There's Going to Be a Baby
A young boy wonders what the new baby will be—a cook, a gardener, or a sailor—and each guess leads to a full-page daydream. It turns the long wait of pregnancy into a series of imaginative adventures rather than something to dread.
There's Going to Be a Baby by John Burningham is estimated to take about 6 minutes to read aloud (406 words, about 1 sentence a page), and it lands best with children aged 3-5.
Check the book on AmazonAffiliate link
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 6 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 406Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 1Sentence per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 3-5Our editorial fit
Our review
This story uses a delightful call-and-response structure that keeps young children engaged. As the boy imagines different roles for the baby, the illustrations expand into vibrant, imaginative landscapes. It’s a wonderful way to handle the concept of pregnancy with a child.
It works well for preschoolers who thrive on repetition and anticipation. The gentle conclusion from the grandfather provides a lovely, unforced emotional payoff that any family expecting a new arrival will appreciate.
Before you buy it
With 48 pages spread across a full pregnancy, this isn't meant for one sitting. It works best when read in small chunks over several weeks.
Themes
- pregnancy
- waiting
- imagination
- family
Books like There's Going to Be a Baby
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read There's Going to Be a Baby aloud?
About 6 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 406. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is There's Going to Be a Baby actually for?
Ages 3-5 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 1 sentence a page and vocabulary at 2 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does There's Going to Be a Baby survive being read on repeat?
Yes, reasonably. It stays bearable through the repeat-request phase without becoming a favourite forever.
Is There's Going to Be a Baby a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it has a refrain a child can join in with, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise There's Going to Be a Baby?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 3 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read There's Going to Be a Baby on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 1 sentence a page and plain vocabulary (2 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
What themes does There's Going to Be a Baby cover?
We tag it with pregnancy, waiting, imagination and family. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
