Kirkus Reviews QR Code
NEWBORN by Kathy Henderson

NEWBORN

by Kathy Henderson

Pub Date: May 1st, 1999
ISBN: 0-8037-2434-9
Publisher: Dial Books

In lyrical prose a mother describes the miraculous new world surrounding her newborn. All is new to the infant and thus all is fair game for explanation, from the mundane to the metaphysical: a telephone ringing, a father’s sudden sneeze, the vast cosmos beyond the window. Siblings and the occasional relative mingle in the pages, welcoming the infant into their lives. With a deft touch, Henderson examines the world through the untarnished eyes of a novitiate. “Look, there are shadows/of daylight and darkness/scattered and dappled all over the wall.” Filled with images that tug at the heartstrings—a fragile, tiny head cradled in a father’s large but infinitely tender hands—Binch’s delicate watercolors capture the wonder of a newborn’s first days. An affecting tribute to the grace and limitless possibilities of a new life, suitable for children curious about new siblings, but just as appropriate for new parents attempting to articulate those early overwhelming sensations. (Picture book. 4-8)