"Every child should be so blessed as to be welcomed to the world and into the loving embrace of an adoring family, as is the African-American newborn in this warm poetic picture book.

The engaging text is filled with whispering sibilants, as in, “Welcome to robin song / and the swish of leaves in the breeze.” Overall, Collier’s signature eye-catching watercolor-and-collage illustrations are deeply appealing, particularly in the scenes featuring the infant’s captivating open-mouthed, toothless smiles. Page-and-a-half spreads of deep color illustrate Grimes’s joyful inventory of delights. However, the baby’s face isn’t always rendered consistently; one illustration shows it with an odd-shaped head, and in some drawings, balloon collages are distracting.

Still, this is a reassuring charmer and a sure-to-be-welcomed paean to doting parents and their cherished newborns. (Picture book/poetry. 0-3)" www.kirkusreviews.com

This adorable picture book is about a family welcoming a new baby named Precious into the world. The story was so cute describing all the small wonders of the world that the baby will get to enjoy one day. It focused on the little seasonal experiences and the small interactions between baby and mother and father. The pictures in the book were so good and went perfectly with the story. An awesome book for older siblings to read about their new baby or to read to young children.

Grimes writes about a mother and father welcoming their baby into the world. Reading this story gave my mind comfort and peace, and I think it is because of the way Grimes writes. She described things very beautifully, such as "the silk of grass" and "the warm circle of your daddy's arms". She describes the world in such a safe and comforting manner, which is why I think this would be the perfect book to read to a child before bed.
The illustrations are also drawn nicely, and I love how the illustrator Bryan Collier drew bursts of light around the mother and father. For me, that shows that the mother and father are the leading lights in their baby's life. ( )

Award winners Nikki Grimes and Bryan Collier celebrate a new life and family love with this gorgeous picture book for very young children. The text is lyrical: “Welcome, Precious. Welcome to the warm circle of your daddy’s arms, the slippery kisses of your giddy grandmother, and the cool tickle of Mommy’s nose rubbing against your belly button.” For the most part, the pictures are adorable, depicting very cozy domestic scenes. ( )

Nikki Grimes’ picture book is about parents who are welcoming their baby, Precious, to the world and all of the wonderful things in life. ( )