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sparklelys's review against another edition
5.0
God bless all foster parents! When a quartet of babies are each found alone, the island librarian takes them in and the village comes together and raises them. The family you build is often as important or more important than bio-fam.
linesuponapage's review against another edition
4.0
What a darling story written by Christine McDonell. The goodness of people to take in all the babies that were abandoned and needed care in a time of dire need was endearing. What is better than to grow up in a library
The illustrations by Jeanette Bradley, and the story itself with it's fun names for the babies was something that my granddaughter cooed, clapped her hands and wanted to hold the little babies. So, this book was a big hit with the age group that it was written for.
The illustrations by Jeanette Bradley, and the story itself with it's fun names for the babies was something that my granddaughter cooed, clapped her hands and wanted to hold the little babies. So, this book was a big hit with the age group that it was written for.
beths0103's review against another edition
5.0
This book is funny, heartwarming, and delightfully quirky. When four babies show up on an island with no explanation for how they got there, the town librarian raises them like her own. But they also belong to the island, as a harbormaster, ferryman, fisherman, and mayor all have a hand in taking care of them. Proving it takes a village to raise a child. Or in this case, an island.
cacia's review against another edition
4.0
ONE OF THE BABIES IS NAMED AFTER DOROTHY L. SAYERS, GUYS.
3.5 stars rounded up
3.5 stars rounded up
msgabbythelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
A picture book about community, acceptance, and adoption, When the Babies Came to Stay is so sweet. Libraries are one of the best places I feel like where community and acceptance occur so I adore that the librarian is the woman who takes the children in and gives them names. I would love to adopt myself some day. (And of course the names are inspired by books)
There is so much more to family than blood. I say it all the time and this reinforces that!
There is so much more to family than blood. I say it all the time and this reinforces that!
abigailbat's review against another edition
This whimsical island story about four mysterious babies who show up on a small island and are taken in and raised by the town librarian is such a unique book. It's a tale that will capture the imagination and a powerful story about a community that steps up to raise children.
panda_incognito's review against another edition
4.0
This picture book is incredibly sweet, communicating real-life messages about adoption and acceptance through its fanciful story about a librarian adopting babies that arrive on the island where she lives. I just read an ebook version of this from my library, and I like it so much that I know I will want to read a physical copy as well, once the COVID-19 shutdown ends.
In other news, I am delighted about the name Dorothy making a comeback. In the past few years, I have heard about several little girls named Dorothy, but this was my first time seeing it used as a baby name in a new book with a contemporary setting. Also, I appreciate the detail of toddler Dorothy having glasses, since I had to get glasses when I was three. It's always nice to have that representation, especially when the glasses are just part of the character, not the whole focus of the plot.
In other news, I am delighted about the name Dorothy making a comeback. In the past few years, I have heard about several little girls named Dorothy, but this was my first time seeing it used as a baby name in a new book with a contemporary setting. Also, I appreciate the detail of toddler Dorothy having glasses, since I had to get glasses when I was three. It's always nice to have that representation, especially when the glasses are just part of the character, not the whole focus of the plot.
jgoins's review against another edition
5.0
Maybe it's the fact that it is the town librarian who saves the day and raises the babies that this one made me cry, or maybe it's the messages that - "Where we are going is more important than where we came from" and "Families don't always look alike." Maybe it's just the sweet baby faces illustrated that got me. Who is to tell?