Welcome to Your World
Smriti Prasadam-Halls, Author
Jaime Kim, Illustrator
Candlewick Press, Fiction, Mar. 10, 2020
Suitable for ages: 2-5
Themes: Babies, Animal babies, Mothers, Nature, Natural Habitats
Opening: Welcome, little baby, / round your mam curled. / Welcome, little baby. / Welcome to your world.
Synopsis:
With lyrical language and stunning illustrations, Welcome to Your World takes readers from ice-capped mountains to the depths of the sea. Tender scenes between animals and their babies encourage families to join in the loving bond that connects them to one another and to the wonders of our planet.
This beautiful book is ideal for sharing with new babies, new parents, and children just venturing out in the world, as best-selling author Smriti Prasadam-Halls and acclaimed illustrator Jaime Kim provide both a celebration of nature and a gentle reminder to protect it.
Why I like this book:
A stunning celebration of mothers (human and animal) introducing their babies to their bright new world. Mothers develop playful relationships as they bond with their new offspring — a cheetah, giraffe, fawn, whale, turtle, eagle, polar bear, and elephant. “Listen to the creatures of the air and land and sea, living whole and happily, living wild and free.”
The rhymic and repititive text will appeal to children senses. “Look up to the sky…look into the ocean…hear the gentle whisper of fields…taste the juicy berries…feel the raindrops…” Such lovely imagery. Children will love pouring over Jaime Kim’s breathtaking double-page illustrations and looking at the detail of different animal habitats. There is also a gentle reminder that we need to protect nature.
This inspiring book is a perfect Mother’s Day book as well a lovely gift book for new parents.
Resources: This is a book that older siblings will also enjoy. Read it together as a family. Encourage children to draw a picture of their family or a favorite animal pairing.
Smriti Prasadam-Halls is an award-winning, internationally best-selling children’s author whose books have been published in more than thirty languages. Her titles include the Publishers Weekly #1 bestseller I Love You Night and Day, illustrated by Alison Brown. Smriti Prasadam-Halls previously worked at the BBC and in children’s publishing and television as a writer and editor for twelve years. She lives in London with her husband and three sons.
*Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
Children's Books Heal 
How sweet. I love to give books like this to small children who have moms expecting a sibling.
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Yes, I love to do the same! The text is minimal, but combined with the gorgeous artwork it becomes an ode to motherhood.
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This looks beautiful.
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The illustrations are just gorgeous and really show a story of bonding and love between mothers and their babies.
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What a sweet, sweet book to share for Mother’s Day! I love the tenderness between mother and baby elephant on the cover.
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Yes, the cover grabbed my attention immediately. It is so tender and loving.
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Great choice for Mother’s Day. Thanks for sharing. The cover reminds me I need to watch the Disney Nature film on Elephants.
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Yes, I thought it would be a perfect share for Mother’s Day.
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Oh, this looks incredible, the perfect choice for Mother’s Day weekend! Thank you, Pat, for being such a great scout.
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Yes, it is a perfect choice for Mother’s Day weekend!
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What a sweet book for Mother’s Day! It’s interesting to observe how the angle of the mother and baby elephant’s heads, the shape of their eyes, and the wrapping of trunks conveys so much to the reader: love and tenderness being primary impressions.
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You noticed that too! I loved the angles and all I could think of is that elephants have the largest brains and feel love and loss, they protect and play, and they communicate over miles to other herds when they find water and food by pounding their feet — which are very sensitive to vibration. The book shows so much bonding among does and their fawns and a wide variety of animals. Such a charming book!
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That cover is precious! Such love and tenderness, which is true to the videos and sights I’ve seen at zoos. It is indeed an awesome idea for Mother’s Day. Thanks.
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Yes, there is a great deal of tenderness shown in this book. It is a beautiful book to read with toddlers who have new siblings. Funny, when I put my hand on my “mouse” to wake up my computer, a beautiful picture of an elephant with her baby showed up on my screen — in a position very similar to the book photo. Put a smile on my face!
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What a sweet cover. Such tenderness and love that stays true to the elephants. And I love that title. Not Welcome to “my,” “the,” or “our” world, but welcome to YOUR world. That is so powerful. Thanks for featuring it.
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You replied twice, and I enjoyed your seconds comments as well! Thank you!
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This book sounds so nice! It’s always good to get kids interested in nature as soon as possible, and the book definitely sounds like a great Mother’s Day pick! Thanks for the great review!
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You are welcome! It is a powerful book with few words. The illustrations really the story sing!
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A great choice for Mother’s Day! The cover illustration is so serene – definitely a book that children will pick up again and again.
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Yes, it is a book children will just lose themselves in all of the illustrations and enjoy the nature.
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Sounds beautiful, Patricia, and I love the cover. What a great concept.
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