Room for the Baby

UH-OH!

What's a family to do when there's a baby on the way but no place to put a crib?

The big brother-to-be is worried. His mom does have a sewing room, but its every nook and cranny is stuffed with cast-off items and outgrown clothes that people have given her to recycle and reuse—some day. Now that day has come—because the new arrival will need someplace to sleep and something to wear. So the resourceful mom gets to work, making new clothes from old to outfit the baby-to-be.

Inspired by her creativity, the neighbors get involved, and soon everyone is stitching and knitting something. As the months go by and the family celebrates the Jewish holidays from Passover to Hanukkah, big brother helps his mom get ready, too. But things move slowly and he continues to worry: will there ever be room for the baby?

MICHELLE EDWARDS is the author/editor of more than a dozen books for children, including Chicken Man, which won the National Jewish Book Award. Her first book for adults, A Knitter's Home Companion, is an illustrated collection of stories, patterns, and anecdotes. She lives in Iowa City with her family.