What Were You Expecting?: First Words for New Parents

Written by Cameron Spires 

Illustrated by Grace Cho

Kids Can Press

978-1-5253-0579-5

44 pp.

Adult (sort of)

May 2023

 

It's a board book, so technically What Were You Expecting? is probably for the very youngest of children.  In fact, it isn't and it kind of is. It's a book to be read by parents to babies who have no idea what is being read to them, but the adults will be chuckling to themselves with the tongue-in-cheek humour that recognizes the wonders and many challenges of having a new baby. After all, what were you expecting?

 

There are actually two stories in What Were You Expecting?  One is written in bold, simple sentences like "This is a book" or "This is a house."  The illustration reflects that simple concept, and a young child would easily pick up on the nouns like house, cat, alien, bottle, rooster, whale, sleep or skunk. But it's what's written after that basic sentence that is loaded with humour, nuance, and significance for the adults reading the book.

From What Were You Expecting?, written by Cameron Spires, illus. by Grace Cho

What is a house? It's "like the one we had to remortgage to pay for your daycare. Just kidding. We can't find daycare."  How about the baby bottle? "You would think your parents would drink fewer bottles than you. You would think that." It's real but very funny. And still the book ends recognizing that ultimately it's the family they created that has made this all worthwhile.

From What Were You Expecting?, written by Cameron Spires, illus. by Grace Cho

Having a baby is an overwhelming commitment of time, finances, energy, and emotion. The rewards of growing a family as an expression of love may be substantial but there are costs, even if some are only temporary. As a parent, BC's Cameron Spires is there to remind others what to expect and how to deal, and he does it with such playfulness that, as they struggle with sleepless nights, debilitating expenses, and physical peculiarities involved with spit-up, poop, and more, they'll smile and remember why it's all worth it.

From What Were You Expecting?, written by Cameron Spires, illus. by Grace Cho

Artist Grace Cho, also of BC, stays with the concept book feel of What Were You Expecting? by keeping her digitally-rendered illustrations bright and bold, perfect for children. The art is whimsical and very sweet, whether it's a coffee-drinking owl, a skunk with a nose clip, or a pair of penguins with their baby. The lines are soft, the backgrounds lively, and the shapes distinct which will be perfect when your baby starts to understand the connection between "their" text and the art.

If you know someone expecting a baby, this is the gift that will give them a much-needed laugh while serving double-duty later on when they'll be reading, at least parts of it, to the source of both their love and their frustrations, hopefully just temporary ones. As a gift for new parents, it may not be what they're expecting from a board book but, like their new bundle of joy, it'll be worth it.