15 Things Not to Do with a Baby

by Margaret McAllister, Holly Sterling (Illustrator)

Overview

Congratulations! You now have a baby in your family. Follow our top tips and you’ll all be very happy. Don’t lend your baby to a kangaroo, plant your baby in the garden, or take to school with you – and definitely don’t send your baby to play with an elephant!

DO cuddle your baby, read to your baby, sing to your baby and give your baby lots and lots of love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847807533
Publisher:	Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Publication date:	01/07/2016
Series:	15 Things Not To Do Series
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.44(w) x 9.44(h) x (d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

MARGARET McALLISTER is and award-winning author who comes from the north-east of England. Before writing full-time she taught drama and dance, cleaned churches and worked in a retreat house. She is married to Tony and has three grown-up children. She is the author of 15 Things Not to Do with a Baby, 15 Things Not to Do with a Granny and 15 Things Not to Do with a Puppy.

Holly Sterling was born in Dublin and grew up in southern England. She studied Illustration and Design at the University of Sunderland, and is currently studying for an MFA in Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art. She was Highly Commended for the Macmillan Illustration Prize in 2013, and winner of the Seven Stories/Frances Lincoln Illustration Competition in 2012. Holly also competes for her country in karate; she is a double National Champion and Gold and Bronze medallist from the WSKA World Championships. She lives near Sunderland. She is the illustrator of 15 Things Not to Do with a Baby, 15 Things Not to Do with a Granny, 15 Things Not to Do with a Puppy and the author/ illustrator of Hiccups.

Editorial Reviews

Selected as one of the 12 best Children's books of 2015

 

Book Of The Week

"Here is an artist who, like Sarah Garland, is portraying a recognisable family with a freshness that is immediately attractive. The topic may not be new but the presentation is lively and engaging and establishes Sterling as an illustrator to watch."

"With vibrant child-friendly illustrations and a laugh-aloud story, this clever book is just the book to share with age three and upwards."

Book Of The Week

"Here is an artist who, like Sarah Garland, is portraying a recognisable family with a freshness that is immediately attractive. The topic may not be new but the presentation is lively and engaging and establishes Sterling as an illustrator to watch."

"A perfect gift for an older sibling with a new baby in the family."

"This is not only perfect for new parents or those children new to being a sibling, it is also a fun, funny picture book that everyone will love for its great pictures and warm text."

Books WeLike

"Frances Lincoln ensure cultural diversity is represented so these illustrations present a mixed race family. The style is fresh and young with beautiful colours and some lovely silly scenes"

"With vibrant child-friendly illustrations and a laugh-aloud story, this clever book is just the book to share with age three and upwards."

Selected as one of the 12 best Children's books of 2015

"A humorous take on the conflicting emotions that younger siblings can inspire."

"A humorous take on the conflicting emotions that younger siblings can inspire."—Independent on Sunday

Book Of The Week

"Here is an artist who, like Sarah Garland, is portraying a recognisable family with a freshness that is immediately attractive. The topic may not be new but the presentation is lively and engaging and establishes Sterling as an illustrator to watch."—Books for Keeps

"A perfect gift for an older sibling with a new baby in the family."—Parents in Touch

"This is not only perfect for new parents or those children new to being a sibling, it is also a fun, funny picture book that everyone will love for its great pictures and warm text."—Armadillo

Books We Like

"Frances Lincoln ensures cultural diversity is represented so these illustrations present a mixed race family. The style is fresh and young with beautiful colours and some lovely silly scenes"—Booktrust

"With vibrant child-friendly illustrations and a laugh-aloud story, this clever book is just the book to share with age three and upwards."—Irish Examiner

From the Publisher

2015-01-20
A list of silly "don't"s culminates in loving "do"s for one big sister in McAllister and Sterling's collaboration.An opening illustration depicts an interracial family basking in the joy of welcoming a new baby into the family. The dad has brown skin and tightly curled, dark hair, and the mom's pink complexion is offset by her blonde hair; their little daughter looks more like her dad, as does the new baby, though their hair is less tightly curled. Once this family constellation has been established, readers never see the parents again. Instead, ensuing pages depict the big sister with her baby brother in a series of silly scenarios telling her (and readers) what not to do with a baby. Some interactions are more plausible than others. For example, "Don't…play the trumpet when the baby's trying to sleep," appears across the gutter from the admonition "don't send him to play with an elephant." Apart from indicating race, cartoonish art rendered in watercolor, pencil and printed textures opts simply to reflect the text, and all of the spreads depicting "don't"s lead up to closing spreads showing the big sister lovingly engaged with her baby brother. "Do…cuddle your baby, give him a kiss, sing to him, make him laugh, / play with your baby, read to him, and most of all… // give your baby lots and lots of love" is the sweet closing. Sibling love, equal parts sweet and silly. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Review