If You Were Born a Kitten

Amazon.com Amazon.com Review (ISBN 0689801114, Hardcover)

Marion Dane Bauer--a Newbery Honor author and part-time breeder of puppies and kittens--captures the wonder of birth in this poetic, playful picture book about how animals come into being. Each oversized, double-page spread lovingly depicts 12 different types of animal babies, including a human, with a few simple lines such as, "If you were a baby seahorse, you'd pop out of your father's pouch and swim away with hundreds of sisters and brothers." Bauer's tender tone, gracefully infused with intriguing animal facts, makes this an unusual homage to the miracle of life. JoEllen McAllister Stammen's magical, soft pastel illustrations beautifully complement each birth story and pay tribute to the special bond between parents and their babies. Young children will love hearing about how other little ones are born, making this winning book a wonderful, sleepy, educational bedtime read. (Picture book)