​Shhh! Don’t Wake the Baby: An Unauthorised Story

Shhh! Don’t Wake the Baby: An Unauthorised Story

Author: Scott Pearson

Illustrator: Scott Pearson

Publisher: Hachette New Zealand

ISBN: 978-1-86971-394-2

RRP: $20

Format: paperback

Date of Publication: September 2018

Ages: any age

Reviewer’s name: Kirsten Puddick

Reviewer’s Job title: Librarian

Reviewer’s School name: Holy Cross School

How highly are you recommending this book? recommended

The cover of this book shows Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford in their pyjamas holding a swaddled baby Neve over her cot. They look happy and tired. The bright illustration is intriguing and Jacinda’s pjs are red and smart.

The computer generated images are attractive and show us many scenes of situations where the new parents would really like people to be quiet. Excited rugby fans, tractors, paparazzi and other tired parents inconsiderately grinding coffee should be avoidable but as Jacinda returns to work, other members of parliament really need to learn to lower their voices. Thank goodness Winston Peters is there to shush them.

The picture of Jacinda DJing with Neve in a front pack and another of Clarke over excited about a fish that he’s caught, depict the intention that having a baby won’t change things (honestly).

There is hidden Kiwiana to be found on each page and the overall feel of the book is fun and modern. However, while I agree that being the first country in the world to have a Prime Minister give birth is something to celebrate, I feel a little uncomfortable about the intimacy of some of the scenes. I think this book will appeal to people of all ages but particularly to other parents and the politically aware.