I’m thrilled to reveal the cover for a new picture book by Hayley Barrett and illustrated by Pura Belpré Award-winning illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal!
Babymoon by Hayley Barrett, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
Babymoon is a gentle story that pays tribute to the wonder and emotion of a family’s first quiet days with a newborn:
The house is hushed. The lights are low.
We’re basking in a newborn glow.
Inside the cozy house, a baby has arrived! The world is eager to meet the newcomer, but there will be time enough for that later. Right now, the family is on its babymoon: cocooning, connecting, learning, and muddling through each new concern. While the term “babymoon” is often used to refer to a parents’ getaway before the birth of a child, it was first employed by midwives to describe days like these: at home with a newborn, with the world held at bay and the wonder of a new family constellation unfolding. Paired with warm and winsome illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal, Hayley Barrett’s lyrical ode to these tender first days will resonate with new families everywhere. Available Apr 2, 2019! [picture book, ages 2 and up] It is available for pre-order at Amazon and IndieBooks.
I have a cover reveal video by author Hayley Barrett too!
Hayley Barrett wrote BABYMOON to encourage growing families to take time together to rest and fall in love. Once an aspiring nurse-midwife, she honors the arrival of any child, whether newborn or older, by birth or by adoption, as a momentous event. “I’m thrilled Juana Martinez-Neal agreed to illustrate BABYMOON. Juana’s characters are luminous, and her ability to portray their tenderness and affection for one another is breathtaking.” Hayley lives in eastern Massachusetts.
Juana Martinez-Neal says, “Babymoon is a book for the parents before and after having their little one. Representing Babymoon’s family as a biracial couple of color, and Babymoon’s newborn as gender neutral, were two purposeful decisions that not only me but the whole team as group felt were important for the book.”
Juana Martinez-Neal is the author-illustrator of Alma and How She Got Her Name and the Pura Belpré Award–winning illustrator of La Princesa and the Pea and of La Madre Goose: Nursery Rhymes for los Niños, both by Susan Middleton Elya. Juana Martinez-Neal was born in Lima, Peru, but now lives in Arizona.
To view these books at IndieBound or Amazon, please click on image. As an IndieBound and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.
Oh my goodness, the book is beautiful! Congratulations, Hayley and Juana!
Hi Sheri,
Honestly, Juana is an amazing illustrator and I’m a huge fan of her work but she totally outdid herself with Babymoon! I feel like this is her best work to date! And that is hard to do because all her books are stunning!
So gorgeous Hayley and Juana! Congratulations!
Woot! Thanks Cathy!
Beautiful book baby! Congratulations! So happy Babymooon will be in the world!
Thanks Lisa! I’m so excited to read the book!!! I feel like I’ve missed out on my Babymoon but will get a chance via this book. I think my real babymoon was spent sleepless. 🙂
Hooray, Hayley (& Juana)!!! Such a lovely cover!! Can’t wait to read this special book!!
Can’t wait for this book to come out too!
WOW! Hooray for Babymoon’s first peek out into the world!!
Yay! Can’t wait!
I am looking forward to reading this book!
Me too! I loved her trailer!