The Baby's Catalogue, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

TITLE: The Baby's Catalogue
BY: Janet and Allan Ahlberg
PUBLISHED BY: Puffin Books, (currently out of print)
ISBN: 0141380772

Janet and Allan Ahlberg go in the picture book hall of fame, as far as I am concerned. Janet drew. Allan wrote. The both thrived off each other creativity, and their books are truly classics: utterly delightful and thoroughly good.

The Baby's Catalogue is no exception. Mrs. C. pointed it out to me last time I was home, and I just fell in love with it. It has no story; it really is a catalogue of activities and objects in a baby's life. Janet's illustrations provide the story--we follow several babies through an entire day, meeting their "siblings," their "mommies" and "daddies;" we eat with them; play with them; discover "mirrors" with them. And (as you can see above), we get into trouble with them. The illustrations are very funny at times, and silly always.

Sadly, The Baby's Catalogue is out of print. But if you ever see it at a library sale, or a used book store, pick it up. You'll love it. I promise.