Cuthbert's Babies is a 2003 children's picture book written and illustrated by Pamela Allen. Published by Penguin Books Australia, It is about a boy who resents the arrival of baby quadruplets and how he accepts them.

Cuthbert's Babies
A baby bed is shown, with lots of babies crying, and a little child is shown next to the bed.
Front cover, designed by Pamela Allen
AuthorPamela Allen
IllustratorPamela Allen
Cover artistPamela Allen
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's book
Published2003
PublisherPenguin Books Australia
Publication placeAustralia
Media typePrint (paperback)
Pagesunpaginated (28)
Awards2004 New Zealand Post Book Award
ISBN978-0143500858

Reception

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Cuthbert's Babies has been reviewed by Reading Time[1] and Good Reading magazine that wrote "Although not remarkable, this is another solid book from a favourite Australian author/illustrator."[2] while The New Zealand Herald called it "a hilarious tale".[3]

Miyuki Hisaoka in discussing "social roles within a family structure" noted that "Cuthbert's Babies arrives at an analogous conclusion, with Cuthbert and his mother lying on his bed reading a book together in a reprise of the opening page" and "that readers can align with Cuthbert's feeling of alienation without particularly empathizing with him".[4]

It has also been used in schools,[5] was on the 2004 Storylines Notable Book Awards Picture Books List.[6] and won the 2004 New Zealand Post Book Award in the Picture Book category.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Cuthbert's Babies (Book)". Reading Time. 47 (3). Children's Book Council of Australia: 29. August 2003. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Cuthbert's Babies". Good Reading Magazine: 15. June 2003. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  3. ^ Vinicombe, Dorothy (16 March 2004). "Pamela Allen: Cuthbert's Babies". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  4. ^ Miyuki Hisaoka (2012). "Chapter 4 Cooperation and Negotiation: Formation of Subjectivity in Japanese and Australian Picture Books". In John Stephens (ed.). Subjectivity in Asian Children's Literature and Film: Global Theories and Implications. Routledge. pp. 66–68. ISBN 9781136228001. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  5. ^ "AIS Junior School Pupil Resource Site: You Don't Say". www.prsprprs.com. Australian International School (Singapore). Retrieved 20 May 2016. Here is an example of direct speech being used in Pamela Allen's Book Cuthbert's Babies
  6. ^ "Pamela Allen: Awards". www.storylines.org.nz. Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  7. ^ "New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Picture Book". www.christchurchcitylibraries.com. Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
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