Ma! There's Nothing to Do Here!: A Word from Your Baby-in-Waiting

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Garofoli, Viviana Westminster, Maryland, U.S.A. 2008 Glossy Hardback Very Good/Fine+ 037583852x Oversized Unpaginated Cute, color illustrations and a delightful story from the ... unborn child's point of view Previous owner's address sticker has been removed from front facing page near top edge, otherwise book is FINE+ Because of the size of this book-DOMESTIC ORDERS ONLY and only regular mailing is available. Read more Show Less

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Overview

“Ma! there’s nothing to do here!” complains the precocious protagonist of this rhyming tale set entirely in utero. It’s not exactly a scintillating experience spending nine months in your mother’s womb. You’re just stuck there at the end of that dumb bungee cord (a.k.a. the umbilical cord), with nothing whatsoever to do but slosh around. But, oh, the endless joys you have to look forward to as you listen to the tick-tock of ma’s happy heart clock and await that happy day when you finally come out to play.
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More About This Book

Overview

“Ma! there’s nothing to do here!” complains the precocious protagonist of this rhyming tale set entirely in utero. It’s not exactly a scintillating experience spending nine months in your mother’s womb. You’re just stuck there at the end of that dumb bungee cord (a.k.a. the umbilical cord), with nothing whatsoever to do but slosh around. But, oh, the endless joys you have to look forward to as you listen to the tick-tock of ma’s happy heart clock and await that happy day when you finally come out to play.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Dear Ma," says this story's prenatal narrator, "What's a baby to do in a womb with no view?" Park (the Junie B. Jones books) proceeds to catalogue in rhyme all the things lacking in his or her current environment ("No puppies. No toys./ . . . Not a sandbox or swings . . . / Or those monkey bar things"), and throws in a last-minute to-do list ("You're set for me, right? You've got a night-light?"). Garofoli (Sophie's Trophy), working in much the same vein as Laura Cornell, contributes lots of sweetly silly, nursery-hued illustrations, wildly exaggerating her subject's oversize head while being slightly more discreet about the mother's oversize tummy (although the crowded in-utero portraits may remind some adults of the famous stateroom scene from A Night at the Opera). Strategic poses obscure the baby's sex, in keeping with Park's gender-neutral writing. But while there are many individually clever lines and pictures, the list-dependent premise here precludes the development of a full-fledged story. Accordingly, this book might be a better choice for expectant parents than expectant siblings, or for kids old enough to enjoy a fetal fantasy onto which they can project themselves. Ages 2-5. (Jan.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information
Children's Literature
If a baby boy in utero were to write a letter to his host, this book is what he might have to say. Barbara Park, of Junie B. Jones and other chapter book fame, uses witty rhyming verse to explore what this baby's thoughts might be. Mostly he voices loud complaints about the cramped quarters. Park's comic imagination takes off from the fact that the fetus is suspended in liquid to imagine his complaining about having no room to swim, followed by his wishing for a canoe! But baby-in-waiting also has misgivings about life on the outside. He is not so sure that Ma is ready for his appearance or that he'll be able to hold his head up, literally, on the outside. Garofoli, the illustrator, exploits the roundness of the baby's temporary home, and winds the text around the bulbous shapes of the top-heavy unborn's world. This book will be sure to delight pregnant moms and the young siblings of babies-in-waiting and invite their sympathies. This funny fantasy makes no attempt to inform readers about pregnancy or childbirth, but could gently help young children begin to understand how babies are born. Reviewer: Christina M. Desai
More Reviews (1) Fewer Reviews
School Library Journal

PreS- An amusing vision of a life in utero may have trouble finding an audience. The androgynous "baby-in-waiting" is bored: "My choices are slim./There is no room to swim./I'm so tired of floating./I'd love to go boating,/But where's the canoe?/MA!/There's nothing to do!" After listing a variety of complaints, the narrator decides that it's almost "Show Time" and asks Ma if she's ready, describes some things that will occur after birth, and promises to see her and dad soon. Park's rhymes scan and read aloud well. The brightly colored illustrations start on the endpapers as the mother-shown from neck to just below her very pregnant belly-prepares the nursery. Featuring a very bald baby who is mostly head, the pictures alternate between views from inside the womb and scenes reflecting the many play fantasies listed. The large text font adds movement as it wiggles and spirals across the pages. This humorous story may work while discussing where babies come from with preschoolers or for pregnant moms to read to older siblings. However, its best audience seems to be the expectant mothers themselves, and it is likely to appeal more as a shower gift than as a children's book.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780375838521
  • Publisher: Random House Children's Books
  • Publication date: 1/22/2008
  • Pages: 40
  • Sales rank: 76,856
  • Age range: 2 - 5 Years
  • Product dimensions: 9.60 (w) x 10.14 (h) x 0.39 (d)

Meet the Author

Barbara Park
Barbara Park
Barbara Park‘s Junie B. Jones books are consistently on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. She wrote Ma! There’s Nothin’ to Do Here! as a gift to her daughter-in-law for her baby shower.

Viviana Garofoli has illustrated over 20 children’s books and contributed many editorial and textbook illustrations in Argentina and Puerto Rico.

    1. Hometown:
      Scottsdale, Arizona
    1. Date of Birth:
      April 21, 1947
    2. Place of Birth:
      Mt. Holly, New Jersey
    1. Education:
      B.S., University of Alabama, 1969
    2. Website:
      http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/junieb

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 12 )

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Sort by: Showing all of 12 Customer Reviews

  • Posted February 11, 2012

    Highly Recommended - Hurry!

    Ma! There's Nothing to Do Here! is a must have for both mom and or older siblings. The description of life inside before you come out of Mommy's belly is not only wonderfully illustrated by Viviana Garofoli, but the rhyming of the text makes you laugh out loud because
    baby is describing life so perfectly. I gave this to my daughter first, and now it is a regular purchase for all those who tell me they're expecting. This is a 5 star rating for the creative way Barbara Park writes.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 29, 2011

    Highly recommend this book

    Great book for Expectant mothers for a baby shower , all the mothers I gave this too have loved
    it and read even after the baby is born

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 7, 2010

    Great Book!

    This book by Barbara Parks gives a unique look at what your baby might be thinking while waiting to be born. Very colorful, well-written and both amusing and poignant. A great gift to bring for a baby shower!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 29, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    9780761152125 9780761148579

    Great gift for Mother-to-be

    I gave this as a gift to my daughter on Mother's Day. She is expecting her first child and my first grandchild. She loved it. Her husband got a kick out of it, too.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted August 26, 2008

    Loved It!

    I'm a huge Junie B. Jones fan and was surprised when a co-worker handed me this picture book today. I am 5 months pregnant with my first child and reading it was very special. This book is so sweet and funny. I'm going to Barnes and Noble tomorrow to get my own copy.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 25, 2008

    Fabulous book! Great for your kids and even cuter for you

    I got this book as a gift and LOVE it. It's a cute book to read with kids but there is also something very special about reading this book when you are expecting. It reminds of you all the special things happening. Great book!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 22, 2008

    WHAT A GREAT BOOK!

    This fun little book is my new favorite! It's an absolutely perfect book for a mom-to-be, but is also so fun to read to little ones or even to yourself! My boys love the fun rhymes and colorful illustrations, as do I. This one is a playful and heartwarming book that you simply can't miss!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 12, 2007

    Intriguing Perspective

    Nice follow-up to her other books. Taken from the perspective of a baby in the womb, your children will be intrigued with the idea.

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    Posted August 15, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

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    Posted December 17, 2008

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    Posted September 12, 2009

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    Posted January 9, 2010

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