No Room for Baby!

by Emile Jadoul, Emile Jadoul (Illustrator)

Overview

Leon is worried. There's a new baby penguin in his home. And though Marcel is sleeping in his crib now, he can't stay there forever. But where can they put him? Mama's arms are way too big to cuddle a tiny baby penguin. It's definitely too scary high up on Daddy's shoulders for him. And as anyone can see, when Daddy is on one side and Mama on the other, with Leon in the middle, there's no room for anyone else. “We can't put a baby penguin anywhere ...” Leon says. Is there a place that's just right for a little brother penguin to go? In this endearing and cozy picture book, author and illustrator Émile Jadoul poignantly captures the worries and evolving feelings that arise when a new baby enters the family of a young child. The sweet story is told with sensitivity and gentle humor from the child's perspective, allowing young readers' understanding to grow along with Leon's, as he eventually figures out where and how a new sibling will fit into his family. The uncomplicated artwork is charming and expressive and a perfect complement to the limited text, conveying simply and realistically the emotions of the story. This book would make a wonderful starting point for a conversation about becoming a new big brother or sister, a common experience for preschoolers and kindergartners. A cozy read-aloud, it also lends itself to exploring growing up or family life, or a character education lesson on adaptability.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771388412
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	10/03/2017
Pages:	28
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Emile Jadoul is the author and illustrator of more than seventy books for children. He completed his studies in graphic design and illustration at Belgium's School of Arts Saint-Luc de Liege. Emile lives in Belgium.

Emile Jadoul is the author and illustrator of more than seventy books for children. He completed his studies in graphic design and illustration at Belgium's School of Arts Saint-Luc de Liege. Emile lives in Belgium.

Editorial Reviews

Parents, especially those anticipating a new baby in the household, will appreciate this sweetly humorous read-aloud.—School Library Journal

A simple, positive new-baby book.—Kirkus Reviews

... an accessible read- aloud to young children.—CM Magazine

From the Publisher

07/01/2017
PreS-Gr 1—A young penguin, Leon, welcomes home his new baby brother, Marcel. Leon worries that there is no room for the new baby in his room, on his mother's lap, or in his parents' arms. Ultimately, he decides that his own arms are the perfect size to snuggle baby Marcel. The artwork is rendered in pencil, crayon, and oil. The simple style and limited palette are well suited to addressing the often stressful transition of bringing a new baby into the family. Soft lines and the use of white space help create a controlled and secure setting. The story is straightforward, and the illustrations are minimalist, with some texture to enliven the characters. VERDICT Parents, especially those anticipating a new baby in the household, will appreciate this sweetly humorous read-aloud. Early elementary students could also read this tale on their own.—Kelly Topita, Anne Arundel County Public Library, MD

School Library Journal

2017-08-02
Leon is sure there's no room for his new baby brother, Marcel, outside of his crib until he finds just the right spot.This new-baby story features a family of anthropomorphic penguins who, despite their presumed Antarctic origins, live in a remarkably spacious cartoon-style igloo outfitted with chairs, beds, curtained windows, and a crib for Marcel. New big brother Leon asks his mother hopefully if Marcel will always stay in his crib. When she smilingly replies in the negative, he tries to make the case that there's simply no room for the baby in his own bedroom, on her lap, or up high on his father's shoulders. But when Marcel begins to cry, Leon suddenly announces that there is room enough for the baby in his own arms, and he snuggles him close in a sudden surge of brotherly affection. This happy resolution seems rather abrupt, but the sparseness of the storyline is matched by the clean aesthetic of the simple illustrations, created with black pencil crayons and oils in a limited color palette. The penguins look like black potatoes with pipestem feet, wings, and white, rosy-cheeked faces with tiny yellow beaks. A simple, positive new-baby book. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews