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Hello Baby!
After meeting a bevy of baby animals— including a clever monkey, a sleepy leopard, and a dusty lion cub—the baby in this story discovers the most precious creature of all . . . itself, of course! With an exuberant rhyming text by bestselling author Mem Fox and adorable cut-paper illustrations by Caldecott Honor recipient Steve Jenkins, this book is an irresistible celebration of the joyful connection between parent and child.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
17 people are currently reading
725 people want to read
About the author
Mem Fox
128 books425 followersMerrion Frances Fox is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox has been semi-retired since 1996, but she still gives seminars and lives in Adelaide, South Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
May 5, 2009
Take two amazing children’s book creators and put them together and you get a treat like this book. The book starts with a simple question, “Hello, baby! Who are you?” It moves from one animal guess to the next with each animal doing an action that children will love to imitate. Fox has created a joyous bouncing verse that romps from one animal to the next with great merriment. Paired with the amazing paperwork art of Jenkins, the book is taken to another level.
As I read this book, my mind immediately heard the chorus of preschoolers pretending to be yawning hippos. I also saw groups of children rolling their eyes like geckos. Jenkin’s art is realistic and vivid. The colors shout from the page and children will enjoy looking closely at the art even though it will project perfectly to a group. Fox’s words are brief and lovely, perfect for sharing with toddlers. At the same time there is a sophistication about the art and the verse that will make it of interest to older preschoolers as well. This is most definitely not solely a toddler title.
Highly recommended as a great pick for toddlers and preschoolers. But expect lots of animal actions and silliness along the way. Appropriate for 2-5 year olds.
As I read this book, my mind immediately heard the chorus of preschoolers pretending to be yawning hippos. I also saw groups of children rolling their eyes like geckos. Jenkin’s art is realistic and vivid. The colors shout from the page and children will enjoy looking closely at the art even though it will project perfectly to a group. Fox’s words are brief and lovely, perfect for sharing with toddlers. At the same time there is a sophistication about the art and the verse that will make it of interest to older preschoolers as well. This is most definitely not solely a toddler title.
Highly recommended as a great pick for toddlers and preschoolers. But expect lots of animal actions and silliness along the way. Appropriate for 2-5 year olds.
April 19, 2010
A good possibility for a toddler storytime. Except for the ending. It doesn't work for me, so when I read the book, I'm ending after the zebra.
4/13/10 & 4/15/10 The book worked pretty well for pointing out our body parts (noses, teeth, eyes) that corresponded with the animals. Even the dusty paws didn't throw them--they knew it was their hands. Some kids even did growly sounds with clawed paws. And I ended after zebra, which worked perfectly.
4/13/10 & 4/15/10 The book worked pretty well for pointing out our body parts (noses, teeth, eyes) that corresponded with the animals. Even the dusty paws didn't throw them--they knew it was their hands. Some kids even did growly sounds with clawed paws. And I ended after zebra, which worked perfectly.
September 30, 2013
I love Mem Fox. I love, love Steve Jenkins. So how could I not love this cute rhyming book from this pair? The simple rhymes illustrate the many types of baby you might be...
Are you an eagle, exploring the skies?
Perhaps you're a gecko with rolling eyes.
And the illustrations are amazing, just as Steve Jenkins illustrations always are.
My 5 year old liked this book quite a bit, and I am sure it would be an even bigger hit with babies and toddlers.
Are you an eagle, exploring the skies?
Perhaps you're a gecko with rolling eyes.
And the illustrations are amazing, just as Steve Jenkins illustrations always are.
My 5 year old liked this book quite a bit, and I am sure it would be an even bigger hit with babies and toddlers.
July 15, 2013
Lovely simple rhymes, comparing baby animals to the human baby that this mother is talking to. Endearing with gorgeous illustrations.
November 27, 2015
This book is full of all kinds of different babies -- what's not to love?
February 11, 2025
I liked the book. Nice big illustrations. My baby doesn’t care for reading much (😢) but he liked a few illustrations in this (the monkey in particular) before he tried closing it.
E would give this a 6/10
E would give this a 6/10
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March 4, 2025Basically it’s just describing the appearance of different animals. It’s a book you can get your kid to read when they need to start learning how words look and sound. And because of that I’m not rating it.
October 9, 2023
Eric Carl -like illustrations that span multiple pages in this full format animal identification book. I love it. I think it came from the Maine Raising Readers collection of free books you get at the pediatrician’s office, but came to us through Oscar’s big cousin cleaning out her room. The fact that this was part of a set curated by a 9 year old is too sweet for me to think about for too long without tearing up. I’m such a sap.
August 24, 2019
Cute, very much in the author's line. We're going to use it for PK yoga storytime as the shorter second book. There are lots of animals to choose for poses.
February 9, 2013
We've had "Hello Baby!" on loan from the library for less than a week and it's already become a go to favourite for my 15 month old son.
The simple white background highlights Steve Jenkins' beautiful, bright illustrations. The inclusion of a silhouette for each animal seems to particularly please my son, who delights in identifying the eagle ("bird!").
While most of the rhymes throughout the story are well considered, the ending is a little awkward to read for anyone who does 't make use of the Australian colloquial term of endearment "treasure" to refer to a small child. Most parents could probably substitute this with their own pet name - sweetheart, darling, love, or the child's own nickname - to end the story more naturally. Fox is a huge advocate of early reading experiences being an important part of parent-child bonding, and this infuses the books she creates. It is natural therefore that this one ends with the opportunity to express love and gratitude to the little person in your life, but I imagine most people would express it slinky differently.
Overall, another great outing from the unflagging Mem Fox. This might be that most special of things - a library book we need to buy our own copy of!
The simple white background highlights Steve Jenkins' beautiful, bright illustrations. The inclusion of a silhouette for each animal seems to particularly please my son, who delights in identifying the eagle ("bird!").
While most of the rhymes throughout the story are well considered, the ending is a little awkward to read for anyone who does 't make use of the Australian colloquial term of endearment "treasure" to refer to a small child. Most parents could probably substitute this with their own pet name - sweetheart, darling, love, or the child's own nickname - to end the story more naturally. Fox is a huge advocate of early reading experiences being an important part of parent-child bonding, and this infuses the books she creates. It is natural therefore that this one ends with the opportunity to express love and gratitude to the little person in your life, but I imagine most people would express it slinky differently.
Overall, another great outing from the unflagging Mem Fox. This might be that most special of things - a library book we need to buy our own copy of!
May 10, 2009
Mem Fox is truly one of my favorite authors for young children. She has such a gift of language, creating beautiful rhymes that carry you along, but keeping it simple enough to capture a young child's imagination. With her newest book, Hello Baby!, she has teamed with the imaginative artist Steve Jenkins to create a vibrant, engaging book for young children (ages 2 - 4).
"Hello, baby! Who are you?" begins this book, with a picture of a baby's hand and a monkey's tail, enticing you to turn the page. “Are you a monkey with clever toes? / Perhaps you’re a porcupine, twitching its nose.” We see an eagle, a gecko, a lion and more - all done in Steve Jenkin's vibrant paper collages.
Baby then hears, “Wait, let me guess – Are you my treasure? The answer is…Yes!” And a parent's hand reaches toward the little baby's hand.
It's simple, but will the vibrant pictures will fascinate young toddlers because they are so clear and uncluttered. Parents will enjoy reading the rhyming questions and responses. This reminds me of some of Eric Carle's classic books, like The Very Busy Spider, which my children wanted me to read over and over again.
"Hello, baby! Who are you?" begins this book, with a picture of a baby's hand and a monkey's tail, enticing you to turn the page. “Are you a monkey with clever toes? / Perhaps you’re a porcupine, twitching its nose.” We see an eagle, a gecko, a lion and more - all done in Steve Jenkin's vibrant paper collages.
Baby then hears, “Wait, let me guess – Are you my treasure? The answer is…Yes!” And a parent's hand reaches toward the little baby's hand.
It's simple, but will the vibrant pictures will fascinate young toddlers because they are so clear and uncluttered. Parents will enjoy reading the rhyming questions and responses. This reminds me of some of Eric Carle's classic books, like The Very Busy Spider, which my children wanted me to read over and over again.
May 31, 2011
Mem Fox's Hello Baby! offers a simple, yet effective first look at animals through colorful illustrations set against a clean, white backdrop. Direct questions to the reader are followed by rhyming responses on adjacent pages. Without a doubt, the cadence of this story engages the young reader.
Initially, the zoo comes to mind as a means of experiencing this children's book. However, with 91 degree weather looming outside, Momma decides to come up with a cool plan B. Thus, The Painted Zebra, an air-conditioned pottery studio, works since the striped zebra is one of the animals discussed in Hello Baby!. Here, each squirt including Momma picks a piece of pottery in the shape of an animal of her choosing and then paints the piece to her heart's desire. In a week's time, we pick up our fired objets d'art creating the perfect opportunity to revisit Fox's Hello Baby! for reading reinforcement. For snack, animal crackers appease rumbling tummies after an intense painting session.
Hello Baby!
Initially, the zoo comes to mind as a means of experiencing this children's book. However, with 91 degree weather looming outside, Momma decides to come up with a cool plan B. Thus, The Painted Zebra, an air-conditioned pottery studio, works since the striped zebra is one of the animals discussed in Hello Baby!. Here, each squirt including Momma picks a piece of pottery in the shape of an animal of her choosing and then paints the piece to her heart's desire. In a week's time, we pick up our fired objets d'art creating the perfect opportunity to revisit Fox's Hello Baby! for reading reinforcement. For snack, animal crackers appease rumbling tummies after an intense painting session.
Hello Baby!
August 30, 2012
What kind of baby are you? Are you a monkey baby with clever toes or a hippo baby with yawning jaws? An elephant? A warthog? Maybe a zebra? A lion? Finally, the book asks,
“Then who are you, baby?
Wait, let me guess –
Are you my treasure?
The answer is…Yes!”
Simple, but descriptive questions comprise the text of this large, square book. The text and illustrations are set off against a pure white background, making it easier for babies and toddlers to focus. Jenkins’ signature paper collage illustrations, always so detailed and precise, are the perfect compliment to Fox’s text. Each baby animal, carefully created from textured papers, is seen doing the action described in the text. Animals are also anatomically correct, even though the text is anthropomorphic at times. Each page also includes a color silhouette of the animal, which is then repeated at the end of the book so that readers have a visual recap of the animals in the book.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
“Then who are you, baby?
Wait, let me guess –
Are you my treasure?
The answer is…Yes!”
Simple, but descriptive questions comprise the text of this large, square book. The text and illustrations are set off against a pure white background, making it easier for babies and toddlers to focus. Jenkins’ signature paper collage illustrations, always so detailed and precise, are the perfect compliment to Fox’s text. Each baby animal, carefully created from textured papers, is seen doing the action described in the text. Animals are also anatomically correct, even though the text is anthropomorphic at times. Each page also includes a color silhouette of the animal, which is then repeated at the end of the book so that readers have a visual recap of the animals in the book.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
February 13, 2017
Hello, Baby! first asks: "Hello, Baby! Who are you?"(N.P) and then begins to list animals that the baby could possibly be. The book uses rhyming and cut-paper illustrations to teach children different types of animals while creating a bonding experience between the parent and baby.
I gave this book four stars because although I enjoyed the detailed animal illustrations and rhyming, the second to last spread didn't live up to my expectations in comparison to the rest of the book. It wasn't very detailed or beautiful, it was simply the silhouettes of the animals shown before. The text seemed a bit too much as well making the spread look very cluttered in relation to the rest.
I would still recommend reading this to your youngster as it has a pretty message and an interactive feel.
I gave this book four stars because although I enjoyed the detailed animal illustrations and rhyming, the second to last spread didn't live up to my expectations in comparison to the rest of the book. It wasn't very detailed or beautiful, it was simply the silhouettes of the animals shown before. The text seemed a bit too much as well making the spread look very cluttered in relation to the rest.
I would still recommend reading this to your youngster as it has a pretty message and an interactive feel.
December 22, 2018
baby/toddler picture book
Large appealing pictures and sparse text with some more unusual vocabulary make a great read-to-me book. This would work be perfect for a baby/toddler storytime, but I feel just a bit awkward saying the "are you my treasure?" part to a roomful of kids and their parents--probably would work fine, though.
Large appealing pictures and sparse text with some more unusual vocabulary make a great read-to-me book. This would work be perfect for a baby/toddler storytime, but I feel just a bit awkward saying the "are you my treasure?" part to a roomful of kids and their parents--probably would work fine, though.
May 10, 2009
This will be a nice storytime book where kids can act out differnt animals. Maybe a good book for a yoga storytime making differnt animal shapes as you ask the questions. I love Jenkins papercut illustrations and think it will be a hit with the kids. Ages 2+
July 3, 2010
This one makes for a more ... lyrical read aloud than his more non-fiction based stuff (maybe 'cause he didn't write the words).
And I still LOVE his artwork.
And I like her words. I just like to see his artwork with his style of writing. Maybe that's not fair. But that's how it is.
And I still LOVE his artwork.
And I like her words. I just like to see his artwork with his style of writing. Maybe that's not fair. But that's how it is.
June 9, 2009
A terrific choice! Great simple rhyming text coupled with wonderful illustrations. They are simple and clean for babies and toddlers to recognize but with detail and textures that the grownups will appreciate.
June 11, 2009
I had to check out this latest from Mem Fox. The art work is just INCREDIBLE. I'm not sure what the technique is called that Steve Jenkins uses to make all of the animals but it is amazing (it looks like some sort of paper collage). They are really quite detailed.
August 17, 2009
Steve Jenkins paper assemblages never fail to impress and the easy to read rhyme is not a prattling rhyming but clever and interesting: "Are you a lion with dust on its paws? Perhaps you're a hippo with yawning jaws..." A good pick for storytime.
September 29, 2009
I love Mem Fox and this story, illustrated by Steve Jenkins, is wonderful. Realistic animals, in Steve Jenkins classic collage style, accompany simply-short rhyming text encouraging readers to guess which baby is treasured best.
A great gift for an expecting mother.
A great gift for an expecting mother.
April 11, 2011
Mem Fox and Steve Jenkins pair up to use rhyme to introduce all of the wonderful babies in the animal world. Audience is younger than I thought though, so I'm not sure if I'll have use for this book with my students.
June 20, 2012
Okay... still going through books as I put them away... books I've forgotten or have never read. I would probably give this a 3.5 for Jenkins great cut paper collage and Mem Fox's simple rhyming text.
December 18, 2012
I am a big fan of both Mem Fox and Steve Jenkins, so reading a collaboration between the two is a joy. I enjoy the book's rhyme and the pairing of baby animal closeups with full body silhouettes. (And, man oh man, how great are Jenkin's paper collage illustrations?!)
December 19, 2013
Robin absolutely loved this book. The illustrations are beautiful. Making monkey sounds while reading the monkey's page goes a long way, too. But the sweetness at the end also makes it a special book.
June 28, 2014
* No story telling but still good for learning names of baby animals for young children!
* This book is easily to understand the repeat sounds of the baby animals make.
* It is friendly, lovely pictures with many kinds of animals in the book to see!
* This book is easily to understand the repeat sounds of the baby animals make.
* It is friendly, lovely pictures with many kinds of animals in the book to see!
May 25, 2014
This is an adorable book that I would read to babies and toddlers. At the same time, I could also teach them about the different animals in the book and the sounds they make. This book helps young children to know how special they are.
August 21, 2014
Amusingly illustrated, but the narrator is as out of touch as Professor Oak. "Are you a boy or a girl?" You're the world renowned expert on Pokémon, but you can't gender the neighborhood child? Is the narrator of this novel trapped in Plato's Cave?
September 27, 2014
I think this book is just amazing. It is a simple book with vibrant pictures that will capture the heart and attention of young children. I truly enjoy the rhymes in the book and would use this book to teach words that rhyme.
October 2, 2014
The book was very cute for younger children. I enjoyed how the story developed and went through the different types of animals. Even though the pages are simply illustrated the animals have detail. I like how the book unfolds to leave a cute surprise.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews