Additional information
by Steven L. Layne (Author)
A big-brother bunny struggles to welcome his brand-new sibling in this sweet picture book with "a zesty layer of humor" (Booklist).
Older siblings are notorious for reluctantly welcoming home a new bundle of joy, and many parents know the difficulty of teaching the firstborn to "love the baby." In this new picture book by the award-winning team of Steven Layne and Ard Hoyt, the refrain of "looooove the baby" is repeated often enough for it to eventually come true for the once-insecure and spiteful older brother. The transition occurs when Baby cries and cries one night, and no one comes to help. Awakened by the cries, the older brother comes to Baby's rescue. He makes Baby giggle and sing and builds a giant tower of blocks. He reads Baby his favorite book. Once Baby is finally asleep, the big brother notices with pride that he really does love the baby after all! Parents and teachers will appreciate how this book lightly and humorously approaches such a weighty subject for children awaiting or adjusting to a new sibling. With colorful illustrations of bunnies, kids of all backgrounds and ages can relate and recognize themselves in the story. "There's certainly no shortage of books about a child's adjustment to a new baby in the house, but Layne's take on the familiar theme is sweet and direct enough even for very young children to grasp." --Booklist "This story could well become a favorite for children who are grappling with accepting a new baby into the family." --School Library JournalFront Jacket
"Everywhere we went, everybody told me,
'Loooove the baby!'"
"This story could well become a favorite for children who are grappling with accepting a new baby into the family."
--School Library Journal
"Steven Layne is one of our favorite teachers--and authors . . . "Love the Baby" is a clever take on sibling jealousy when a new baby comes home."
--Teaching K-8
"Layne's take on the familiar theme is sweet and direct enough even for very young children to grasp."
--Booklist
When Baby arrives on the scene, the new big brother's transition from only child to sibling is not an easy one. As he pretends to do what family and friends are all suggesting--love the baby--his misery mounts! But when Baby needs a hero in the night, big brother saves the day and discovers, to his great surprise, that he really does love the baby after all.
A chance meeting in 2004 led to instant friendship for Steven Layne and Ard Hoyt. Now, these experienced fathers have teamed up for a story of sibling rivalry and redemption that is both hilarious and heartwarming.
Author Biography
Named to the 2001 All-Teacher Team by USA Today 2001 Recipient of the Milken Family Foundation's National Award for Teaching Excellence Steven L. Layne serves as director of the master of education in literacy program at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois, where he is also a professor of literacy education. He is a fifteen-year veteran of public education, serving as a classroom teacher and reading specialist for grades two through three and five through eight. A respected literacy consultant, motivational keynote speaker, and featured author, Layne works with large numbers of educators and children during school visits and at conferences held throughout the world each year. His work has been recognized with awards for outstanding contributions to the fields of educational research, teaching, and writing from organizations such as USA Today, the Milken Family Foundation, the Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the National Council of Teachers of English, the Illinois Reading Council, and the International Reading Association. A prolific and talented writer, his young-adult thriller This Side of Paradise was the 2002 winner of the Hal Clement Award for Young Adults and the 2003-2004 Texas Lone Star Award. He is also the author of the International Reading Association/Children's Choice selections My Brother Dan's Delicious and The Teachers' Night Before Christmas, the latter of which is also a best-seller in Pelican's Night Before Christmas Series. Layne lives with his wife, Debbie, their four children, and an adorable Collie named Shelby in St. Charles, Illinois. For more information about the author, please visit his website, www.stevelayne.com
