Before Prince George was born there was a flurry of children’s books about the Royal Baby and in a way it was to be expected – the baby was going to be King or Queen one day and it was a bit bit of history. Part me though wasn’t too sure about it all happening before the baby was born though. It just left me feeling a bit uneasy. Since then there have been several books featuring Prince George and I’m ok with that as it helps children learn a little bit about the little boy that will one day be king.
There’s going to be a new Royal Baby sometime next month though and I can see that the media interest is just starting to ramp up around this new baby. Obviously George’s little brother or sister is unlikely to be King or Queen themselves, but they will still be an important member of the Royal family and will still be in line to the throne, hence the interest. Hooray! It’s a New Royal Baby! has the Royal household preparing for the new royal baby’s arrival and also Prince George’s reaction to his new role as a big brother and I can see how this could be quite a nice book for anyone expecting a second child in the family.
As I read it to LMC and Master C at bedtime last night it became quite apparent to me that for both of them this was just the tale of a new baby coming into a family (albeit one slightly clumsily called “New Royal Baby” – LMC kept asking why the new baby didn’t have a proper name). The relationship to the Royal Family wasn’t there for them and the jokes about the Pippa the party planner just passed right over their heads. Calling Prince George “Royal Baby George” also just annoyed me and seemed a bit unnecessary as he’s not really a baby any more, but a toddler instead. The illustrations are very good, and accurate in terms of the people they portray, but even LMC at four and a half didn’t relate them to being real people.
Maybe I’m being a bit too picky about this, but I’m afraid the book just didn’t really do it for me at all, and the kids seemed a bit flat at the end of reading it too. A nice idea, but I actually feel my two would have maybe just responded better to a factual book about the new Royal baby and Prince George once he or she is born.
Hooray! It’s a New Royal Baby! will be published on 9th April 2015 by Bloomsbury. Paperback and Ebook price £6.99
Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of Hooray! It’s a New Royal Baby! for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
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