Reviewed by Karen Hendriks
Margaret Wild has won awards and written many books for children that have been published all around the world. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Children’s Book Council of Australia in 2022.
Hannah Sommerville creates captivating illustrations that are enchanting and whimsical.
When Dora is born, her doting brothers play and look after her as she grows. Peter is the brother who reads books to her. This turns out to be the greatest gift of all.
Margaret Wild has crafted a joyous, gentle story that takes the reader into the delightful world of childhood. The brothers' love and care for Dora shines on every page. Margaret Wild says so much with so few words. When Dora was born, her brothers were very excited. Four brothers bestow love upon Dora, each in their own special way. Love, laughter and the joy of childhood and reading books is celebrated. The repeated patterning used by Wild creates a strong story structure that brings out the unique personalities of each brother without telling just showing the reader. Alex pushed her in the pram. Liam played peek-a-boo with her. Bruno blew bubbles for her. And Peter read to her.
Wild gives the illustrator so much room to expressively create her visual storytelling. The text uses strong simple verbs that show the delight of babyhood and early childhood. Childhood really is a magical time and it’s celebrated wonderfully in this book. The ending returns full circle to the beginning and is clever and satisfying to the reader. Wild has magnificently crafted a book that showcases love and the power of the gift of reading.
Hannah Sommerville’s whimsical storytelling shines brightly in the cover, endpapers and on every spread. I love how she uses a growing vine in a heart shape on the cover. Inside the vine are whimsical bits from the story and placed at the bottom of the heart are Dora and Peter reading a book that glows. The baby-blue font and the yellowy background is soft just like a child. The beginning endpapers are new shoots waiting to grow and the back endpapers are a glorious, lush green of flourishing plants with hints of some lavender flowers.
I love how Sommerville uses lots of space in each spread to draw the eye to the illustration. This really supports the text and shows what’s important. Her expressive vignettes allow each brother and their activity with Dora to shine. The spreads when Peter reads to Dora are special and show the magical world of reading. And Peter read to her. Wild has given Sommerville the space she needed to make the story shine. When Dora reads to Peter his toy dragon becomes a mystical, magical dragon and the moment is savoured not rushed.
Reading to Baby is a picture
book that would be a perfect gift for any new baby. It is suitable for 0 - 8 years
and reads aloud beautifully. The book has appeal to children, parents,
teachers, and librarians. I can see early childhood teachers loving this book
as well as new parents. It really is a celebration of childhood and the
importance of being played with and read to as a child.
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