There is something magical about a book that can help rock a newborn to sleep, whose illustrations can intrigue curious toddlers and charm adults as well. Author Linda Ashman and illustrator Jane Dyer walk us through a year, beginning with spring and ending with a mother’s embrace. With its tender underlying message of love, the story focuses on nature: blossoming plants, humming bees, animals above and below the ground. All We Know reassures children with its familiar scenes and animals, as frogs and lambs, rainstorms and the sunrise are recognizable and comforting.
Award-winning author Ashman’s text is simple and direct. Anybody who has read a child to sleep knows the importance of easy, song-like rhyming patterns and calm, familiar words. Ashman expertly uses the mother’s voice to narrate, telling this bedtime story directly to your little one. Daytime reading gives curious children an introduction to the world outside, from tunneling critters to the sky above.
Dyer’s beloved, soft illustrations underline Ashman’s message. Her animal creations—from kittens and swallows to bears and crabs—have gentle, welcoming faces. Even the thunderstorm seems cozy when you're safe in a mother’s arms. Dyer’s illustrations have a somewhat nostalgic feel, a gentle and perfect world best visited in pajamas and a rocking chair.
With its timeless appeal (the hallmark of a new-baby classic), All We Know will stand among your favorite nighttime reads. A must-have for every newborn nursery and every toddler’s bookshelf, this is the perfect book to bring to your next baby shower.
