I Was Born A Baby

Kids’ Indie Next Pick

Readerlink Picture Book

2023 Redbud Read-Aloud Award

TLA 2x2 Reading List

A Canadian Children’s Book Center Best Book of ‘22

California Golden Poppy Finalist

American Booksellers Association

Kids’ Indie Next Pick

“What a delightful and fun book! I had a great time learning about all of the names we have for baby animals. This book is the perfect gift for a baby shower or an emerging reader.”
—Cassidy Ochs, Lark and Owl Booksellers, Georgetown, TX

Booklist Reviews

Although binomial nomenclature, or taxonomy, is a grown-up word, kids will have fun wowing others with their knowledge of the common names of many baby animal species. Cartoon illustrations, created digitally, and rhyming text display animals announcing their infant names. A duck and goose each exclaim: “I was born a hatchling and fluffed into a duckling." "I grew into a gosling. I puffed into a puffling.” There can, however, be some confusing overlap among all these designations—for instance, baby giraffes, whales, and elephants are all called calves. Children will quickly catch on to the refrain: a creature shouts, “No way, no how! That can’t be true!” as the other species reply, “I’m a [chick/calf/cub/etc.] too!” Some lesser-known newborns have very unusual names (porcupette, puffling, puggle, joey, hoglet). And what about humans? A boy shouts, “I was born a baby and grew into a kid,” only to be accompanied by a final cry from a baby goat, “I’m a kid, too!” Endpapers present different circles for those who share the same baby name. Cool and informative. — Lolly Gepson

Tiny Beans

“This clever book is STEM for the smallest set of readers, and kids will not only enjoy a new adventure but will learn the real names of baby animals—so cute!”

Jamie Aderski

Linden Tree Books says…

Guaranteed to become a new classic, this irresistible read-aloud delivers catchy rhymes and bold, silly art about baby animals and the names they share.

I was born a kitten. I’m a little guppy.  I’m a little pup, but people call me puppy. No way, no how! That can't be true!I'm a pup! I'm a pup! I'm a pup, too! The romp begins when a kid says, "I was born a baby." Soon, all the other baby animals can’t help but share what they are called and what they grew up into! Readers will learn about owlettes, pufflings, and more. But when the chick, calf, cub, and the pup realize they share their names with several other species, they can’t believe it. “No way! No how! That can't be true!” becomes a catchy, energetic refrain readers will love chanting. The text invites readers to predict what the baby animal is by using context clues and checking the endpapers to see if they guessed right.The strong rhythm and unexpected discoveries of the baby animal kingdom, plus deadpan humor and wonderfully expressive art will spark a conversation about names and nature and leave readers wanting to read it aloud again.