happy Book Birthday to Mama’s Belly!

By Kate Hosford and Pictures by Abigail Halpin

I was so happy to receive an early copy of Mama’s Belly by Kate Hosford, which is being released today, Tuesday, April 17th!

Thank you to Abrams Kids and Blue Slip Media for sharing a copy of Mama’s Belly for both my preview and the giveaway. More information is below. 

This charming picture book tells the story of a family’s journey through Mama’s pregnancy. The family includes a sweet preschooler who is thrilled that she will soon have a baby sister. I will always remember our family’s experience as we awaited the birth of our second son and the joy our older son felt as he anticipated becoming a big brother.  He decided that his new brother would need lots of toys, so I helped him wrap up many of his precious stuffed animals and toys to give to his new little brother. He wanted to make certain Adam had everything he needed! When his brother came home, David filled his crib with so many gifts, that there was barely any room left for his brother! But I’m sure there might have been some anxious moments for David, as well. He was the only child in our extended family and as a result, he was showered with constant love and attention. I can just imagine what might have gone through his little mind, if it occurred to him that he might need to share that love.

I love that Mama’s Belly addresses both the joy and the anxiety of becoming a big brother or sister, and does it in such a sweet and heartfelt way. I especially liked that not only did the story describe the excitement the family feels as they approach the big day, but it also describes the realistic side of a pregnancy. It tells us that sometimes Mama is too tired to play, sometimes she is grumpy and sometimes she no longer has a lap for little sister to crawl into. It also shares some of little sister’s concerns when she wonders if she will need to share her favorite blanket with her sister and when she asks her mama, “when my sister comes, will you have enough love for both of us?” However, the majority of the story shows the joy that the little girls feels as she anticipates becoming a big sister and sharing the world with her.

Kate Hosford’s story is even more poignant due to the warm and colorful illustrations by Abigail Halpin. Her pictures bring little sister’s expressions alive for us. I loved her eyes on every single page. She expresses so much emotion just by the tilt of her head or the slant of an eye. I would definitely like to have one of Halpin’s paintings hanging in my home! Be sure to peak beneath the cover of Mama’s Belly and you’ll find this hidden gem!

Abigail Halpin is the illustrator of many books for children, including Finding Wild (another one of my favorites that I will be writing more about later this spring). She lives in southern Maine. Visit her on the web at theodesign.com or on Instagram: @abigailhalpin

Kate Hosford is the author of several picture books, including Infinity and Me, which was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book award and was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book. Her books have been translated into Chinese, Korean, French, and Romanian. Kate lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York. To learn more, visit her website: khosford.com.                  Twitter: @khosford_author             Instagram: @katelhosford

giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive a copy of MAMA’S BELLY, courtesy of

Abrams Kids  (U.S. addresses).

Here’s how to win a copy of Mama’s Belly:  If you already follow Red Canoe, just comment below and tell us who you will share this book with.  If you are new to Red Canoe, subscribe to Red Canoe by adding your email to the space on the right. That’s all you need to do!

One entry per person. The Deadline for entries is Friday, April 20, 2018.

More about Susan

Hi! I'm Susan, a wife, a mom and a recently retired elementary school librarian with 22 years of experience. One of my greatest joys is to connect kids with a perfect book, which then leads them to a lifelong love of learning. Through my blog, I'm hoping to reach parents, their children and teachers to help them find those special books. I’m also hoping to offer some tips and techniques to use with your children as you read aloud.