Tag Forest Xiao

How Many Babies? / Yummy Yummy

jillrbennett Leave a comment

How Many Babies?
Yummy Yummy
Forest Xiao
Walker Books

Those who have read Seven Babies will immediately recognise the Forest Xiao’s adorable infant depictions. However How Many Babies? goes three better and introduces, one per spread, ten tinies in playful mood (occasionally accompanied by mum or dad). We see the first one playing peek-a-boo, two high fiving each another, three in a tight squeeze, four holding on as tight to Dad as he is to them, and so on until having made a mess munching their meal, they settle down, or some do, to sleep, along with their exhausted-looking parents.
A must for the very youngest’s book collection.

So too is Yummy Yummy. Some things are certainly yummy – corn and watermelon for instance and milk. Other items prove equally yummy – if you happen to be one of the delightful babies in this board book. Take, music (not the sounds but the instrument itself), table or stool, mark-making colours, even your own tootsie; and for sure, your infant pal had better beware if within close tasting range.

Giggles galore will likely result if you read this fun offering to your own baby, maybe more from the adult than the infant though. That said, slightly older little ones will devour it and perhaps demand more.

Seven Babies

jillrbennett Leave a comment

Seven Babies Forest Xiao Walker Books

One Thursday morning there’s a ring at the bell of number 14 and a box of seven babies appears – self-delivered one supposes.

A man and woman open the door looking somewhat bemused and invite the infants in. The babies quickly make themselves at home and for the reminder of the day, enjoy themselves. They play in the park, take a bath together and do some quiet investigating.

They help with hanging out the clothes on the washing line and come the end of the day, they snuggle up with their hosts to share the storybook they’d brought with them.

The exhausted couple then fall fast asleep and the exuberant babies depart with their box plus a few items they’ve appropriated – a sock, the woman’s sleeping mask, and the man’s spectacles. With them too are the ladybird (this can be spotted on every spread) and the seven little peas in a pod book that that came with them. The story concludes with a question for readers/listeners, ‘What will they do next?’ – A great opportunity for children to do their own creative storying about the adorable babes.

With a minimal text and scenes that are bursting with gentle humour, this light-hearted, playful tale is irresistible and certain to be requested over and over by little humans slightly older than those endearing visiting babies.