American Babies
Global Fund For Childrenr
Global Fund for Children develops innovative titles that help young readers expand their appreciation of the multicultural world in which they live. Each book depicts positive images of children, promotes multiculturalism, and integrates the children's perspective into the text.
Part of the proceeds from this book's sales will be donated to Global Fund for Children, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing the dignity of young people around the world. Visit online.
Read more about Global Fund for Children.
- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award
Booklist, starred review
A companion volume to Global Babies, which appeared on the 2008 Notable Children's Book's List, this appealing board book offers 17 close-up photos of babies. Like the previous volume, this has a brief text, really a single sentence divided into phrases: "All across this land, / from sea to shining sea / curious babies / explore their world, / laughing and playing, / spreading joy, sharing hope, / surrounded by love." From the Hawaiian child on the cover to the African-American girl on the last page, all the babies pictured are beyond early infancy. Their expressive faces and emotions are as varied as their family backgrounds, surroundings, and activities. One baby plays with his feet, another laughs at falling leaves, while another attempts to bite into an apple. The pleasing layout places each colorful, full-page photo opposite a page with a slightly smaller photo and large-type text on its bright, solid-color border. It's well-known that young children like to look at faces and at other children, but adults will find these fine photos equally captivating. That's a strong recommendation for a board book, which must stand up to multiple readings. From its inviting cover to the hug implied at the end, here's a beautiful book to share with babies and toddlers.
Publishers Weekly
This companion to Global Babies contains 17 full-color photographs of babies from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while a single sentence offers an exuberant, running sentiment. "All across this land, from sea to shining sea, curious babies explore their world, laughing and playing, spreading joy, sharing hope, surrounded by love." Some images are framed with bright borders, while other photos are full-bleed. Partial proceeds from sales go to Global Fund for Children.
BookDragon
Here's another adorable chunky book for the youngest chubby little hands to hold … and drool and toothlessly grin over. The parents will have their heartstrings pulled a few times, too …
Filled with the many multi-culti, ethnically diverse faces of American babydom – from a mini farmer amidst golden fields, to an already voracious reader ready to "explore their world," to a baseball lover crawling to the next game while "laughing and playing," to an unsure pigtailed wonder "sharing hope" snuggled in a loved one's arms – just about every baby will find a friend or two amidst all the hard-to-resist babies all securely "surrounded by love."
With partial proceeds benefitting The Global Fund for Children's "innovative community-based organizations that serve the worlds' most vulnerable children and youth," this give-back little number is a lovable introduction to the boundless wonder of books …!
Doc Kirby at WTBF-AM/FM
American Babies: A Global Fund for Children Book (age 0-2) is a charming little board book with photos of our kids. The text reads, "All across this land, from sea to shining sea, curious babies explore their world, laughing and playing, spreading joy, sharing hope, surrounded by love."
Yellow Brick Road
Like Global Babies, the photos of babies wille ntrance the youngest readers, and older readers, as well. The photos in this book feature seventeen babies from the United States; the beauty and diversity of our citizens and the universal activities and emotions they share are evident on every page.
The Well-Read Child
We've read The Global Fund for Children's Global Babies over and over again, so I was delighted to receive a copy of American Babies. In the same spirit as Global Babies, American Babies introduces you to gorgeous photographs of diverse babies all across the U.S. Brief text on every page sends a positive message about the love babies bring to the world. I think I love this book just as much as my little ones do.
BayViews
In this companion to Global Babies, which was a 2006 ALA Notable Children's Book and an ACL Distinguished Book, a multicultural group of babies are the focus. Each page contains a close-up photo of a baby's face. The text is one sentence, spread throughout the book with just a few words per page, celebrating the nature of babies--curious, hopeful, loving. Not quite as distinctive as Global Babies, this should find an audience.
Kirkus Reviews
Photographs of adorable babies (is there any other kind?) of varying ethnicities appear in both full-page and panel insets to a very brief (one sentence), vaguely patriotic text. With just one phrase per spread, there's little to distract from the main attractions. One overall-clad lad sits in a field of golden grain, another tyke crawls across the sand ("from sea to shining sea"), a little girl intently scans a board book and yet another smiles coyly over her mother's shoulder. The dark-skinned, utterly toothless boy crowing with delight ("spreading joy") is worth the price of admission all by himself. As babies never seem to grow tired of looking at other babies, this glowing celebration seems to be a surefire hit. A portion of the proceeds benefits The Global Fund for Children.
Washington Parent
Babies love to look at other babies—and this sturdy board book gives little ones ample opportunity to gaze long upon happy tots from around the United States. Children of different ethnicities peer out from color photos that include landscapes as diverse as beach, meadow and leaf pile. The photos also subtly introduce the idea of seasons, with kids garbed in snowsuits, sundresses, beach togs and baseball caps. A simple text highlights commonalities such as laughing, playing and sharing love, reinforcing the idea that people are more alike than they are different. Take these babies with you to amuse your baby, be she traveling by plane, car or stroller.
Board Book
ISBN: 978-1-58089-280-3
Ages: 0-3
Page count: 16
6 x 6