If you can actually find time and a little bit of quiet that doesn’t involve you looking at the insides of your eyelids, these books should definitely be on your reading list.
Mama Rock’s Rules - “Rose Rock had me right from the statement ‘Being a parent is not about being right, it’s about doing right.’… She made me smile, laugh, and most of all - made me wanna be a better parent!” - Glamorous Geek
Raised by Wolves - “Overall, I liked the chatty, friendly tone of the book. The writer’s style is breezy and humorous. She infuses energy and wit into what could be a very stuffy and staid subject. ” - Midwestern Mommy Reviews
Amazing Baby - “I don’t think you have to be a parent just to enjoy Amazing Baby; after all, we all started out this way.” - Mama Tulip
What kind of book could inspire such reactions? One that “takes a look at the incredible biological process of infancy, from gestation to two years old. All topics of infancy are covered, including physical development, bonding and attachment, emotional development, learning, play, and eating.”
But this book isn’t just a showcase of pretty faces. When Morris wrote this book he packed it with fascinating facts. Yet he was careful to keep his reader’s lifestyles in mind: “The book has 9 chapters that are further broken down into one or two page sections that make the book easy to read in tiny time segments. Any parent knows that tiny time segments are often the only time we have for reading.”
Several reviewers throughout the campaign remarked on the author’s tone. “It’s matter-of-fact when discussing anatomical and physiological concepts, and discoveries based on scientific studies. But it inspires wonderment in the sections on what babies and toddlers can do, and what parents can do to encourage and facilitate development. A second blogger mentioned these same aspects also sharing that she found parts of the tome very moving. “The book is written in a respectful, almost reverent, tone that celebrates the bond between mother and baby. I found myself actually tearing up at times while reading (and so the book is aptly named).”
You know how many books on child development can feel all “doom and gloom” with a few hidden agendas thrown in for good measure? Not this one! “It’s not at all preachy or self-righteous or opinionated - it’s “hey, check this out!” or “give this a try!” Unlike parenting books that advocate the “right” and “wrong” things to do, Amazing Baby is amazing in both its objectivity and its positivity.”
A lot of our bloggers like to pass along previously reviewed products to their readers. But many have deemed this book a keeper. “I feel like I probably ought to give the book away, since I’m not pregnant (although I do have a child who fits in the category of under two-years-old), but I can’t part with it,” writes one blogger. “Plus, someday there may be another baby in my life who reminds me not to take the amazing development of life for granted.”
Thinking of buying the book? You can also find Amazing Babyon Amazon.
When you think about an infant’s development and how fast they grow? You realize babies ARE pretty amazing. Desmond Morris thinks so too. In fact, he’s created a book devoted to demystifying babyhood behavior and breakthroughs. Thus far, all of our reviewers have been going “ga-ga” over his recent endeavor, Amazing Baby.
Amazing Baby, published by Firefly Books, takes the reader on a “journey that outlines the many stages and milestones babies reach during their first twenty-four months of life. Every inch of the newborn body is detailed, from the skeleton to the defense system, each type of growth and development noted. Eating, sleeping, weaning, walking…it’s all here.”
Many books pertaining to an infant’s development, “focus on what can go wrong, what you can do wrong, and ways you can screw up your baby for life. It’s a little intimidating,” admits one blogger. A second reviewer touched on this issue as well describing Morris’ tone throughout the book as “positive” and adds, “This book, while addressing some tough issues like a defiant toddler, really doesn’t drive home any scare tactics. Instead we’re given positive tips and logical steps to work through issues. How refreshing. I could have used this book when BigBrother was born.”
Speaking of said data, Morris makes the reader privy to fascinating facts: “Did you know that during the nine months between conception and birth, a baby’s weight increases a staggering 3,000 million times? Did you know that a female fetus seems to be more reluctant to leave the snug warmth of her mother’s womb than her male counterpart?” The author also addresses the baby’s emotional needs, taking “extra care in explaining the parent/baby bonding process as well as all the of the other factors that play into making your child’s development a success.”
But what’s really captivated bloggers has been Morris’ stunning photographs – ones that “transform this from simply a parenting reference to a work of art.” Even two of our junior reviewers found the babies utterly adorable. The mom of the young boys also adds, “Both of my kids attempted, on several occasions, to kiss the photos of the adorable babies. Luckily I had dry washcloths near by so that the book wasn’t ruined.”
And there’s lots of photos of different babies throughout: “Related to the photography is another of my favorite points: the diversity of the children represented in the photography. Gorgeous!”
Morris’ visual feast for the eyes, “is beautifully laid out, with full page photographs of babies filling every other page. Some pages have a thin overlay page over a picture, with the overlay showing drawings of the inside the baby’s body, and the photo underneath providing the outline of the body to place it in context.” This blogger, a nursing student, continues, adding: “I really loved these - there were ones showing the muscles of a baby, the parts of the brain and eye, the bones, and the lymphatic system.” She wasn’t the only one: “My favorite part is the overlays,” concurs another blogger. “There are several full color tracing paper overlays that lay on top of a photograph showing, for example, how the skeleton of a baby looks. It appeals to the science geek/nurse in me.”
Many of our bloggers give away already-reviewed products to their readers. But you may not find too many copies of Amazing Babyup for grabs! “I don’t think you have to be a parent just to enjoy Amazing Baby; after all, we all started out this way. This book would make a great gift, especially to a set of new parents – I was considering passing it on to a friend of mine who recently had her first child, but I must admit, I’m not sure that I want to part with it.” A second blogger also expressed this dilemma. She wrote, “In the end, I decided I’ll have to share it - I can’t think of a better way to introduce to my friend the way in which science and nature are about to work in perfect harmony to produce pure magic in her life.”
A reviewer, pregnant with her fourth child, poses an interesting idea: “it would be so nice if all pediatricians and OB-GYN offices had it in their waiting rooms (it would have made the wait so much nicer during all of my prenatal visits!)”
We’ve still got more bloggers eagerly awaiting to weigh in on the Amazing Baby. Stay tuned!
Did you know babies have about 10,000 taste buds? They aren’t just on the tongue but on the side, back and roof of the mouth thus enabling infants to taste very subtle flavors. (Hey, your baby is a breast milk and/or formula connoisseur! Who knew?)
This little known fact is just one of the many fascinating tidbits zoologist and scholar of human behavior Desmond Morris (The Naked Ape) shares in his book, Amazing Baby.
The tome, published by Firefly Books, takes you on a tour of the first two years of a baby’s development, revealing all sorts of insights — from the biology, physics, and chemistry to other changes a baby experiences. Also included are illustrations and astounding photographs of such developments. And watch a video about Desmond Morris and more about his new book here.
Fifteen bloggers eagerly volunteered to review Amazing Baby. What will they think of their journey through infancy? Stay tuned…
Our bloggers are directed to write frank and honest reviews assessing their personal experience with a product or service. Their reviews may include both positive and negative feedback.
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A word of caution? Perusing the pages of 
