Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!
I love getting to read piles of picture books and pick out the best of the best to share here, but every now and again I get the extra-special pleasure of being able to share a book written or illustrated by someone I know and admire and am lucky to count as a friend. Be assured – no matter who writes or illustrates the book, it only makes it onto Perfect Picture Book Friday if I really genuinely think it’s perfect. So today I have the joy of introducing you to a book by a very talented illustrator. (She is also a talented writer, and I have no doubt we’ll be seeing books where she is both the author and illustrator before long!) Those of you who hang out in the kidlit circles probably already know her well. Congratulations, Julie, on your first book-baby – it’s here! oh, it’s here! oh, it’s finally here! 🙂
I hope you will all enjoy this sweet little picture book for newborns 🙂
Title: You’re Here!
Written By: Karla Oceanak
Illustrated By: Julie Rowan-Zoch
Bailiwick Press, October 2014, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: Newborn – 2
Themes/Topics: first year milestones, family, new baby, love
Opening: “You’re here! Oh, you’re here! Oh, you’re finally here!
Hip, hip, hooray! We’ve been waiting, my dear!
For your fingers – so perfect. Your nibbly toes.
Your wide-window eyes and your neat, nubbin nose.“
Brief Synopsis: A new baby is welcomed with much anticipation of all the wonders and milestones the first year will hold.
Links To Resources: Just read this lovely story with infants to begin the tradition of reading together; read with older children and talk about their first year – all the things they did and when, and how wonderful it was, maybe share their baby journal if you kept one, or look at photographs of them as infants; read with new siblings to help them understand what they can expect from their new little brother or sister.
Why I Like This Book: The story is simple and sweet, and expresses beautifully the wonder and love and happiness of a new baby. It would make a perfect gift for any family with a newborn. If you are a parent, it will make you a little teary, thinking about when you first met your babies 🙂 But the reason I love this book the most is the art. Julie Rowan-Zoch’s sweet drawings are simply perfect for this story. The family, depicted as elephants, are just darling. The baby’s rosy cheeks, delightful expressions and infant antics are picture perfect. Julie’s art adds an extra layer of warmth and emotion to this little treasure of a book 🙂
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you! I can’t wait to see what you’ve chosen this week! And I will not be surprised if someone else has chosen this book! 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
GOOD MORNING, SUSANNA! GOOD MORNING, WORLD! I am finally up early. 🙂 It is my grandson's sixth birthday and we wanted to wish him a Happy Birthday before he goes off to school for the day.
What a beautiful book!!!! Thank you for sharing this…I had no idea that Julie R-Z had a book coming out (where have I been). I MUST get a copy (signed by the illustrator, of course…and the author, if possible) to give to my little granddaughter – it sounds like the kind of book her parents would love to read with her.
Congratulations to your friend; the cover is perfectly adorable! And you're right about sifting through stacks of books to find the perfect pick every Friday. A labor of love to be sure. Thank you, Susanna! Have a fantastic Friday.
Huge congratulations, Julie! YOU'RE HERE sounds sooo adorable. I love the cover and can't wait to see inside. How do we get an a copy signed by you?
Thanks, Susanna!
Three cheers for Julie's book finally arriving 🙂 And that swaddled newborn on the cover brought several memories of my Chipmunk when she was a tiny tyke to the forfreont of my mind. How adorable 🙂
GREAT choice! Ms. Zoch's pictures are always great! 😀 The whole series looks just awesome! 🙂
Oh, this sounds like such a perfect book to give to new parents – or grandparents! I love the snippet you shared – and the illustration! what fun.
What a sweet story for tines and parents of tinies. LOVE Julie's endearing animals. I just want to smoosh the baby elephant, and I know she just wants me to smoosh her!
I am jealous! My copy is ordered but not yet arrived so I am drooling at these snippets. Julie's work is a treasure.
Wonderful. Congratulations, Julie! The art is adorable and I love the opening lines!
This sounds like a fantastic book. Congratulations! So fun when you know the author and admire her work. Thanks so much for introducing this book to us! 🙂
This book looks entirely precious – can't wait to give a copy to my cousin, who is expecting any day now. It would be a perfect addition to a gift basket of soft blankets for swaddling! TY for sharing it with us!
Wahoo for Julie!! Thrilled for her. *happy dance (think Snoopy)* Super books and I can't wait to get mine. What art! YEAH!
This book is great! I love Julie's artwork. The entire series is cute an really does make a great “gift” book for new parents.
You sneaky, wonderful friend! Thank you so much for introducing the book here! I almost don't know what to say, but you can't keep a blabbermouth down! Sending a big fat Colorado hug! Mwah!
I am SOOOO excited for Julie! I got all three of those books…am considering keeping them all though I know I should share the joy and gift them too. 🙂 Maybe I'll feel generous closer to Christmas and buy some for others. Heh.
Have a great weekend, Susanna!
So excited that “It's Here” is here! And here on your blog! Doing a HUGE happy dance (in my mind) for Julie! The snippets of illustrations that I've seen just make my heart melt (and just your mention of parents getting a little teary made me teary 😉 ) CONGRATULATIONS, JULIE! (And great post, Susanna!) I don't have a PB to share today, but I just HAD to come and celebrate “You're Here” !!!!
Awwww. You couldn't have picked a more perfect book.
So precious. And I LOVE Julie's illustrations! I'm so sorry, Susanna . . . I got so involved in a manuscript revision/deadline that I forgot to post! ;-/ Hopefully, next week I will have more time!
This sounds so adorable, I just ordered a copy to give as a gift. Perfect timing. Thanks, Susanna. Congratulations and good luck, Julie!
How cute. I hadn't heard of this, but I will look for it. Thanks for the review.
Well, YAY! for Ms RZ!!!!
So precious, Julie! Congratulations! Thanks for showcasing, Susanna!
Hahaha! I know how you feel, Teresa! I got this one specifically for my cousin's little premature baby girl, and I'm loathe to part with it. I'll have to get another 🙂
Hi Beth! So lovely to see you here! It is a moment for celebration, isn't it? It's always so lovely when one of our own has a moment like this 🙂 I'm just as thrilled for you, getting an agent!!! I can't wait to read your first published book, even if it doesn't qualify as a picture book for PPBF 🙂
I just love those elephants! 🙂
It will be perfect, Katey! 🙂
It's SO cute, Clar! I hope you get a chance to see it 🙂
Isn't that baby elephant just the sweetest? I'm so thrilled for Julie!
You are in for a treat, Wendy! Wait til you see the last page 🙂
She is completely smooshable, Joanna 🙂 So cute!
It really is a perfect new baby book, Sue – one of those “I wish I'd written that” ideas 🙂
Glad you approve, Erik! I love Ms. R-Z's art – she is so talented!
I know, Angela! You should see the rest of the pictures. There's one of the baby sleeping in the crib, and one on the last page that would just melt your heart 🙂
You're welcome, Penny 🙂 You will love it when you get a chance to see it in real life 🙂
You too, Barbara! And thanks for all your terrific picks every week!
Oh! Happy Jeremy's birthday to you all! It brings to mind, “Now I am six and as clever as clever, so I think I'll stay six for ever and ever” from A.A. Milne 🙂 I hope you all have a wonderful birthday day! And I'm so glad to be able to introduce Julie's darling book to you! It is the perfect new baby gift 🙂
It's perfect, isn't it Stacy?! 🙂
Hip, hip, hooray for you Julie! I just want to grab one of the grandkids to cuddle and read this beautiful book, You're Here. Even though our seven, sweet grands are ages four to fifteen, Oma Sue enjoys reading with and listening to them read. Thank you Susanna.
Congratulations Julie 🙂
This is such a sweet one, Suzy! I'm sure you'll find someone who will enjoy it as a gift!
Sounds delightful, Susanna! Congrats to Julie on the birth of her new PB!
Isn't it exciting, Cathy?! Someone (hint hint – you're artistic, right? :)) should make new book baby cards we can all send each other when we have a publishing event 🙂
So exciting, isn't it, Gail? Can't wait to celebrate your first book baby with you 🙂
Thanks so much, Susanna!
🙂
I'm so glad you had a chance to read this. I love Julie's work!
Me too 🙂