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B Is for Baby
"A circular tale of family love with visual rewards. . . . There's no denying the joy in this book." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
B is for Baby. B is for Brother. B is for going to see Baba!
One morning after breakfast, Baby's big brother is getting ready to take the basket of bananas all the way to Baba's bungalow in the next village. He'll have to go along the bumpy road, past the baobab trees, birds, and butterflies, and all the way over the bridge. But what he doesn't realize is that his very cute, very curious baby sibling has stowed away on his bicycle! Little ones learning about language will love sounding out the words in this playful, vibrantly illustrated story set in West Africa.
B is for Baby. B is for Brother. B is for going to see Baba!
One morning after breakfast, Baby's big brother is getting ready to take the basket of bananas all the way to Baba's bungalow in the next village. He'll have to go along the bumpy road, past the baobab trees, birds, and butterflies, and all the way over the bridge. But what he doesn't realize is that his very cute, very curious baby sibling has stowed away on his bicycle! Little ones learning about language will love sounding out the words in this playful, vibrantly illustrated story set in West Africa.
28 pages, Board Book
First published March 12, 2019
5 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Atinuke
43 books206 followersAtinuke is a Nigerian-born author who started her career doing traditional oral storytelling. Her books include a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Winner, a Notable Book for a Global Society, a Cybils Award Winner, and an Africana Award Winner. She lives in Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
June 14, 2019
A lovely simple picture book following a baby that climbs into a basket of bananas being transported on her brothers bike without anyone knowing. We follow the stowaway on her journey and discover many things beginning with the letter B.
A bright and happy book with lovely illustrations.
A bright and happy book with lovely illustrations.
March 7, 2019
SO CUTE! Adorable illustrations and lots of fun B words.
EDIT: 3/7 -- A storytime hit! The kids loved all the B words, especially the ones that were new to them, like "bungalow." They liked coming up with other B words that Baby might see, and they loved the beautiful butterflies and birds in the big baobob that brother pedaled his bike by on the bumpy road to Baba's house with a basket full of bananas and Baby!
EDIT: 3/7 -- A storytime hit! The kids loved all the B words, especially the ones that were new to them, like "bungalow." They liked coming up with other B words that Baby might see, and they loved the beautiful butterflies and birds in the big baobob that brother pedaled his bike by on the bumpy road to Baba's house with a basket full of bananas and Baby!
August 24, 2019
Squeeeee-adorable! :-) At first I thought this would be a letter-by-letter alphabet book, but I thought it was a delightful surprise to have every aspect of the story start with the letter "B" -- it's funny and charming and the illustrations are the height of adorable. My sons loved it, too.
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February 5, 2022This title has easily become one of my favorites for storytime. Set in West Africa, each page introduces words that start with the letter "B" as the baby sneaks along for a ride with their older brother to visit Baba. -Reviewed by Stephanie at MCPL Reading Rocket
February 21, 2021
I thought this was going to be an alphabet book, but it's not. Instead, it's an exploration of words that start with "B" that's set in West Africa.
A baby goes with her brother on his bike to visit Baba (their grandfather) and bring him some bananas. The journey is populated with lots of "B" words (including some doozies that even parents might have trouble pronouncing, like "bougainvillea"). The colourful illustrations bring the setting to life.
This is only the second of Atinuke's books that I've read. There are definitely some culture shocks (like, who thinks it's a safe idea to toss a baby in the banana basket on the back of a bike and ride it through baboon-infested areas?) but it's still interesting to see the settings.
Overall, this is a nice title for very young children that really does give plenty of examples of things that start with "B". They'll probably love the cute baby and her ride to Baba's house (even if it does make adults cringe a little).
Quotable moment:
A baby goes with her brother on his bike to visit Baba (their grandfather) and bring him some bananas. The journey is populated with lots of "B" words (including some doozies that even parents might have trouble pronouncing, like "bougainvillea"). The colourful illustrations bring the setting to life.
This is only the second of Atinuke's books that I've read. There are definitely some culture shocks (like, who thinks it's a safe idea to toss a baby in the banana basket on the back of a bike and ride it through baboon-infested areas?) but it's still interesting to see the settings.
Overall, this is a nice title for very young children that really does give plenty of examples of things that start with "B". They'll probably love the cute baby and her ride to Baba's house (even if it does make adults cringe a little).
Quotable moment:
February 7, 2020
B is for baby in this delightful new picture-book adventure from expatriate Nigerian author Atinuke and British illustrator Angela Brooksbank, who previously collaborated on {book:Baby Goes to Market|34002095]. As the simple text describes the many things that B is for, from basket to brother, bicycle to baobab, the artwork shows the eponymous baby hiding in the basket of bananas her brother is taking to her Baba's bungalow. All ends happily of course, as the stowaway enjoys her ride, is welcomed at her grandfather's house, and is embraced when she returns to her mother...
I've enjoyed pretty much everything that Atinuke has produced, from her eight chapter-books and three picture-books about {book:Anna Hibiscus|6201557], to the aforementioned title done with Brooksbank, so it came as no surprise to discover that I found B Is for Baby completely charming. The text is extremely simple, but when combined with the artwork it creates an entertaining tale, one full of fun and mischief. Like all of Atinuke's stories, this one is set in Africa (one assumes Nigeria, although specific places are rarely mentioned in her books), and is full of African scenes, animals and characters. Recommended to fellow fans of the creators, and to anyone looking for lovely toddler-friendly picture-books set in Africa.
I've enjoyed pretty much everything that Atinuke has produced, from her eight chapter-books and three picture-books about {book:Anna Hibiscus|6201557], to the aforementioned title done with Brooksbank, so it came as no surprise to discover that I found B Is for Baby completely charming. The text is extremely simple, but when combined with the artwork it creates an entertaining tale, one full of fun and mischief. Like all of Atinuke's stories, this one is set in Africa (one assumes Nigeria, although specific places are rarely mentioned in her books), and is full of African scenes, animals and characters. Recommended to fellow fans of the creators, and to anyone looking for lovely toddler-friendly picture-books set in Africa.
June 18, 2020
The illustrations are AMAZING and the story is fun. A little baby stows away in a basket of bananas on her brother's bike to go to Baba's bungalow. A great group read aloud with lots of opportunities to learn new vocabulary and practice the letter B without even realizing you're doing it.
January 29, 2021
You might believe from the darling cover that this is an ABC book meant for babies, but no, Atinuke has crafted a baby book, but for only in this special story, the letter "B". It's a circular book, too, from Baby to Baba and back to Baba, then Baby again, and all the Beautiful Bounty one sees on a special trip. Don't miss Angela Brooksbank's gorgeous color illustrating this trip, favorites are the double-page spread with the baobab tree and the one where brother on his bike and baby in the banana basket ride by the Baboon. However, there is much to love on each page. Thanks to Candlewick Press for the book.
November 16, 2019
A beautiful story told entirely featuring words beginning with the letter “B,” set in Africa, featuring all the lovely parts of village life including bananas, and bridges, and buses, and baboons, and birds, and, of course, Baby.
February 24, 2022
Attended my good friend's "Books for Babies" for London Public Library and she read us this book!
December 17, 2020
some pages caught my attention more than others. like "b is for banana!"
March 9, 2019
This Book is as Beautiful as Baby Goes to Market! Baby and her Big Brother travel By Bicycle all around the village, encountering a Bounty of B words along the way. I love this author and illustrator pairing so much, and I am literally trembling with excitement to use this Book in story time!
February 21, 2019
What a perfect storytime book! Simple text with absolutely breathtaking illustrations! Another must have title for Spring 2019.
March 12, 2019
I wish I still did story times so I could use this adorable book! In simple statements, the text lists things that begin with the letter B: beads, bananas, basket, bicycle, brother, and Baba, while the illustrations convey the story of a baby who stows away in her big brother's bike basket to visit her grandfather. My three-year-old has just begun to learn consonant sounds and this book arrived just as we were introducing the letter B, so it was perfect timing for us, and both she and her one-year-old sister have just loved poring over the pictures and pointing out the baby each time she appears. I am not always crazy about Atinuke's books, but this one is a hit with me and my kids, and I happily added it to our home library.
September 10, 2021
Beautifully written and good for even young babies!
My kiddo is currently 6 months, and she *Loves* it!
Some books she'll be more interested in turning the pages and eating the edges than looking at it, but this book is different.
While I'm reading she looks intently and starts chattering to me after each short line, putting her hands on the page we're on and leaning to stare down at it
Might be because she knows 2 of the words, baby and banana, but either way it has her attention, which makes it a winner in my library!
My kiddo is currently 6 months, and she *Loves* it!
Some books she'll be more interested in turning the pages and eating the edges than looking at it, but this book is different.
While I'm reading she looks intently and starts chattering to me after each short line, putting her hands on the page we're on and leaning to stare down at it
Might be because she knows 2 of the words, baby and banana, but either way it has her attention, which makes it a winner in my library!
January 21, 2022
B is for Baby is a beautiful book that is filled with many words that start with the letter be. When I first picked this book I thought it was going to be an alphabet book but after beginning to read it I realized that all the words began with B. I enjoyed this book because it showed Baby's journey through Africa where many words that do you do not normally see in a picture book were written like baboon, Bougainvillea, and bungalow. This book would be a great addition to a young classroom because it shows a different perspective than a lot of letter books by showing illustrations of growing up in Africa and an African American family. If I end up teaching Kindergarten I will definitely be adding this book to my library.
June 4, 2019
This adorable book is told entirely through B words such as baby, bananas, baboon, bicycle, and Baba. It's quite a clever concept that is beautifully executed. I've long been a fan of Atinuke and her stories of West Africa. This one is just as good as all the others. Not only are the illustrations adorable with the baby hidden in the basket of bananas but the use of only b-words to tell the story works surprisingly well. The gorgeous two page spreads beautifully complement the simple word sentences and tell a large part of the story as Baby and her brother travel to Baba's house.
January 18, 2020
Simple but dynamic, a celebration of all things "B." I loved that the book showed an abundance of love - with brother, baba, baby, and mama. That love is also displayed for the book's setting, showing animals, plants, populated and unpopulated areas, and a setting that may be unfamiliar to many Americans. A B-is-for-Beautiful-Book.
March 20, 2019
Beautiful colorful illustrations tell the story in this one as we follow a boy and his baby sister on a bicycle trip to visit their Baba. It's clever storytelling as the text highlights all of the B words of the plants and animals and things they pass along the way.
January 25, 2020
Cute story about a baby who stows away in a banana basket on her brother's bicycle on his way to Baba's bungalow. Lots of B words and lots of fun!
Good for toddler or preschool storytimes.
Good for toddler or preschool storytimes.
March 23, 2021
The little ones enjoyed this one and I did too. The illustrations are amazing.
January 20, 2022
This book contains many cute illustrations. This book has a single word per picture set up. For students who are in early childhood or kindergarten, this book is a good introduction to West African culture. Some of the culture seen in this book promote West African looks as beautiful and the food as delicious. Rather than making this book about a white child’s outlook on life, Atinuke displayed a wonderful array of West African culture and promoted #ownvoices.
February 24, 2022
Another delightful book read by my daughter-in-law on her "Books or Babies" virtual program with the London Public Library .
July 3, 2019
This book is adorable and funny. It also prompted one of the kids, after I explained what "B is for Bungalow" means, to ask me, "How to you know so much?" So that was fun.
January 19, 2022
It is amazing how baby discovers words with "B". Baby had a lot of fun and she also learns until she arrives at Baba's. Baba in african culture represents either dad or grandfather.
March 17, 2019
A beautiful book following a day in the life of a baby and her brother and all the things they encounter that starts with B.
March 16, 2020
Great introduction to that important B sound with strong vocabulary. Warm expressive illustrations too.
March 25, 2019
Not an alphabet book, but a creative way to tell a story. I wouldn't mind if Atinuke eventually created 25 other stories about this clever baby, though. (Or maybe a few less, she could combine some lesser-used letters together....)
April 16, 2019
This is interesting both because of how it is an alphabet book that focuses on only one letter and how it tells a story of a complex and rich culture through a handful of words and illustrations. Very well done.
October 29, 2019
Bananas, brother, bumpy, Baba, and Baobab. This book celebrates babyhood in Africa - rich with close ties to family, the bustling community one lives in, and the adventures that babies find themselves in. A great read for toddlers!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews