Hello Baby, Jenni Overend

Illustrated by Julie Vivas

- Short-listed, 2000 Children's Book Council of Australia awards 

- White Ravens collection, International Youth Library in Munich

Paperback

Size:  approximately 23.5 x 27.5 cm

Pages:  32

On a winter night, in a cottage far away from the town, Mum's baby is ready to be born. The midwife arrives and the whole family prepares for the home birth. Written with honesty and warmth by Jenni Overend, whose own children were present at the birth of her youngest son, this moving portrayal celebrates the birth of a baby at home, with joy. This is a book for the whole family to share in preparation for a home birth or the arrival of a new baby.

Jenni Overend, who passed away in 2011, lived in a small mountain township with her husband and four children. She taught at a little school of eleven children and ran writing classes for adults in the Yarra Valley. She was the author of several books, including Hello Baby, which was short-listed for the 2000 Children's Book Council of Australia awards and selected for the White Ravens collection for the International Youth Library in Munich. Her first book, Princess Grandma, won Australia's Multicultural Picture Book of the Year in 1995.

"A very realistic and moving portrayal of the birth of a baby at home. The book exudes warmth, and effortlessly captures the joy of a family sharing preparations for the new arrival." - Bookseller

"In this honest and moving portrayal, Jenni Overend and Julie Vivas celebrate the birth of a baby at home with warmth and joy. This is a wonderful tale to share in preparation for a home birth." - Green Magazine 

"An honest but moving celebration of a home birth." - Nursery Education

"First, this book is beautifully illustrated and written. The text is calm and lyrical, almost like a poem. The pictures in pastel chalks are rich and warm. This is also the only 'new baby' book I was able to find that featured a home birth. We wanted to prepare our then 3-year-old daughter for the home birth of her sister, and help her understand what would be happening, if it turned out that she wanted to be there. This book is realistic without being graphic, and perfect for kids. I highly recommend this beautiful, touching story." - otterbyte (from Amazon)

"Fed up with all of the books available in mainstream book shops that illustrate mama going off to the hospital to give birth, I was very happy to find this book. Homebirth with a midwife is presented in a calm, peaceful, normal way with lovely illustrations and words." - navyblue (from Amazon)

"This book has been a favorite to both of my children. When I was pregnant with my daughter, my son loved hearing about what to expect during the birth experience and now my daughter, who is two, wants to read it every night. She's even acting out having her own baby! It's a beautifully written story, captured with the heart, authenticity and simplicity of a child's perspective. I highly recommend this to anyone expecting a second child (or beyond...), especially when you want your child to experience the beauty of birth, rather than how we most often see births portrayed in our culture. This is truly a lovely look at honoring a child's experience in welcoming a sibling into the world." -  Angie Phillips (from Amazon)

"My 2 year old boy absolutely loves this book. He wants it read to him every night. It's a beautiful book about birth and welcoming a baby into the world the way we would all like to do it - a natural birth with supportive loved ones around us." - Mrs Jessica B Wood (from Amazon)