What Were You Expecting? by Cameron Spires, Grace Cho (Illustrator): A Grown-Up Board Book

What Were You Expecting?: First Words for New Parents

by Cameron Spires, Grace Cho (Illustrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Publication Date: May 2. 2023
Format: Board Book
Length: 44 pg. 

What’s What Were You Expecting? About?

This is not really a board book parody, it’s more like a book for grown-ups disguised as a kid’s book. Specifically, it’s a board book for a parent in the first year or so of parenting—something they can use to commiserate with, something to help them know they’re not alone. At the same time, it’s something they can read to their child in order to feel like a good parent—because, hey, reading!

The art supports this—and really, for kids in the first two years (at least), the pictures are what they care about. The words are totally unimportant.

So, Spires can write lines like,

This is an owl. Like you, it thinks day is night and night is day. Its brain is very small.

Or (my personal favorite),

This is a house. It’s a lot like the one we had to remortgage to pay for your daycare.

Just Kidding. We can’t find a daycare.

While Cho’s art will keep the little one’s attention.

Really, the cover image tells you all that you really need to know—both in terms of art, content, and tone.

SFW/SFB

Unlike the children’s books for adults by Adam Mansbach and Ricardo Cortés (like Go the F**k to Sleep and You Have to F***ing Eat), these are completely Safe for Work, or Safe for a Baby. The text is clean enough to eat off of, but barbed enough that you might not want to.

it’s also not all snark. There’s a very sweet ending that every parent will be able to identify with.

So, what did I think about What Were You Expecting??

I just liked the concept and had to buy a copy for my son and daughter-in-law when the Grandcritter showed up. Reading it before I gave it to them solidified that feeling. I think they appreciated it.

They liked it enough that the Grandcritter asks for it repeatedly at bedtime—so he must’ve been exposed to it plenty and now is returning the favor.

Cho’s art is exactly what you want in a board book. It’s eye-catching, vibrant, and energetic—while simple enough that it doesn’t overwhelm anyone.

Pick yourself up a copy—or go check out the sample on the publisher’s site—fill up your sippy cup with “Momma’s and Daddy’s Special Grape Juice” and have a couple minutes of fun.

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