I might have to add this to my "must buy" for every baby shower. A GORGEOUS book about the conception and growth of an unborn child. It honors that (and doesn't get into debate of when life is conceived.) Jason Chin is truly gifted in his picture book illustrations for non-fiction works.

I wouldn't be shocked if this also gets a Caldecott nomination. ( )

Mentioned in Megan Dowd Lambert's Whole Book Approach webinar (use of the gutter, verso/recto)

This beautiful book shows a family - mom, dad, and little girl - during the nine months before a new baby's arrival. Primary rhyming text is supported by labeled drawings of the baby's development from egg to zygote to embryo to fetus. Baby's development is shown on the left-hand page, while the family scenes are on the right, but as the baby grows, it begins crowding over the gutter and onto the right side. When Mom goes into labor, the grandparents arrive to stay with the little girl while Mom and Dad go to the hospital for the baby to be born.

Back matter includes "more about babies," Nine Amazing Things Babies Can Do Before They're Born, Humans vs. Animals, and "What if...?" as well as a selected bibliography.

A lovely blend of science and story, especially good for families expecting a new sibling (see also: King Baby by Kate Beaton), or for kids who are curious about their own time spend growing before birth (see also: What Makes A Baby by Cory Silverberg). ( )

Wow, this is a GREAT book! Simple text. Illustration on opposite page shows development of fetus. More information at the back of the book.
EXCELLENT book to read with preschoolers who are expecting a new sibling. ( )

Top 100 pick because:

Jason Chin is already an inspiring, detailed illustrator, and Miranda Paul's sparse yet accurate and to the point text creates a cohesive and interesting story. The way gestation of a baby, from right after conception up until it's in your arms is a wonderfully scientific look at birth in an easy to follow and understand manner. ( )

Author Miranda Paul and illustrator Jason Chin, who previously collaborated on Water Is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle, join forces again in this lovely picture-book examination of pregnancy and gestation, offering both a poetic and scientific narrative about this exciting time. A simple and poetic text describes the fetus' development and movements, while the artwork depicts developments both internal and external to the mother. The paintings showing the fetus are accompanied by notes about time and size ("Week 10, Fetus, Actual size: 23 mm), while a detailed afterword gives more information about each stage of the process, as well as a list of further resources.

I was immensely impressed by Nine Months: Before a Baby Is Born, as I don't think I have ever seen a picture-book which manages to simultaneously capture both the scientific wonder of a fetus's gestational development and the emotional beauty of a family's anticipation of a new baby. The narrative is simple, and appropriate for even the youngest children, while the additional information makes this one relevant for older children who might have questions about the process. The artwork, done in watercolor and gouache, is simply gorgeous, beautifully capturing both the internal and external events. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books about getting a new sibling and/or the development of fetuses in the womb. ( )