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Baby Day
It’s a busy day for baby in this darling, cheeky, charming picture book celebrating the joy and chaos of a baby-filled day!
Today is baby’s birthday. Happy baby!
Here come baby’s friends. Hello!
Shy baby.
Friendly baby.
Sunny baby. Hat on, baby!
Strong baby.
Smiley baby.
Lazy baby. Wake up, baby!
Who else will we meet?
Now everyone together… Smile, babies!
Today is baby’s birthday. Happy baby!
Here come baby’s friends. Hello!
Shy baby.
Friendly baby.
Sunny baby. Hat on, baby!
Strong baby.
Smiley baby.
Lazy baby. Wake up, baby!
Who else will we meet?
Now everyone together… Smile, babies!
34 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
About the author
Jane Godwin
64 books53 followersJane Godwin is the Publisher, Books for Children and Young Adults, at Penguin Books Australia. She is also a highly acclaimed author of many books for children. Her work is published internationally and she has received many commendations. The Family Tree won the 2000 Queensland Premier's Award (Children's Books); Sebby, Stee, the Garbos and Me was shortlisted for the 1999 New South Wales State Literary Award (Patricia Wrightson Prize) and was a YABBA finalist; and The True Story of Mary was shortlisted for the 2006 CBCA Book of the Year Awards, Younger Readers. In 2009 her picture book with illustrator Anna Walker, Little Cat and the Big Red Bus, was a notable book in the CBCA Awards and was also shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Awards, Lower Primary division. Jane's most recent novel is Falling From Grace, and her most recent picture book is All Through the Year, illustrated by Anna Walker, due for publication in October 2010.
Jane lives in Melbourne with her family. Her hobbies seem to have fallen by the wayside a little since she has taken on the role of publisher, but from what she remembers, they were playing tennis, walking, reading (things other than manuscripts), doing cryptic crosswords, talking about the need to do gardening (and sometimes even doing it), cooking, playing piano, spending time with friends and mucking around with family which consists of partner Michael and two adolescents, Wil (19) and Lizzie (17). She still manages the cryptic crosswords, friends and family.
Jane also enjoys working creatively with school students, encouraging them to develop confidence in their own creativity, ideas and abilities.
Jane lives in Melbourne with her family. Her hobbies seem to have fallen by the wayside a little since she has taken on the role of publisher, but from what she remembers, they were playing tennis, walking, reading (things other than manuscripts), doing cryptic crosswords, talking about the need to do gardening (and sometimes even doing it), cooking, playing piano, spending time with friends and mucking around with family which consists of partner Michael and two adolescents, Wil (19) and Lizzie (17). She still manages the cryptic crosswords, friends and family.
Jane also enjoys working creatively with school students, encouraging them to develop confidence in their own creativity, ideas and abilities.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 5, 2021
Baby is turning one in this sweet Australian picture-book, and his parents throw him a birthday party at the park, complete with treats, games and lots and lots of other babies. The babies have lots of different qualities and characteristics - shy, friendly, brave and fussy - but all have (mostly) a good time, and birthday baby goes home happy but exhausted...
Originally published down under in 2018 as Birthday Baby, and then here in the states in 2019 as Baby Day - I have no idea why the title needed to be changed - this book pairs a very simple text from co-authors Jane Godwin and Davina Bell with lovely, expressive artwork from illustrator Freya Blackwood. This is my first title from Godwin, but I know Bell's work through such titles as All the Ways to be Smart and Captain Starfish , and Blackwood is a personal favorite, when it comes to picture-book illustrators. It was my love for her work, in fact, that led me to track this one down. As mentioned, I found it sweet, although the chief appeal for me was Blackwood's artwork. It's very simple, and is one I would chiefly recommend to picture-book readers looking for baby and toddler titles, as well as to fellow fans of the artist.
Originally published down under in 2018 as Birthday Baby, and then here in the states in 2019 as Baby Day - I have no idea why the title needed to be changed - this book pairs a very simple text from co-authors Jane Godwin and Davina Bell with lovely, expressive artwork from illustrator Freya Blackwood. This is my first title from Godwin, but I know Bell's work through such titles as All the Ways to be Smart and Captain Starfish , and Blackwood is a personal favorite, when it comes to picture-book illustrators. It was my love for her work, in fact, that led me to track this one down. As mentioned, I found it sweet, although the chief appeal for me was Blackwood's artwork. It's very simple, and is one I would chiefly recommend to picture-book readers looking for baby and toddler titles, as well as to fellow fans of the artist.
April 18, 2019
If you'd like to test your toddler's capacity for empathy, show them a book where a baby's ice cream falls on the ground and is eaten by a dog. It took a good ten minutes for Iris to recover. This is sweet, if unremarkable except for in its ability to bring her to total hysterics.
March 25, 2019
It is a special day for baby, it’s birthday day. What is lovely about this title is focuses on all the babies who come to the outdoor party and their emotions and reactions from shy, bossy, busy, fussy and many more. And oh, yes, be sure to keep an eye on the dog.
March 25, 2020
4 stars
The cover of this book definitely caught my eye. What more can we ask for: babies, dogs and ice cream! This book celebrates a baby’s birthday! With every page turn, you see how each baby express their feelings and reactions as the party goes on. As we know, our days can be hectic and a little bit of chaos is thrown in there with a house full of toddlers and dogs. This book made me smile with every “adventure” these babies went on.
- Miss Jenny
The cover of this book definitely caught my eye. What more can we ask for: babies, dogs and ice cream! This book celebrates a baby’s birthday! With every page turn, you see how each baby express their feelings and reactions as the party goes on. As we know, our days can be hectic and a little bit of chaos is thrown in there with a house full of toddlers and dogs. This book made me smile with every “adventure” these babies went on.
- Miss Jenny
September 29, 2019
It is one of those picture books where pictures and illustrations speak more than words. It is a great book for infants and toddlers. Illustrations are absolutely perfect. I guess for a baby living in a world full of adults is an extremely overwhelming experience. To have a book about the baby and with baby pictures in it must be soothing for them. Overall, it is a wonderful book.
April 22, 2019
Today is baby’s birthday! So it’s time to have a party and a bunch of other babies are invited to the fun. The party is outside and as the babies arrive, so does a friendly dog that belongs to one of the families. There are cautious babies, friendly ones. Babies who worry for others and babies who are brave enough to use the big slide. There are fussy babies, crying babies, and eventually tired babies. Along with the babies, there are ice cream cones and plenty of cake before it’s time to head home.
Godwin and Bell show exactly what happens when you get a group of toddlers together. Often they merrily play alongside one another, other times they get upset. The book focuses solely on the party, follows the progression of emotions through, and ends merrily as people head home. It is simply written and a simple story that will work well for sharing with little ones heading to their first birthday party without setting huge expectations. Blackwood’s illustrations really lift this book to a new level. Her gentle and clever depictions of this group of children is done with attention to detail. One can follow each child through the party and their individual story makes sense.
A winning first birthday book just right for the smallest of children. Appropriate for ages 1-3.
Godwin and Bell show exactly what happens when you get a group of toddlers together. Often they merrily play alongside one another, other times they get upset. The book focuses solely on the party, follows the progression of emotions through, and ends merrily as people head home. It is simply written and a simple story that will work well for sharing with little ones heading to their first birthday party without setting huge expectations. Blackwood’s illustrations really lift this book to a new level. Her gentle and clever depictions of this group of children is done with attention to detail. One can follow each child through the party and their individual story makes sense.
A winning first birthday book just right for the smallest of children. Appropriate for ages 1-3.
July 3, 2019
This is a cute day in the life of a baby book set on a first birthday when lots of other babies come for the party. The sparse descriptive language with the illustrations, show all the emotions and activities that can happen during a birthday party. This is great for language building and associating words with emotions and activities.
I read in the CIP notes that the "illustrations are rendered in line work and watercolor on paper, with digitally composited oil paint lino-block prints." Freya's sketchy style creates movement throughout the story. It's like she was the outsider watching the birthday party and capturing all the little moments, good and bad.
I read in the CIP notes that the "illustrations are rendered in line work and watercolor on paper, with digitally composited oil paint lino-block prints." Freya's sketchy style creates movement throughout the story. It's like she was the outsider watching the birthday party and capturing all the little moments, good and bad.
September 18, 2023
To this Goodreads Reviewer, this picture book reads like a documentary -- a documentary filmed for one-year-olds.
Yet the real heft to the story comes from appealing to the kiddie caretakers:
- Jaded
- Exhausted
- Fed up
- And almost unbelievably baby-weary.
I've been there. I'll always be able to recognize the signs of that particular kind of fatigue.
This picture book could be consoling. I found it mighty consoling, and my little cutie baby is now 32.
Of special interest: Behold the two-page spread with the words:
"Now, smile for the photo.
Cheese!"
FIVE BIG STARS!
Yet the real heft to the story comes from appealing to the kiddie caretakers:
- Jaded
- Exhausted
- Fed up
- And almost unbelievably baby-weary.
I've been there. I'll always be able to recognize the signs of that particular kind of fatigue.
This picture book could be consoling. I found it mighty consoling, and my little cutie baby is now 32.
Of special interest: Behold the two-page spread with the words:
"Now, smile for the photo.
Cheese!"
FIVE BIG STARS!
June 10, 2019
3.5 stars
Sweet story about baby's first birthday is filled with cute little ones. Fairly realistic situations such as trying for a group photo or ice cream eaten by dog, but I find it very hard to believe a cake would be put down in front of several little ones and it wouldn't have at least one hand grabbing a chunk of it (only one little finger is ready to touch). But a nice story to share with 1 to 2 year olds.
Sweet story about baby's first birthday is filled with cute little ones. Fairly realistic situations such as trying for a group photo or ice cream eaten by dog, but I find it very hard to believe a cake would be put down in front of several little ones and it wouldn't have at least one hand grabbing a chunk of it (only one little finger is ready to touch). But a nice story to share with 1 to 2 year olds.
March 26, 2019
Roly poly babies!!! The illustrations of babies playing and interacting in this big play group/birthday party are golden in these. I feel like it would work best for one-on-one reads so you can point out all the cute details in the illustrations. And NOW I WANT ICE CREAM really bad. The ice cream illustrations are very appetizing.
December 16, 2021
Simple picture book with patterned language (i.e .bossy baby, neat baby, busy baby, brave baby, twin babies). Good for toddlers.
Miss 7 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Miss 7 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
May 4, 2019
The story of a baby's first birthday party, and all of his friends that attend the party. This book shares the different moods, and personalities of babies and toddlers as they socialize with one another.
March 17, 2019
2018 pub
March 21, 2019
It's baby's first birthday and all his friends are coming to celebrate. With simple text of many two words phrases, the reader is taken from wake-up baby to bedtime baby and all the fun in-between.
April 17, 2019
A cute story about various babies at a birthday party. The illustrations are great.
April 23, 2019
This is a very simple story with adorable illustrations. Many younger readers will enjoy all the antics that a baby gets into during his first birthday party.
May 3, 2019
Very cute, very short. I wasn't a fan of the illustrations, but they weren't horrible.
May 5, 2019
Absolutely charming
May 9, 2019
My baby just loved this book! She wouldn't stop "talking" to the babies.
May 17, 2019
Great as a babytime story for birthdays. Love Freya Blackwood's illustrations, though they seem like they would appeal more successfully to the preschool crowd than babies.
May 27, 2019
It's baby's 1st birthday and the party is just beginning. A slightly diverse group of babies are in attendance. Birthday baby is white.
June 6, 2019
The babies tended to all look alike.
June 8, 2019
I really enjoyed the gentle humor in these illustrations and my toddler liked the story.
June 14, 2019
Anyone who has ever tried to take a pic of a group of babies will relate.
Read
July 18, 2019beautiful & so sweet
illustrations so lively!
illustrations so lively!
July 24, 2019
3 stars - too many babies for this reader
October 9, 2019
Cute illustrations and sparse text take us a baby's first birthday day.
October 13, 2019
Got this one for Atti's first birthday based on an SLJ review. His mama said he liked it, but I thought it was just ok.
November 23, 2019
3.5, cuteness ! Decently simple so a little one who loves this could pick it up / read it eventually.
January 9, 2020
Great book for... babies. No, really, babies love babies. The pencil art is wonderful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews