Candlewick Press It's Not the Stork!, Hardcover Review
A 64 page illustrated hardcover from The Family Library series, written by Robie H. Harris and illustrated by Michael Emberley.
| Publisher | Candlewick Press |
|---|---|
| Author | Robie H. Harris |
| Illustrator | Michael Emberley |
| Binding | Hardcover |
| Edition | Illustrated |
| Pages | 64 |
| Best for | Families wanting a durable, illustrated hardcover reference for discussing bodies, babies and families with young children |
Product Overview
This hardcover edition is part of The Family Library series, according to the title's own parenthetical note, covering the specific subjects named directly in the subtitle: girls, boys, babies, bodies, families and friends.
The listing credits Robie H. Harris as author and Michael Emberley as illustrator, confirming the book pairs original written text with dedicated illustrated artwork throughout.
At 64 pages, this is a substantial length for an illustrated children's reference book, giving the subject matter room to be covered thoughtfully.
Published by Candlewick Press as a hardcover Illustrated edition, this placement is consistent with a permanent family reference book meant to be kept and returned to.
Score Breakdown
This verdict is based on the manufacturer's stated specifications, the current Amazon listing and its product images, the confirmed materials and design, real buyer ratings, and our research into the product category. Scores are consistent editorial judgments, not laboratory measurements, and we did not receive a paid sample.
Key Features
Subtitle directly names girls, boys, babies, bodies, families and friends as the book's covered subjects.
Positions this title within a broader collection of related family-topic books.
Built to be kept as a permanent family reference returned to as children grow.
Robie H. Harris writes the text while Michael Emberley provides dedicated illustrated artwork.
Substantial length for an illustrated children's reference on this subject matter.
Gives the artwork generous page space throughout the book.
Design and Build Quality
Hardcover binding gives this book durability suited to being kept as a permanent family reference, returned to multiple times as children grow, rather than a book read once and set aside.
The stated dimensions describe a large, wide hardcover footprint, giving Michael Emberley's illustrations generous page space throughout the book.
The listing specifically notes a Multicolor color designation, reflecting the illustrated nature of the book's content throughout.
At just over 1.6 pounds, this is a substantial hardcover, consistent with its large page dimensions and its role as a durable, keepable family reference.
Performance in Everyday Use
The subtitle's direct naming of specific subjects, girls, boys, babies, bodies, families and friends, confirms this book addresses a broad range of family and body-related topics for young readers rather than covering just one narrow subject.
Being part of The Family Library series specifically positions this book within a broader collection of titles addressing related family topics, useful context for a reader who may want companion titles in the same series.
No feature text accompanies this particular listing, which means readers evaluating the book from the product page alone have only the title, subtitle, series note and contributor credits to go on rather than descriptive marketing copy about specific chapters.
The separate author and illustrator credits, Harris and Emberley respectively, confirm this edition pairs dedicated original writing with dedicated original artwork throughout the full 64 pages.
Overall the edition data describes a substantial, durable, illustrated hardcover reference built specifically for ongoing family use around a broad set of body and family-related topics.
How It Performs: The Evidence
| Decision factor | What we found | Evidence and measurement | Score | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page count | 64 pages | Listing states the book runs to 64 pages | 8.8 | Substantial length for an illustrated children's reference on this broad subject matter |
| Binding | Hardcover | Listing classifies the binding as Hardcover | 9.0 | Built to be kept as a permanent family reference returned to as children grow |
| Illustrator credit | Emberley, Michael | Listing's byline information names Emberley, Michael in the illustrator role separately from the author | 8.8 | Confirms dedicated illustrated artwork accompanies the text throughout |
| Author credit | Harris, Robie H. | Listing's byline information names Harris, Robie H. as author | 8.6 | Confirms the original written text is credited to a single named author |
| Weight | 1.61 lb | Listing states item weight of roughly 1.61 pounds | 8.3 | Substantial weight consistent with large page dimensions and durable hardcover construction |
| Dimensions | 11.73 x 10.63 x 0.47 inches | Listing states height roughly 11.73 inches, length roughly 10.63 inches and width roughly 0.47 inches | 8.5 | Describes a large hardcover footprint giving the illustrated artwork generous page space |
| Color | Multicolor | Listing states the color as Multicolor | 8.2 | Reflects the illustrated nature of the book's content throughout |
Who Should Buy It
- Families wanting a permanent reference book
- Parents discussing bodies and families with young children
- Fans of The Family Library series
- Durable, long-term keeping on a family bookshelf
- Gift purchases for new parents
- Repeated reference as children grow
- Readers wanting the lighter paperback format rather than a durable permanent hardcover reference
- No feature text accompanies this specific listing
- Heavier than the equivalent paperback edition
- Hardcover costs more to replace if damaged than paperback
- No stated age range guidance in the listing data
- Subject matter requires parental guidance for discussion
Full Specifications
How It Compares
| Feature | Candlewick Press | Typical option | Higher-tier option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binding | Hardcover | Paperback | Hardcover |
| Durability | Built for long-term keeping | Lighter, less durable | Built for long-term keeping |
| Weight | 1.61 lb | Lighter paperback | Similar weight |
| Color | Multicolor jacket | Plain cover | Multicolor |
| Series context | The Family Library series | Standalone only | Series entry |
| Illustrator credit | Emberley, separately named | Unillustrated | Separately named |
| Page count | 64 pages | Shorter pamphlet | Similar length |
| Feature text provided | None | Detailed | None |
Alternatives Worth a Look
At 64 pages in this illustrated hardcover, It's Not the Stork! covers the broad set of family and body-related topics its subtitle names directly, with Robie H. Harris's text paired with Michael Emberley's dedicated illustrations, as part of The Family Library series. The durable hardcover binding and substantial page dimensions suit a book meant to be kept and returned to as children grow. No feature text accompanies the listing, so expectations rest on the title, subtitle and contributor credits alone, but for a family wanting a permanent, illustrated reference, this hardcover format delivers exactly that.
Frequently Asked Questions
What topics does this book cover?
The subtitle directly names girls, boys, babies, bodies, families and friends as the book's covered subjects.
Who wrote and illustrated this book?
Robie H. Harris is credited as author and Michael Emberley as illustrator in the listing's byline information.
Is this part of a series?
Yes, the title's parenthetical note places it within The Family Library series.
How long is this book?
64 pages, a substantial length for an illustrated children's reference on this subject matter.
What binding does this edition use?
Hardcover, built to be kept as a permanent family reference returned to as children grow.
How heavy is this hardcover?
The listing states an item weight of roughly 1.61 pounds, substantial for its large page dimensions.
Who publishes this book?
Candlewick Press is credited as the publisher of this hardcover illustrated edition.
Does the listing describe the book's content in detail?
No, this particular listing provides no feature text, so evaluating the content from the product page alone means relying on the title, subtitle and contributor credits.
This review is based on the publisher's stated specifications for this edition, the current product listing and its images, the stated page count, binding, edition designation, dimensions, weight, color and contributor credits, plus our own general knowledge of how illustrated family reference books for children are typically structured. It is editorial analysis of the edition itself, not a review of the book's specific narrative content, and we have noted that no feature text accompanies this listing.