Product Description

A family helps Mom deliver her baby at home.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #427950 in Books
• Published on: 1999-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Jack and his family welcome a baby boy in this tranquil description of a seamless home birth, from an Australian team. "Mum's got pains in her tummy and that means her baby is ready to be born," announces the boy narrator. Overend makes the baby's arrival a family affair and carefully describes the events from a child's perspective. When Mum takes a walk outdoors alone in the whistling wind to "help the baby along," for instance, Jack thinks, "If I was a baby listening to that wind, I'd want to stay inside Mum, floating in the warm water." The woman's walk and subsequent indoor pacing works, however, and she finally gives birth in a standing position, fully undressed, supported by her husband as her children and sister look on, and a midwife guides the infant out. In a placid concluding tableau, the older siblings curl up in sleeping bags before the fire, alongside their parents and the newborn. Vivas's (Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge) softly focused pencil illustrations capture the serenity of the delivery, as well as Jack's aweAand slight apprehensionAat the arrival of his new brother. Though the natural childbirth scenario may not be typical of most youngsters' experience, those awaiting the birth of a new sibling may well take comfort in the book's smooth introduction of the stages leading up to labor as well as its soothing tone and images. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 6-A refreshing book that dares to show and tell it like it is. "Mum's got pains in her tummy and that means her baby is ready to be born." So Jack, his two older sisters, Dad, Anna the midwife, and Mum's sister get ready. The baby's clothes are laid out, the "special microphone" and an oxygen tank are unpacked, and a giant bed is set up by the fire. Readers are then presented with the routines and realities of a home birth. This book is bold and sensitive, tasteful and sweet. There is no shielding from reality. Mum yells and screams and leans on Dad. Jack, from whose point of view the story is told, is anxious and unsure of what to expect. When the baby is born, there are several startling and yet beautiful images: the baby's head emerging from between Mum's standing legs, the baby boy dangling upside down on the page with his umbilical cord reaching up, and finally the mother, naked and on her knees cradling the baby in her arms. There is an inner glow to these colored-pencil illustrations, a softness and purity that allows for total acceptance of this unadorned experience. There is a feeling of intimacy, as if readers are more than bystanders to this most incredible and natural occurrence. The howling wind is used as a literary element, wild as Mum progresses through her labor, dying down at night, and calm, as it is inside. This is a book to be shared, discussed, and simply enjoyed. It is steeped in love.
Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Kane/Miller publishing has become known for a handful of children's books on parts of the body (breasts) and their functions (Everyone Poops, 1993), all treated with unusual directness. This book is also surprisingly direct, but it is much more sophisticated than previous offerings, both in the text and, especially, in the art. The subject is childbirth, certainly not a neglected topic in children's literature, but Overend and Vivas focus on homebirth, making it a family affair and showing just what happens. The narrator, Jack, is the youngest of three children whose parents await the birth of a new baby. The midwife arrives; Mum's sister comes; and the family gathers round Mum to watch the miracle happen. Jack duly reports Mum's yells, but the text is surprisingly subdued. It's Viva's warm, gauzy illustrations that convey the emotion and the details. Suffused with bright highlights, they manage to be strong and frank without being too scary or vivid. They clearly show Mum's labors and the birth: Mum, experiencing contractions as she bends over a chair; standing naked and hugging Dad as the baby's head crowns, the children looking on, anxious and wondering. Then there's Mum, baby at breast, umbilical cord still attached and the placenta in a bowl nearby; and the newly born baby, eyes open to the world. The last spread shows the family sleeping, all together--close and peaceful--having shared something none of them is likely to forget. The setting is very different from the warm hospital room of Robie Harris' Happy Birth Day! (1996), illustrated by Michael Emberley, but the love and family intimacy shown are just the same. Stephanie Zvirin

Customer Reviews

Wonderful, tender account of a homebirth for children
I bought this book on the recommendation of a midwife in the homebirth practice I used with my 2nd child. I was amazed by the beautiful story & lovely pictures. My 3 year old loved it too - especially the pictures of the little children meeting the new baby. I was so happy to have this book to introduce this topic to my daughter so she wouldn't be afraid by what was happening. It really prepared her well.

Home Birth Momma
As a home birth mom myself I adore this book! I needed a "how was I born book" for my daughter. So many books talked about the hospital birth and I did not want to imbed that into her precious mind. Co sleeping, brestfeeding, labor and love are all beautifully portrayed! I nerer noticed the rusticness until I read it in these other reviews. BUY IT, KEEP IT FOREVER!

What birth can mean for a family
Welcome With Love talks about childbirth with love, feelings, and great respect. It is about the kind of birth that all women are entitled to have -- and all families are entitled to be part of.

This wonderful children's book depicts a gentle, natural home birth on a windy, fireplace-lit night. The whole family participates in welcoming the new baby into the world. The story of a mother's fourth baby being born, is told in her young son's voice. He speaks of his mother's great noises during labor but he's not afraid, because she had told him beforehand that she "might make a lot of noise", he mustn't worry because "that's what it's like when babies are being born," and that she'll feel better if she yells and screams. The book shows the mother in full naked splendor pushing her baby out, the family watches with great love, tears in their eyes and excitement in their faces. The pictures were illustrated with absolute respect and regard for the birthing woman's privacy and dignity.

The book describes childbirth with touching honesty and realism. This is a perfect book to prepare children for the homebirth of a sibling. I found this beautiful story at our local library and enjoyed reading it so much I purchased a copy for my family. I love this book and highly recommend reading it to children of all ages.