About the Holiday

Observed during the five weeks between Mothers Day and Fathers Day, National Family Month was established by KidsPeace, a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping children and families since 1882. Leading into the school vacation season, the holiday encourages families to spend more time working, playing, talking, reading, and just hanging out together. Having fun or tackling projects together builds strong family bonds and can be a meaningful way for kids to develop or learn important life skills. Today’s book highlights that exciting time when a new baby makes a family bigger—and better!

Thank you to Familius for sending me a copy of I’m a Baby! for review.

I’m a Baby!

Written by Terry Pierce | Illustrated by Volha Kaliaha

 

There may be nothing babies love more than . . . babies! And new parents? They love babies too! Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and  cousins? Babies all the way! It’s this same joy and excitement for babies that Terry Pierce and Volha Kaliaha bring to their adorable story in which a baby enthusiastically shares their day with other babies—specifically, the baby on your lap!

The story begins with a bright-eyed tyke ready to greet the morning! “Wake up, world! / Hello, day! / I’m a baby / all the way!” Out of the crib, this curious kid, accompanied by an attentive kitty, gets a clean diaper, shows off how fast they can “scoot” across the floor, has breakfast, and plays a giggly game with mom and dad. Nap time? “No, no, no!” This active baby still wants to “GO, go, goooo. . . .“

Recharged, Baby’s ready for an afternoon with Sis, a messy meal, and cleaning up—”splishy-splashy in the tub!” Tuckered out, this sweet baby is ready to say “Night-night, world. / Goodbye, day. / I’m a baby! / All the . . . ZZZZzz.”

Exuberant, humorous, and full of love, Terry Pierce’s vivacious rhymes will enchant little ones as they recognize highlights of their day with family. Her jaunty vocabulary invites lively readings that will get babies and toddlers giggling. I’m a Baby! is also a fun way to introduce soon-to-be big sisters or brothers to their new sibling, and gives independent readers a perfect book to share with their new baby.

Volha Kaliaha’s cheerful and charming illustrations not only reflect the action in the story but also include plenty of familiar objects to stimulate a baby’s curiosity as adults or older children point them out and name them. Kaliaha’s baby is darling, and the family’s cat hilariously keeps this new creature company while sometimes good-naturedly taking the brunt of the baby’s messes.

A delightful board book for anyone to share with the new baby or toddler in their life, I’m a Baby! is sure to be a quick favorite for adults and older children to share with their beloved baby again and again. I’m a Baby! would make a perfect gift and is a must for any library’s board book collection.

Ages Baby – 3

Familius, 2025 | ISBN 978-1641709507

About the Author

Terry Pierce is the author of twenty-five children’s books and a lifelong advocate of children and reading. She holds a BA in early childhood education, an International AMI Montessori diploma, an MFA in writing for children and young adults, and teaches for the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.

About the Illustrator

Volha Kaliaha, a London-based illustrator, has been illustrating on a professional level for seven years. Her illustrations are inspired by laughter and cuteness—the quirkier, the better.

National Family Month Activity

Child’s Sensory Board

 

Toys or objects that provide many opportunities for sensory experimentation and observation stimulate a baby and young child to learn while having fun. You can make a sensory board for your own child using household items and that have a variety of textures, sizes, shapes, and movement. When you create your own sensory board, you can personalize it for your child by adding their name, pictures of family members, and other special items. While you play with your child, take time to talk about all of the objects on the board, what they do, and how they work. Count the objects. If you include words or your child’s name, spell them outloud and say them. There are so many ways to use a sensory board. Even if children can’t yet talk, they are listening and soaking in the rich language learning you are providing!

**When making your board always ensure that you use items that are not a choking hazard or can catch tiny fingers. Make sure that items are firmly attached to the board. Never leave a baby unattended while playing.**

Supplies

• A board large enough to hold the items you want to attach. Boards that can be used include: those found at hardware stores or craft stores; large cutting boards; shelves; old table tops; etc.

Sample items for your sensory board can be age appropriate and include:

• Large swatches of various textured material. (I used fur, a scrubbing sheet, and a piece of carpeting)
• Wooden or thick cardboard letters and numbers, painted in a variety of colors. Letters can be used to add a child’s name to the board.
• Figures cut from sheets of foam or wooden figures found at craft stores in a variety of numbers that you can count with your child (I used sets of 1, 2, and 3 fish cut from foam to go along with the numbers 1, 2, and 3)
• Mirror
• Push button light
• Chalk board to write on
• Castor or other wheel
• Door latches
• Door knockers
• Mop heads
• Paint rollers
• Cranks
• Drawer handles
• Hinges (I attached a tennis ball to a hinge that children can push back and forth)
• Pulleys
• Paint in various bright colors
• Paint brushes
• Scissors
• Screws
• Nuts and bolts
• Velcro
• Super glue

Directions

1. Assemble your items
2. Paint wooden or cardboard items
3. Arrange item on the board so that your baby or child can easily reach or manipulate each one
4. Attach items with screws, nuts and bolts, or super glue
5. Push button lights or other objects that take batteries can be attached with strong Velcro. Ensure items attached with Velcro are large and not a choking hazard.
6. Set up board where you and your baby or child can enjoy playing with it together

You can purchase I’m a Baby from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (discounted books and support for your local independent bookstore)

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