Why am I passionate about this?

Mary Hoffman is not exactly an expert on babies but she has had three of her own and five grandbabies. The youngest is two and Mary has made colourful blankets for each one. The four-year-old still takes hers everywhere. Mary is very good at sending babies to sleep, which Mog might have appreciated, but she has never fed any of them avocado. Mary has been making up stories for babies and children for as long as she can remember, long before she had any of her own. She does this because what she liked best herself as a small child was stories and she would have loved to have any of these books read to her when she was little.


I wrote

Babies, Babies Everywhere!

By Mary Hoffman, Ros Asquith (illustrator),

Book cover of Babies, Babies Everywhere!

What is my book about?

Babies, Babies Everywhere! Sleeping, crying, laughing, looking, gurgling, eating, crawling...and at last toddling! Follow five families and their babies from…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Baby's Catalogue

Mary Hoffman Why did I love this book?

In a sense, our new title Babies, Babies Everywhere! Is a homage to this lovely book, which the Ahlbergs made when they realised that their baby, Jessica, was much more interested in the Mothercare catalogue than in the picture books aimed at her age group. We wanted to update it with a more typical 21st-century bunch of babies and their diverse families.

By Allan Ahlberg, Janet Ahlberg,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Baby's Catalogue as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 7, 8, 9, and 10.

What is this book about?

Janet and Allan Ahlberg's classic picture book, The Baby's Catalogue

The bestselling picture book The Baby's Catalogue by the iconic British husband and wife picture book team Janet and Allan Ahlberg, creators of Peepo!, is filled with easily recognizable objects - perfect for your baby or toddler!

Mums and Dads, breakfasts and bedtimes, pets and toys and prams and swings - and lots and lots of other fascinating things!

Allan Ahlberg has published over 100 children's books and with his late wife Janet, created many award-winning children's picture books. The Baby's Catalogue was inspired by their daughter, Jessica. The Ahlbergs'…


Book cover of Avocado Baby

Mary Hoffman Why did I love this book?

The baby in this book won’t eat anything he’s offered – a situation most parents will identify with – until, in despair, his mother finds an avocado in the fruit bowl. From then on he has a favourite food – and it turns him into an immensely strong superhero!

By John Burningham,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Avocado Baby as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Hargraves want their new baby to grow up big and strong. But the puny mite will hardly eat a thing. One day Mrs Hargraves finds an avocado in the fruit bowl and the baby gobbles it up. Soon, the strangest things start to happen...


Book cover of Mog and the Baby

Mary Hoffman Why did I love this book?

“Mog loves babies!” says the poor cat’s owners but this is not strictly true. Mog just wants to snooze undisturbed but a visiting baby soon puts paid to that. Her expressions are brilliantly done as the baby takes more and more liberties. When Mog escapes out the window, the baby follows, with almost catastrophic results in the road outside. But Mog saves the day - and the baby - and is rewarded with a gigantic fish. 

By Judith Kerr,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Mog and the Baby as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Share in fifty years of a really remarkable cat...

Mog is everyone's favourite family cat! Join her in this warm-hearted and funny escapade about Mog's first meeting with a baby...

From the creator of The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog the Forgetful Cat comes a delightful family adventure about a really remarkable cat!

Celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Mog the Forgetful Cat with special anniversary editions of her much-loved adventures.

Mog's peaceful day is shattered when a baby comes to visit. All Mog wants to do and sleep and play but there is no chance of that now...…


Book cover of A Baby Sister for Frances

Mary Hoffman Why did I love this book?

It’s a family of badgers but Frances has some very human emotions about having a baby sibling. She is not outright hostile but does pack a rucksack with snacks and runs away – as far as under the dining table. Her very understanding parents handle it in an exemplary fashion and Frances sees there are advantages to being the older sister, since babies can’t eat chocolate cake.

By Russell Hoban, Lilian Hoban (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Baby Sister for Frances as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One of a reissued series about the Badger family. With a new baby in the house, Frances thinks that no one pays much attention to her any more. So she decides to run away, but not so far that she won't be able to hear how much she'll be missed - even by baby Gloria.


Book cover of Cave Baby

Mary Hoffman Why did I love this book?

Two great talents came together to produce this classic story of a bored baby who annoys his parents by drawing on the walls. Only their home is a cave. In the night, he is whisked away by a mammoth, which could be terrifying, but the great beast just wants the baby to paint animals on his cave walls.

By Julia Donaldson, Emily Gravett (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Cave Baby as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A hairy mammoth takes a cheeky little baby on a thrilling ride through a moonlit landscape populated by a sabre-toothed tiger, a leaping hare, a laughing hyena and even, just maybe, by a big brown bear . . . But where are they going? And what has it to do with the baby's scribblings on the cave wall?

Created by the critically acclaimed author Julia Donaldson and Kate Greenaway medal winner Emily Gravett, Cave Baby celebrates the messy creativity of babies!


Explore my book 😀

Babies, Babies Everywhere!

By Mary Hoffman, Ros Asquith (illustrator),

Book cover of Babies, Babies Everywhere!

What is my book about?

Babies, Babies Everywhere! Sleeping, crying, laughing, looking, gurgling, eating, crawling...and at last toddling! Follow five families and their babies from birth to around 12 months, with all the excitements, challenges and joys of that first year with a new baby in the world. With lots to look at and point to, this diverse and inclusive celebration of babies, from the team who created The Great Big Book of Families, will be loved by babies, older siblings - and grown-ups too!

Book cover of The Baby's Catalogue
Book cover of Avocado Baby
Book cover of Mog and the Baby

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Book cover of A Voracious Grief

Lindsey Lamh Author Of A Voracious Grief

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Why am I passionate about this?

Author Old book omnivore Author of dark tales Mom to 6 Ordinary saint Intuitive introvert

Lindsey's 3 favorite reads in 2024

What is my book about?

My book is fantastical historical fiction about two characters who're wrestling with the monstrosity of their grief.

It takes you into London high society, where Ambrose tries to forget about how much he misses Bennett and how much he dreads becoming as cold as their Grandfather. It takes you to the family's country manor house, where Mattie isolates and old ghosts start to come out of the woodwork.

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A Voracious Grief

By Lindsey Lamh,

What is this book about?

Ambrose Bancroft returns to London society with his younger sister, hoping they'll leave ghosts of memory behind. They have only each other left. While Ambrose attempts to draw Mattie out, dragging her to balls and threatening to seek suitors for her, his sister recoils from his meddling. Finally, when Ambrose compels her to attend art class before she's ready, Mattie paints something horrific enough to banish them from society in public disgrace.

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