MA! There’s Nothing to Do Here!: A Word from Your Baby-in-Waiting
Written by: Barbara Park
Illustrated by: Viviana Garofoli
Perfect for parents-in-waiting
Random House $19.99

Many of us are familiar with Barbara Park for her hilarious early-reader series, Junie B Jones, so it is not too surprising to see her name associated with an adorable new picture book for expectant parents. The idea for the story came from her own life experience as she was shown the ultrasound of her first grandchild and wondered what he must be doing in there all day, every day. Nothing of course! She turned this zany idea into a toe-tapping tale that made our youngsters ask for it over and over again. Throughout the story, we never actually see the mother’s face, only her large belly. The entire story is told from the perspective of the little guy who has nothing to do in “a womb with no view”. The illustrations are similar to those of Laura Cornell, Jamie Lee Curtis’ writing partner. They are bright and relatable to children. Each picture of the baby shows and oversized head and of course the umbilical cord, sure to invoke questions form the crowd.

In our home, there are a couple of words that are banned outright however Park has managed to squeeze them both into one sentence which made our five-year-old, Mac, laugh all the harder. “I’m all in a heap here. My feet are asleep here. I’m fat out of space. I’ve got knees in my face. And I’m totally bored with this dumb bungee cord…I’m NOT kidding you…there is NOTHING to do!” (In case it wasn’t clear, we are forbidden to say dumb and bored.) The way the author uses these words allowed me to overlook our house rules and laugh right along with Mac. Park certainly has a knack for making children giggle whether through the antics of Junie B or through this quirky look at the life of a baby in utero.

My favourite part of the story, one that will surely touch a chord (pardon the pun) with parents who are patiently waiting for their new bundle of joy, is when the baby is imagining what he will do when he finally gets out,
“So, Ma, here’s the plan.
Let’s rest while we can.
I’ll stay in here longer-
Get bigger, grow stronger.
Then ready…set…YAY!
I’ll be comin’ to play!”