Baby Dances, The Review

Manufacturer: Candlewick
Author(s): Kathy Henderson

ISBN: 0763603740 EAN: 9780763603748
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Average Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Recounts the development of a baby, from birth to rolling over, crawling, standing, and finally walking.

User Submitted Baby Dances, The Reviews

May 7, 2008
Captures a Baby's Stages Beautifully!
I snagged this at our library on a whim but it has quickly become a favorite of mine! Our 2-yr-old loves it too. We have an older child as well so I especially enjoy the inclusion of a doting sibling in the story. What a delightful portrayal of the first year of life, discovering family relationships and physical development.

I also love how the passage of time is marked with seasons rather than cut-and-dried numbered months for each stage. This allows you to enjoy the natural progression without getting hung up on the standard age for each milestone. Both of our children are healthy, but our first was "early" and our second was "late" with most of these "firsts" and it's easy to become a little anxious at times because it's impossible not to compare and contrast with others! How great not to add that stress into a children's storybook!

The watercolor artwork is glowing and gorgeous - it makes you want to just sit and almost breathe it in - it could be framed for a nursery!

The text and changes in font size are expertly done to provide details yet highlight the basics for younger listeners. This would make a lovely baby shower gift. We've now run out of renewals at the library so it's going straight to her wish list so we can have it forever!

February 16, 2001
Very beautiful
I had four children over a period of ten years, when, frankly, it wasn't fashionable. Realising now that I and my wife have "done our bit" to raise the census count now, we tend to look back very rarely on that period when they were all crawling about or demanding room service...

It's rather sad that while that period is going on, you rarely find people who will barge into the house and actually tell you the truth - that in all this haze of nappies, late nights, worry, and occasional delight, that this period is unreplaceable, precious, and if you look out of the corner of your eye, more than wonderful. Babies are one thing, I guess according to one set of people, but a parallel reality grants them quite incredible powers - they are magical creatures, impossible, fantastic, wise, full of joy and splendour.

This book made me look in precisely that direction - towards the rather long time ago of my own tinies, and I was immensely moved by the memories I had put away of my babies learning every little ordinary thing. And the art is just right and it's all magic.

I had to look the other way, my eyes were rather wet when I finally looked away, and of course I bought it. I'm not sure why, because my babies are now quite big, but I caught my girls reading it, and perhaps it's going to be for their babies, one day in the far distance!

September 28, 2000
The Sweetest Book
This book is so sweet and beautifully illustrated; It was on a shelf at our local library in the "New Books" section. I picked it up to read to my 20 month old daughter and proceeded to burst into tears! This could have been written about her; all of baby's 1st year milestones are recorded in harmony with nature. It is a simple and charming story. I will buy this book and save it for my little girl - so she can read about herself when she is grown!

September 29, 1999
This was an excellent book to celebrate a one year birthday
The book had beautiful illustrations and a wonderful storyline. It is a wonderful way to celebate a baby's first birthday.

July 22, 1999
Moving prose and illustrations celebrate baby's first year.
Captivating illustrations celebrate the first year of baby's life. Moments after birth, smiles and all the joyous experiences of discovery and accomplishment are revealed in sweet prose and illustrations on each breathtaking page. This book will gently tug at the heartstrings of anyone who has ever loved a baby.

June 20, 1999
New baby coming? a perfect book for big brothers & sisters
As with all picture books the impact is from the artist. Tony Kerins soft realistic pictures, warm colors and double page spread create a feel good book for the very young. Baby is followed from her birth until she toddles or "dances" into big brother's arms when she is one.

The text is simple with each stage a page header then repeated with more text.

This is the perfect book for someone who is no longer the centre of attention when number two child arrives.

The reader can watch for baby's developmental steps through the book.

"The Baby Dances" is sure to become a favourite gift book for loving relatives.

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