The Wild, Wild Inside: A View from Mommy's Tummy!

by Kate Feiffer, Laura Huliska-Beith (Illustrator)

What does the baby do all day? Mom always says the baby is eating or sleeping or kicking. But that’s not all! From flying to the moon, to sliding into home base, to leaping across a stage, Mom sure would be surprised if she really knew what was going on….This humorous and imaginative “inside look” at a baby’s life before birth from popular bestselling author Kate Feiffer is sure to answer siblings’ every question when they wonder what their new baby brother or sister is really doing in Mom’s tummy.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Kate Feiffer is the author of several children’s books, including Double Pink, illustrated by Bruce Ingman; President Pennybaker and My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life, both illustrated by Diane Goode; The Problem with Puddles, illustrated by Tricia Tusa; and Henry the Dog with No tail, illustrated by her dad, Jules Feiffer. She lives on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Edward Sullivan]

A cool idea for a story but clumsily executed.

[Loren]

An interesting perspective and I like the concept for these reasons I would have given it a higher rating but something just did not work for me. It is a creative approach to pregancy, childbirth and babies however the humor was not working for me.

[Rose Rosetree]

Mom's preggers. Kids are curious. Enter a brilliant book about life from the point of view of the fetus.

How to write such a book without making it clinical. Disgusting. Weird!!!

I trusted author Kate Feiffer and artist Laura Huliska-Beith to be my tour guides. They did not disappoint. What a delightful tale ensues.

People always ask my mom,
"What's the baby doing?"
She always tells them the same thing.
She says, "The baby's sleeping," or....

Sure, I do those things. But that's not all I do.

There are a lot of other things that I do that she never mentions.

SO APPEALING

Goodreaders, for me to quote you any of the details that follow... would seem like a spoiler. Please, read this book and see for yourself.

I can tell you that a page is included at the end, "Real-Life Stories" about:
What were YOU doing in YOUR Mom's tummy?

Answers are cute. They're quotes from very young children. Such as this one from Mina, Age 5:

"I was surfing and hula dancing, and my head would shake and my feet would kick."

FIVE STARS for the compleat guide to life in the womb. Sorta. See my comment below.

[Sasha]

This was a book that was a gift from a friend before my daughter was born. I think it is suppose to be a children's book for future big sisters and brothers. The book is rather charming with colorful illustrations. My daughter enjoys when I do physical motions that correspond to what the baby is doing inside of its mother.

[Owen & Hannah]

I thought the story was very confusing.

[Destiny Thompson]

From the perspective of an little girl and the baby's older sister, this is a fun book that shows the curiosity children have about babies, and answers the question What does the baby do all day? When asked "what is baby doing," the mom always says the baby is either eating, sleeping or kicking. However, this baby is much busier than she thinks, she fly's to the moon, plays baseball, and much more. This book shows where a child's imagination can lead and offers a inside peak at a babies in the womb. Very fun book for children with expecting mothers, or children who are just curious what babies do in mommy's tummy.

[Dolly]

Fun and highly imaginative story about a family expecting a baby. Emily and Gus want to know what the baby is doing. Each time the mom suggests something but we discover the baby has a wild imagination and comes up with all kinds of other ideas. It's a fun story; not very factual, but it's entertaining and has very cute illustrations. Recommend this book for expecting parents who want to discuss the baby with their young children.

[Susan]

I think the title is a bit misleading, since this really isn't about what a baby does while "inside", but it's still a cute story.

[Donalyn]

What exactly do babies do while they are waiting to be born? It might not be what you think! This baby enjoys racing cars, cooking, and dancing.

[Hadiqa]

Such a cute and adorable book.