I never liked babywearing with Eliana (too complicated! Not comfortable! Scary– is that baby still breathing in there?!), but it was a matter of practicality once I had two kids. It might have been a mix of desperation and newfound confidence, but I actually enjoyed wearing my son, and he liked being cozy with mama. Even though he is a toddler, I still use my carrier to keep him close in crowded places (like hockey playoff games– Go Pens!).
Anyway, before I get lost on a hockey tangent, back to the book! Up! How Families Around the World Carry Their Little Ones, by Susan Hughes, is a sweet picture book showing families carrying their babies in different ways, but always tenderly and full of love. The blurb on the flap mentions countries like Korea, India, China, Poland, Afghanistan, Canada, West Africa, and Peru, but the actual text of the book does not identify which families are from which country, leaving the reader to focus on the families themselves instead of any pre-conceived notions of nationality. The illustrations by Ashley Barron are beautifully done in a bright, crisp paper collage style.
Natasha’s Rating: ★★★★★
I adore this book! The simple narrative allows the love of each family to shine through. The characters are diverse in ethnicity, gender, ability, and familial role, including siblings, cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even a father in a wheelchair. This would be a wonderful addition to any bookshelf. I’m thinking baby shower gift!
Eliana’s Rating: ★★★★★
I liked it because I like the ways that they carry their little ones. It makes me think that we should try the other ways too. Some of the ways look a little dangerous. It’s silly when the uncle carries the twin babies in baskets! I pretend that my owl is a baby and I carry her too!
