Born Yesterday

by James Solheim, Simon James (Illustrator)

July 8

Imagine! A day ago I'd never even heard of the world, and suddenly here I am in it. There's so much to write about--macaroni, Fun World, and a big sister who has it all figured out.

Which is why boys adore her.

I need to get her attention back on me--and quick. But how? Should I take up sumo wrestling? Stunt flying? All I know how to do is write.

But don't tell anyone. This diary you're looking at is TOP SECRET--for just you and me!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Family, Writing, Diary

28 pages, Hardcover

First published March 18, 2010

Reviews

[msleighm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instagram Read by James Patrick Stewart 5 stars.

Adorable!

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This funny book is told from the perspective of a brand new baby who just happens to be a journalist. He frets about being born naked, is amazed by everything his older sister can do, and tries to reach his mobile. He looks forward to being talented enough to go to Kindergarten like his sister, enjoys his first lick of popsicle, throws food, bites his foot. He spends his days like most babies, but he documents it all. That’s why he is worried when his sister reads his diary and alarmed when she laughs at it. Perhaps he needs to find a different family to live with?

The tone of this book is what sets it apart from many other baby books. The diary format is cleverly done and combined with the baby’s voice, it is pure fun to read. His voice is clever, rather adult, and often concerned with the impression he is making as a baby. The juxtaposition of this tone with a baby’s life and activities works very well and adds to the humor of the book.

James’ art is right at home here as he does full page images along with smaller pictures in the midst of the text. His art has a friendliness and gentle humor of its own and matches the text well. The baby is nearly irresistible as he tries new things, even as he throws food or howls about biting his own foot.

A clever perspective on babies that many different readers will enjoy. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

[Kaitlin Bisbee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Born yesterday is a sweet story in first person point of view of a newborn child. The baby is fascinated by their older sister, and wants to be exactly like them! Wants all of her attention, and wants to be best friends with her forever. It's a humorous perspective on the life struggles of a newborn child, as the child journals throughout its first year the different struggles that they face with things like motor skills. I could see this book being very useful in addressing an existing child about the potential of getting a baby brother or sister! A lot of time, with a new sibling there is more tension in the house. The younger sibling tends to want to be just like the older one, do everything they do, and have everything they have. Which is natural, because they look up to them! Explaining to the older child that they are a role model for the newborn could be handled in a fun way through this book. Plus, it could be used in the classroom and related to other students who might be struggling adjusting to having a new sibling at home!

[Jillian Cryder · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like that book at all, it was almost creepy and made me feel weird while reading it. I liked that the baby was looking up to their big sister and wanted to be like her, but I didn't like they way that the book was written. It just made me feel off. I would not bring it into my classroom because I didn't like the tone of the book. The beginning of the book starts off with the birth of the baby but they say that they were unaware of being born in public and that they would have put on a tank top. I liked that the next part was them meeting their big sister but I just didn't like the rest. The book was very unrealistic because that's not the way that babies think or speak, I also thought it was kind of odd for the author to make a book from a baby's perspective. I don't know, it was just odd to me.

[Yessica Cancino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am giving the book, Born Yesterday: The Diary of a Young Journalist, a 5. This story is a diary that is written about a newborn. There is a lot he is learning and doing but one thing he loves to do is write in his journal. His sister is his biggest admirations. He absolutely loves him and thinks that she is the best. When a boy came over, the baby thought that he was taking away the attention of his sister, but he was wrong. Later on, she told the baby that they were best friends. And that makes him extremely happy. This is a book I would use in my class because it is a great way to introduce different writing formats. It is written as a diary formatted but in a simple way. It also has simple but lovely pictures that are made from watercolors.

[Daija · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for children. The topic is to see the baby’s thoughts and what the baby did on a daily basis. He has a sister and his goal was to get all the attention for himself. The baby questioned many things that happened in life and he wrote this book as if it was a diary. I rate this story a 5/5 because it shows kids to not be jealous of others if you want attention. The baby wanted all the attention instead of his sister but at the end of the story the sister told the baby that he was her best friend and this made him very happy.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable. Loved the previous books about Baby Brains, and this seems to be the same style but not the same baby (or perhaps older sister is Baby Brains? She's described as a "genius.") Four stars only because it's really more for the adult than for the child - direct quote: "Finally - I have it figured out. Some things are noses, some are taxicabs, some are Belgians." Silly and fun, but a room full of preschoolers may not get it.

[Katherine Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cute! It is about a baby girl who “writes” about her life, challenges, and feelings. I like it so so much! Its so funny and it really hits on real life situations but applies a humorous perspective. It would be appreciated by both very young up to 4th grade children and also by parents. Great for someone about to become a big sibling to see from the new baby’s perspective.

[Ethan Hulbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a baby's book that a small bookstore, for who knows what reason, included in my shipment of other books (not other baby books). As a 30-year-old it was a little surprising opening up my package and seeing this. But what the hell, right? I read it and it was a charming little book that I'll get to donate somewhere. Thanks.

[Brianna Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it would have been such a cute story IF you didn’t know he was a baby and then you have the ending of him wanting to get out of the playpen. That would have made the reader think about the future lives of babies. 😊I did like the connection him and his big sister had though.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

We own this book through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. This is one my child picks over and over again to read. It's a really fun book written from the viewpoint of an aspiring author, who just happens to be a newborn baby.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told from the perspective of the newborn baby who is keeping a journal of all the things observed in the family. A great story starter for writing with students and for discussing writing perspective. Fun read!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day a baby is born. And he decides to keep a diary of his life, starting from inside the womb.

Very funny. Loved it.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was surprisingly funny. I enjoyed it way more than I expected.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story told from the baby's point of view.

[Vikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the funniest kid’s book ever

[Nancy Byron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best baby book, possibly ever!

[~~*Julie Kawalec-pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is super funny. My daughter and i read it together!

[Story · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. My little sister and I have read it hundreds of times. Super funny and sweet.

[Sarah Riggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a cute storyline and message behind it. I think this book wouldn't be great to read in schools, but would be better to read to children at home.

[Mason King · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun piece that portrays growth and social involvements. I really enjoyed remembering about what I experienced as a child. It makes me want to set good values for my children.

[Hannah Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very humorous and could be a fun read aloud for a variety of ages. I would love to use this as a read aloud and then teach writing voice. The author does an excellent job of providing the baby with great voice in their diary.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny premise, entertaining story, and cute illustrations. Surprisingly, my 9 and 12 year olds seemed to enjoy it more than the 7yo. The 12yo declared it "unique" and the 9yo is quoting lines.

Perhaps because I have 3 sons, I was imagining the baby as a boy as I read it. I thought how sweet it was that the boy baby adored a sister so much and wanted to be just like her. When I read it the second time (to my 7yo), I picked up lots of clues that baby is a girl. Silly unobservant me!

One big problem: the entry from July 8th (2nd day if life) is only on the book jacket (also in the goodreads description), not in the book. That's unfortunate, because it's kind of important for understanding the premise!

[Traci Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't ever reviewed one of the books I read to my kids because we read too many but this one I really liked. As we all sat...daddy, mommy, Sydney, and Kelan...on the floor reading this book we all shared in laughing, smiling, and in pure enjoyment of the creativity of this book. So many times you read a book about a new baby in a household and it talks about how the older sibling hates the newborn at first but then begins to like them. I'm not the biggest fan of those books. I get them occasionally but not much. This, however, was from the perspective of the baby and its surroundings...especially on the topic of her older sister. It is quite amusing! A definite recommend to parents of children ages 7 and under!

[Bekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Born Yesterday" is a hilarious account of an infant who writes about his daily life. The book focuses on sibling relationships, as the baby desires to be just like his big sister. By discussing adjustment to a new sibling in a humorous way, children are able to see that brothers and sisters are a blessing, not a bother. Especially for early elementary students, this book could be used to teach journal writing or first-person perspective. Since the placement of the text and pictures varies, young readers will be engaged. Kids will be laughing all of the way through the book!

Author: James Solheim
Illustrator: Simon James
Publisher and date: Philomel, March 2010
Genre: Picture book ("Through the eyes of a child")

[Paul Large · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very comical book as a baby tells his life through his eyes. It goes through how he felt about his birth and his surroundings when he was growing up. I believe that young readers would like reading this book because it adds humor to a story and it captivates the readers attention to find out what the baby thinks and does. This books takes a different approach as it is told from the viewpoint of the baby and that is the main reason this book is so great! James Solheim did a great job capturing the emotions and thoughts that might be going through a baby's mind when they cannot talk. I would recommend this book for any classroom or household! See what children are thinking all the time!!

[Andrew Strang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Born Yesterday
Author/Illustrator: James Solheim/Simon James
ISBN: 978-0399251559
Date of Publication: March 18, 2013
Review: This book was hilarious! I loved that the story was written from the perspective of the baby, and the author did a great job of making the baby sound grown up and professional, while being naive and babyish. It's like what you'd actually hear if a baby were talking (I think). I laughed out loud multiple times while reading this book because it's very clever and, again, hilarious!

[Liz Corsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a word: Adorable. This book would be a fun read aloud, not only for the kids, but for the parents as well. There are a few LOL moments that might go over the kid's heads, but there are still plenty of cute moments that will keep them giggling also. I also love the relationship between big sister and little sister, probably because it reminds me of my sister and I, since we share the same age difference as the characters. Overall, a very cute, witty, and fun read for all ages.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hilarious picture book written in the diary style popular today in children's books. In Born Yesterday, a brand new baby--in an adult voice--documents all the things he has been doing in his daily life. He notes his worries about how he is doing as a baby and his observations of other family members. It's a funny book, but I think it's one of those that are more appropriate for older audiences that would "get" the humor. In my opinion, it's a picture book geared more to grown-ups.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever gazed at that tiny sweet burbling new member of the household and wondered just what's going on in there? Who hasn't? James Solheim's take on it is hilarious - written in diary format is one baby's observations, hopes and aspirations.

Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/201...