There's Going to be a Baby

by
John Burningham
Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury

A mother tells her little boy that ‘there’s going to be a baby’; she wonders if the baby will grow up to be a chef or an artist or maybe work in the zoo, but the little boy doesn’t like the sound of any of this – he doesn’t think they really need the new baby…

As the seasons change and his mummy’s bump grows bigger, the little boy’s concerns change to something closer to excitement and as he goes to meet the baby for the first time, he feels ready to love his new sibling.

Oxenbury’s illustrations are both warm and stylish, perfectly complementing Burningham’s text. This charming picture book will surely be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of any family expecting a second baby and has all the makings of a future classic.

Publisher: Walker Books

Helen Oxenbury

Growing up in Ipswich, England, Helen Oxenbury loved nothing more than drawing. As a teenager, she entered art school and basked in the pleasure of drawing, and nothing but drawing, all day. During vacations she helped out at the Ipswich Repertory Theatre workshop, mixing paints for set designers. It was there that she decided her future lay in theatre design. While studying costume design, however, Helen was told by a teacher, "This is hopeless, you know. You ought to go and do illustrations - you're much more interested in the character, and we don't know who's going to play the part!"

Helen Oxenbury