Babies on the Go

Written by Linda Ashman; illustrated by Jane Dyer.
Harcourt, 2003. Hardcover:  978-0152018948; Board Book: 978-0152058869

Honors & Reviews
  • A Parenting Magazine Best Book of 2003
  • A Child Magazine Best Book of 2003
  • Children’s Book of the Month Club Main Selection
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
  • Children’s Literature Choice List 2004
  • Texas 2×2 Selection 2004
  • Beginning with Books Best Books for Babies 2004

“The large, soft watercolor illustrations and rhyming text make this celebration of parent/​child love a natural for toddler storytime, and it’s also perfect for one-on-one sharing.” —Starred review, School Library Journal

“A 10 on the “aw”-inspiring scale.” —Publishers Weekly

“Ashman’s warm, rhyming text and Dyer’s soft-toned, realistic watercolors create a gentle story that is also a biology lesson in disguise.” —Booklist

“The read-aloud verses make plain that loving bonds (and the urge to explore) run in nature too.” —Leonard S. Marcus, Parenting Magazine

“The cadence is fun and the illustrations . . . are as educational as they are wonderful to behold.” —Children’s Literature

About this Story

Some babies stand up right away.
They take a step, then run and play.

But many need more time to grow,
So they have other ways to go.

Rolling by in baby strollers.
Holding tight to Mother’s shoulders.

Grabbing on to clumps of hair.
Riding bareback through the air.

This book began as a collection of poems about nocturnal critters. As I was doing research, looking for quirky animal traits, I started noticing the many unusual ways animals carry their young. I became fascinated, and dropped the nocturnal animal idea.

This was the very first book I sold, back in 1997. I was thrilled when I found out that Jane Dyer would illustrate it — then shocked to learn it wouldn’t be published until 2003. I thought I’d never see a book in print! But I knew Jane’s art was worth waiting for, and now that I’ve seen Jane’s glorious paintings, I’m sure of it!