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, but not really spectacular. My littlest kiddo enjoyed it, but it’s not one that is particularly memorable.

[Jesse Baggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous book, with an interesting take on familiar concepts (Ninja babies; feuding siblings á la “Boss Baby) that builds to an unexpected and satisfying conclusion. Great art, too.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this so much! The illustrations. Wow.

The writing is fine. Yes, get this for the baby ninja. It's fun to read along.

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

With positive reviews from Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus, David Zeltser and Diane Goode's Ninja Baby makes a spirited entrance into the picture book sphere. Zeltser does a solid job here in his picture book debut: in precisely restrained text and diction, his text just springs to life with accomplished illustrator Goode's artwork. Diane Goode's illustrations are absolutely terrific: dynamic, fluid, and with just enough detail to capture all the essential elements of the story. With such an active story and combustible main character here in Nina the ninja, it's a testament to the skill of both author and illustrator that the story never once feels frenetic or overworked!

If you're expecting a simple picture book just about a funny little girl who is a brilliant young martial artist, you may be in for a surprise or two. While indeed about young ninja Nina and her exceptional skills from birth, the picture book is also a story about a young child who is suddenly faced with becoming a big sister. Nina not only reacts in some unexpectedly non-ninja-like ways to being a big sister and but also feels a bit lonely...However, things change when she learns some very impressive techniques from her surprisingly skillful new brother. A fun twist at the end may have readers wondering if we may ever get to see more of Ninja Baby and Kung Fu Master baby in action! Overall, Ninja Baby is an entertaining, energetic and witty read that also offers an interesting and fresh take on welcoming a new sibling.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina has always been a bit of a handful, and as she gets older, she keeps her parents hopping with her ninja ways. But when a younger sibling arrives and charms everyone with his quiet ways, Nina decides that she might be able to learn something from him--and she might be able to teach him a thing or two. The pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations depict in humorous fashion her antics and her placid little brother while the text describes the different approaches to life of a Ninja and her little brother, a Kung Fu Master. It's frightening what the two can get up to when they join forces, but as the final illustration shows, their parents are more than up to the challenge. This one is well suited for sharing with a youngster whose family is growing, but it also amusingly depicts two different examples of how to get attention. Youngsters might enjoy discussing the siblings' different approaches to life.

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I Thought- This was a fun book. I really liked how it applied the ninja (and Kung-Fu) activities to real life. Mr. Zeltser has created a great story, and the illustrations are awesome for it! They have little details that make it pretty cool. I really like the feeling of the story and I like how Nina reacts to her new Kung Fu Master baby brother. LOVED the ending of the book. It made me smile, and I like that it leaves the ending open. I can see this book giving a kid who is getting an older sibling a great feeling about the possibilities that he or she can do with their new sibling. Plus the book is just a super fun read. Any kid would like it (and their parents too)! Apparently this is Zeltser’s first picture book. I’d love to see more from him.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Kelly K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Although this would not have been my book of choice, I picked up this title because I read to a first grade boy every week, and he only wants to read ninja stories. Fortunately for us, this book had more of a plot than some of the dregs of the library that we've been reading lately. Nina is a little ninja who is taken by surprise when a new baby infiltrates her home and parents' hearts. How she navigates her day to day life and adapts to a new member of the family is told with humor, cartoonish pictures, a few jokes for adults.

Overall, it is a cute story about sibling bonding with a clever twist at the end. Be warned, though-- there are several exposed baby bottoms throughout. This book might be best one-on-one or at home, rather than in a classroom setting where a fit of the giggles will spread like the flu.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was adorable. SO adorable.

The use of different martial arts styles for personality types is hysterical. The fact that the ninja's independence and the zen master's passivity are shown as both having their merits, with neither being the "right" way for a child to be. The adorable illustrations (seriously, there were a couple times I couldn't see Ninja Nina until I did a double take!). It all just rolls together to form a super cute book about being a family and finding out who you want to be.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since the day she was born Nina has been an independent spirit. After all, she is a ninja baby. Then one day a new little brother arrives and Nina decides that he is a true Kung Fu Master able to command her parents without a word, he even gets them to carry him everywhere. And for the first time Nina feels all alone. But is she? As she studies the baby's ways he studies hers and soon both are stealthy and a handful for their parents. Will they be too much together or are their parents up to the challenge? A fun new way of looking at a new baby being introduced into the family.

[Kate Puleo Unger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off with a cute concept - a ninja baby. But then it turned into a book about jealousy over a new baby. Nina, the older sibling, is the ninja baby, and the new baby brother is a Kung Fu Master. He comes along and steals all of the attention. There is a weird exchange that magically resolves everything - I didn't get it, and suddenly the Ninja and Master are working together. It didn't work for me.

Ages 4-8

http://www.momsradius.com/2016/10/cyb...

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina (the ninja baby) learns all the art, stealth, and skill of ninjutsu and practices on her unsuspecting parents - until another baby, the kung fu master, comes along and disrupts the household. Like all good martial artists, they need to work together and learn from each other's respective disciplines to become a team. Funny and fast-moving narrative, with terrific illustrations; while humorous and light-hearted, they also show that the author and illustrator understand and love the martial arts. I particularly loved the baby's mobile, adorned with throwing stars.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ninja Baby by David Zeltser is a wonderful little tale of Nina. From the moment she was born she liked to do things on her own and was called a Ninja baby. When her parents bring home a baby brother Nina learns that she is not the only Ninja baby in the home and indeed must learn from the new Kung Fu Master. The illustrations and story are perfect for any parent. I would suggest this story to anyone with a second little bundle of joy on the way.

[James Aschbacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Zeltser has a way with words that will entertain you and your children. Wonderfully playful the story begins with the birth of Baby Ninja (a real Ninja!!!) but is soon enhanced by the appearance of her new baby brother, the Kung Fu Master (Yes, a real Master!!!). Zeltser's witty prose is smartly animated by the delightful watercolor drawings of Diane Goode. Together they tell the story of sibling rivalry that is both insightful and clever with surprising results. Two "sucked" thumbs up!!!

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the start, Nina shows that she is a true ninja baby. She obliterates her applesauce; she stealthily conceals herself at bathtime. But everything changes when her parents bring home a new baby, who is a master at controlling his parents as a Kung Fu Master. At first Nina “flips out” with jealousy, but soon she starts to learn from him the ways of “baby-style Kung Fu.” Readers will especially enjoy the twist at the end, as Nina and her brother join forces.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina the Ninja fights and sneaks her way through the world, winning every battle. Her understanding parents are gracious enough to get her a throwing-star mobile and allow her to express her extreme individuality. But when the Master comes along, Nina strives to first learn his secrets, then follow his teachings. Gaining a new younger sibling can feel like a hostile invasion, until you learn to befriend your enemy.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some kids have a talent for mayhem! This books reminds us to embrace our strengths, and work on our weaknesses (with help!) Most sibling bonds won't be so explicitly a reciprocal master-student, but even an only child would enjoy this wild tale (and probably dress in black and sneak around for a while afterwards!)

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts and ends strong, but the in-between is iffy. The main character, Ninja Baby, goes from hating to loving her little brother, Kung Fu Master, for seemingly no reason. Maybe my copy was missing a page? For such a simplistic story, it was very hard to follow.

I read this to a group of prek kids. It did not keep them entertained, but I enjoyed the beginning.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another ninja-themed picture book. It isn't clear to me why a very independent toddler suddenly becomes jealous of her baby brother being smothered in her parents' attention that she doesn't want anyway. The meeting of the minds is also not explained well within the text. This feels like one of those picture books aimed at the parents rather than the children.

[Jessalyn King · Rating 5 out of 5]

These pictures are amazing. I think the book would be excellent without, but this brings it to fantastic. Little details like the father also being in a hospital gown at the birth bedside, or the adorable concealment tactics. (From a grownup perspective, I liked the shared parenting roles shown... just sayin'.)