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Cry When the Baby Cries

Cry When the Baby Cries

Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

A glorious antidote to parenting books, this darkly humorous, candid and insightful graphic memoir brings the early years of parenthood to life – in all their chaos, wonder and delirium.


Intimate, relatable and very funny, Becky Barnicoat explores everything from the anatomy of the hospital bag to the frantic obsession with putting your baby down drowsy but awake, to the tyranny of gentle parenting. From pregnancy to the feral toddler years, Barnicoat extends a sticky hand to all new parents grappling with the impossible but joyous jigsaw puzzle of their lives.

Barnicoat gives us permission to cry when the baby cries – and also laugh, snort, lie on the floor naked, drool and generally revel in a deeply strange new world ruled by a tyrannical tiny leader, growing bigger and more loved by the day.

© Becky Barnicoat 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Reviews

  • The most accurate account of becoming a parent I have ever read. It's fabulous.
    Philippa Perry

About the author

Becky Barnicoat

Becky Barnicoat is a cartoonist and writer. She has drawn for the New Yorker, the Guardian, Buzzfeed and Grazia, and has a weekly cartoon strip in the New Statesman. Along with her debut book, Cry When the Baby Cries, she has also illustrated Holding the Baby by Nell Frizzell and 101 Tiny Changes to Brighten Your World by Ailbhe Malone. She lives with her family by the sea. Find out more at BeckyBarnicoat.com, and see her work on Instagram: @beckybarnicomics.
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