{"id":1490055169,"title":"The Very Tiny Baby","handle":"the-very-tiny-baby","description":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten \u0026amp; Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/sylvie-kantorovitz\" title=\"Sylvie Kantorovitz bio\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSylvie Kantorovitz\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA reassuring look at the arrival of a new sibling, born prematurely.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJacob isn’t sure he is happy about being an older brother. But when the baby comes too soon, what happens? Jacob learns that adults can be scared, too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book portrays the range of emotions older siblings often have about a new baby, including fear, anger, and confusion, along with the added challenges of the preemie’s health concerns and parents’ frequent absences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/lola-reads-to-leo\" title=\"Lola Reads to Leo\"\u003eLola Reads to Leo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/emma-s-question\" title=\"Emma's Question\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/a-kid-of-their-own\"\u003eA Kid of Their Own\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/poppys-best-babies\"\u003ePoppy's Best Babies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/very-tiny-baby-spread.jpg?11648291300623490363\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSylvie Kantorovitz, author\/illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSylvie Kantorovitz drew upon her experiences as a sister and mother of a preemie when writing \u003ci\u003eThe Very Tiny Baby\u003c\/i\u003e. She is the illustrator of \u003ci\u003eGo to Bed, Monster!\u003c\/i\u003e and the Little Witch series, and the author\/illustrator of \u003ci\u003eI Love You, Mister Bear\u003c\/i\u003e. She lives in Albany, New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/sylvie-kantorovitz\" title=\"Sylvie Kantorovitz bio\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Sylvie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCCBC Choices\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust because a book fills a need, that doesn't guarantee its quality; fortunately, this book both addresses premature birth and succeeds marvelously.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike any big brother-to-be, Jacob is conflicted when he hears about his family's upcoming arrival. Sure, he's excited, but teddy bear Bob, clearly Jacob's externalized id, is unafraid to bring up potential problems. Bob's worries are utterly forgotten, however, when the infant arrives far too early, and the grown-ups' fear communicates itself to Jacob. As time wears on, Jacob feels abandoned; all his parents and grandmother think about is their preemie. Reminiscent of the straightforward honesty of a Robie H. Harris title, the storyline doesn't coddle the viewer but acknowledges feelings, both good and bad. From conversations about what's going to happen (\"Is the baby going to die? Grandma didn't know\") to anger toward the baby itself (a black page contains just an image of Jacob and the words \"I wish the baby would die\"), Kantorovitz draws on personal experience to give a rounded view of the situation. Images are laid out like snapshots in a family album, drawn in the faux-naif style of Jacob himself, and his childlike narration is printed in a typeface that emulates a child's handwriting. This filter helps to blunt the potential horror even as it honors Jacob's emotions and experiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA laudably candid effort, unafraid to treat its readership with the utmost respect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJacob’s parents are excited about their expected baby, but the child isn’t so sure he wants to share the limelight. Then when the infant arrives too early and everyone--even grandma--is so preoccupied with its survival that they don’t pay much attention to him, he’s certain that the new baby is a bad idea. When the baby improves and eventually comes home, though, Jacob, assured of his parents’ love, is ready to assume his roles as big brother and helper. The hand-lettered text appears in several framed rectangles of varying sizes on each page. Most rectangles contain ink drawings colored with gouache and pencils. Although text and illustrations have a childlike quality, the story doesn’t gloss over how fragile life is for preemies, the anxieties experienced by family members, and even the complaints, often expressed here through the mouth of his stuffed bear, of a sibling who feels left out. A striking example is the solid black rectangle covering a page on which Jacob declares, “I wish the baby would die.” Pumping of breast milk, hospital visit precautions, and care of preemies are all depicted. This story can provide information and comfort to youngsters experiencing worry about a sibling born prematurely or even for those who are preparing to share parents with a new brother or sister.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJacob's parents are expecting a baby, but the usual older-sibling storyline takes on a more serious turn when the baby arrives much too early, ending up in the NICU and sending the family into a tailspin of anxiety and disruption. When Jacob's parents turn all of their attention to the needs of the preemie, Jacob's feelings of frustration rapidly evolve into feelings of anger (\"I am thinking mean thoughts. I think the baby is ruining my life. I think we should give the baby away. I wish the baby would die\"). Even when danger passes, the baby must stay in the hospital, requiring Jacob's mother to pump breast milk (while Jacob covers his ears in frustration at the noise of the machine). Finally, the baby comes home, and while still a bit uncertain, Jacob appears mostly ready to welcome his tiny sibling. This is not a book to accidentally hand to an unsuspecting soon-to-be older sibling, but it's a frank look at a common life situation not usually addressed for this age; Kantorovitz deals with Jacob's very real and intense emotions with unusual honesty and a keen sense of child perspective. The pen, pencil, and gouache illustrations mimic a child's drawing style, and they're laid out with hand-lettered text captions in sequential bordered panels against contrasting backgrounds, as if they were in Jacob's scrapbook. Introduced in the right context and with the right amount of adult support, this could prove a useful story to families in a similar situation; consider purchasing this for your parent shelf rather than your picture-book collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/very-tiny-baby-cvr.jpg?5839776489542115840\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/very-tiny-baby-hires.zip?5839776489542115840\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-445-6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-60734-737-8 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e ISBN: 978-1-60734-635-7 PDF\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 3-7\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e8 x 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReading Literature. Grade 1. Standards 1-3, 6, 7, 9, and 10.\u003cbr\u003eReading Literature. Grade 2. Standards 1, 3, 5-7, and 10.\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2015-07-10T11:30:00-04:00","created_at":"2015-07-10T10:44:31-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 3-6","Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Fiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Early Childhood","Browse by Subject_Life Lessons \u0026 Skills"],"price":748,"price_min":748,"price_max":748,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":1495,"compare_at_price_min":1495,"compare_at_price_max":1495,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":4484680065,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"94456","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Very Tiny Baby - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":748,"weight":374,"compare_at_price":1495,"inventory_quantity":35,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"deny","barcode":"978-1-58089-445-6","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/very-tiny-baby-cover.jpg?v=1586805868"],"featured_image":"\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/very-tiny-baby-cover.jpg?v=1586805868","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"The Very Tiny Baby book cover","id":5804451233871,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.805,"height":745,"width":600,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/very-tiny-baby-cover.jpg?v=1586805868"},"aspect_ratio":0.805,"height":745,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/very-tiny-baby-cover.jpg?v=1586805868","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten \u0026amp; Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/sylvie-kantorovitz\" title=\"Sylvie Kantorovitz bio\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSylvie Kantorovitz\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA reassuring look at the arrival of a new sibling, born prematurely.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJacob isn’t sure he is happy about being an older brother. But when the baby comes too soon, what happens? Jacob learns that adults can be scared, too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book portrays the range of emotions older siblings often have about a new baby, including fear, anger, and confusion, along with the added challenges of the preemie’s health concerns and parents’ frequent absences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/lola-reads-to-leo\" title=\"Lola Reads to Leo\"\u003eLola Reads to Leo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/emma-s-question\" title=\"Emma's Question\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/a-kid-of-their-own\"\u003eA Kid of Their Own\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/poppys-best-babies\"\u003ePoppy's Best Babies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/very-tiny-baby-spread.jpg?11648291300623490363\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSylvie Kantorovitz, author\/illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSylvie Kantorovitz drew upon her experiences as a sister and mother of a preemie when writing \u003ci\u003eThe Very Tiny Baby\u003c\/i\u003e. She is the illustrator of \u003ci\u003eGo to Bed, Monster!\u003c\/i\u003e and the Little Witch series, and the author\/illustrator of \u003ci\u003eI Love You, Mister Bear\u003c\/i\u003e. She lives in Albany, New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/sylvie-kantorovitz\" title=\"Sylvie Kantorovitz bio\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Sylvie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCCBC Choices\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust because a book fills a need, that doesn't guarantee its quality; fortunately, this book both addresses premature birth and succeeds marvelously.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike any big brother-to-be, Jacob is conflicted when he hears about his family's upcoming arrival. Sure, he's excited, but teddy bear Bob, clearly Jacob's externalized id, is unafraid to bring up potential problems. Bob's worries are utterly forgotten, however, when the infant arrives far too early, and the grown-ups' fear communicates itself to Jacob. As time wears on, Jacob feels abandoned; all his parents and grandmother think about is their preemie. Reminiscent of the straightforward honesty of a Robie H. Harris title, the storyline doesn't coddle the viewer but acknowledges feelings, both good and bad. From conversations about what's going to happen (\"Is the baby going to die? Grandma didn't know\") to anger toward the baby itself (a black page contains just an image of Jacob and the words \"I wish the baby would die\"), Kantorovitz draws on personal experience to give a rounded view of the situation. Images are laid out like snapshots in a family album, drawn in the faux-naif style of Jacob himself, and his childlike narration is printed in a typeface that emulates a child's handwriting. This filter helps to blunt the potential horror even as it honors Jacob's emotions and experiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA laudably candid effort, unafraid to treat its readership with the utmost respect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJacob’s parents are excited about their expected baby, but the child isn’t so sure he wants to share the limelight. Then when the infant arrives too early and everyone--even grandma--is so preoccupied with its survival that they don’t pay much attention to him, he’s certain that the new baby is a bad idea. When the baby improves and eventually comes home, though, Jacob, assured of his parents’ love, is ready to assume his roles as big brother and helper. The hand-lettered text appears in several framed rectangles of varying sizes on each page. Most rectangles contain ink drawings colored with gouache and pencils. Although text and illustrations have a childlike quality, the story doesn’t gloss over how fragile life is for preemies, the anxieties experienced by family members, and even the complaints, often expressed here through the mouth of his stuffed bear, of a sibling who feels left out. A striking example is the solid black rectangle covering a page on which Jacob declares, “I wish the baby would die.” Pumping of breast milk, hospital visit precautions, and care of preemies are all depicted. This story can provide information and comfort to youngsters experiencing worry about a sibling born prematurely or even for those who are preparing to share parents with a new brother or sister.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJacob's parents are expecting a baby, but the usual older-sibling storyline takes on a more serious turn when the baby arrives much too early, ending up in the NICU and sending the family into a tailspin of anxiety and disruption. When Jacob's parents turn all of their attention to the needs of the preemie, Jacob's feelings of frustration rapidly evolve into feelings of anger (\"I am thinking mean thoughts. I think the baby is ruining my life. I think we should give the baby away. I wish the baby would die\"). Even when danger passes, the baby must stay in the hospital, requiring Jacob's mother to pump breast milk (while Jacob covers his ears in frustration at the noise of the machine). Finally, the baby comes home, and while still a bit uncertain, Jacob appears mostly ready to welcome his tiny sibling. This is not a book to accidentally hand to an unsuspecting soon-to-be older sibling, but it's a frank look at a common life situation not usually addressed for this age; Kantorovitz deals with Jacob's very real and intense emotions with unusual honesty and a keen sense of child perspective. The pen, pencil, and gouache illustrations mimic a child's drawing style, and they're laid out with hand-lettered text captions in sequential bordered panels against contrasting backgrounds, as if they were in Jacob's scrapbook. Introduced in the right context and with the right amount of adult support, this could prove a useful story to families in a similar situation; consider purchasing this for your parent shelf rather than your picture-book collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/very-tiny-baby-cvr.jpg?5839776489542115840\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/very-tiny-baby-hires.zip?5839776489542115840\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-445-6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-60734-737-8 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e ISBN: 978-1-60734-635-7 PDF\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 3-7\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e8 x 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReading Literature. Grade 1. Standards 1-3, 6, 7, 9, and 10.\u003cbr\u003eReading Literature. Grade 2. Standards 1, 3, 5-7, and 10.\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

The Very Tiny Baby

Written & Illustrated by: Sylvie Kantorovitz

A reassuring look at the arrival of a new sibling, born prematurely.

Jacob isn’t sure he is happy about being an older brother. But when the baby comes too soon, what happens? Jacob learns that adults can be scared, too.

The book portrays the range of emotions older siblings often have about a new baby, including fear, anger, and confusion, along with the added challenges of the preemie’s health concerns and parents’ frequent absences.

$ 14.95
Maximum quantity available reached.

Sylvie Kantorovitz, author/illustrator

Sylvie Kantorovitz drew upon her experiences as a sister and mother of a preemie when writing The Very Tiny Baby. She is the illustrator of Go to Bed, Monster! and the Little Witch series, and the author/illustrator of I Love You, Mister Bear. She lives in Albany, New York.

Read more about Sylvie.

  • CCBC Choices

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Just because a book fills a need, that doesn't guarantee its quality; fortunately, this book both addresses premature birth and succeeds marvelously.

Like any big brother-to-be, Jacob is conflicted when he hears about his family's upcoming arrival. Sure, he's excited, but teddy bear Bob, clearly Jacob's externalized id, is unafraid to bring up potential problems. Bob's worries are utterly forgotten, however, when the infant arrives far too early, and the grown-ups' fear communicates itself to Jacob. As time wears on, Jacob feels abandoned; all his parents and grandmother think about is their preemie. Reminiscent of the straightforward honesty of a Robie H. Harris title, the storyline doesn't coddle the viewer but acknowledges feelings, both good and bad. From conversations about what's going to happen ("Is the baby going to die? Grandma didn't know") to anger toward the baby itself (a black page contains just an image of Jacob and the words "I wish the baby would die"), Kantorovitz draws on personal experience to give a rounded view of the situation. Images are laid out like snapshots in a family album, drawn in the faux-naif style of Jacob himself, and his childlike narration is printed in a typeface that emulates a child's handwriting. This filter helps to blunt the potential horror even as it honors Jacob's emotions and experiences.

A laudably candid effort, unafraid to treat its readership with the utmost respect.

School Library Journal

Jacob’s parents are excited about their expected baby, but the child isn’t so sure he wants to share the limelight. Then when the infant arrives too early and everyone--even grandma--is so preoccupied with its survival that they don’t pay much attention to him, he’s certain that the new baby is a bad idea. When the baby improves and eventually comes home, though, Jacob, assured of his parents’ love, is ready to assume his roles as big brother and helper. The hand-lettered text appears in several framed rectangles of varying sizes on each page. Most rectangles contain ink drawings colored with gouache and pencils. Although text and illustrations have a childlike quality, the story doesn’t gloss over how fragile life is for preemies, the anxieties experienced by family members, and even the complaints, often expressed here through the mouth of his stuffed bear, of a sibling who feels left out. A striking example is the solid black rectangle covering a page on which Jacob declares, “I wish the baby would die.” Pumping of breast milk, hospital visit precautions, and care of preemies are all depicted. This story can provide information and comfort to youngsters experiencing worry about a sibling born prematurely or even for those who are preparing to share parents with a new brother or sister.

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Jacob's parents are expecting a baby, but the usual older-sibling storyline takes on a more serious turn when the baby arrives much too early, ending up in the NICU and sending the family into a tailspin of anxiety and disruption. When Jacob's parents turn all of their attention to the needs of the preemie, Jacob's feelings of frustration rapidly evolve into feelings of anger ("I am thinking mean thoughts. I think the baby is ruining my life. I think we should give the baby away. I wish the baby would die"). Even when danger passes, the baby must stay in the hospital, requiring Jacob's mother to pump breast milk (while Jacob covers his ears in frustration at the noise of the machine). Finally, the baby comes home, and while still a bit uncertain, Jacob appears mostly ready to welcome his tiny sibling. This is not a book to accidentally hand to an unsuspecting soon-to-be older sibling, but it's a frank look at a common life situation not usually addressed for this age; Kantorovitz deals with Jacob's very real and intense emotions with unusual honesty and a keen sense of child perspective. The pen, pencil, and gouache illustrations mimic a child's drawing style, and they're laid out with hand-lettered text captions in sequential bordered panels against contrasting backgrounds, as if they were in Jacob's scrapbook. Introduced in the right context and with the right amount of adult support, this could prove a useful story to families in a similar situation; consider purchasing this for your parent shelf rather than your picture-book collection.

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-58089-445-6

E-book
ISBN: 978-1-60734-737-8 EPUB
ISBN: 978-1-60734-635-7 PDF

Ages: 3-7
Page count: 32
8 x 10

Correlated to Common Core State Standards:
Reading Literature. Grade 1. Standards 1-3, 6, 7, 9, and 10.
Reading Literature. Grade 2. Standards 1, 3, 5-7, and 10.