Audrey Couloumbis's novel is a caring portrait of sibling relationships which focuses on the theme of infant death and family grief. These two themes are encircled by a variety of lesser ones which, together, create the story that is Getting Near to Baby.

The characters of the novel are both old and young; however, they all come across as authentic. The protagonists, Willa Jo and Aunt Patty, followed closely by Little Sister and Mother (or Noreen) and then by Uncle Hob(art). Surrounding them in turn is a complete cast of neighbors, best friends, new friends, teachers, and, naturally, hovering ethereally around the main characters, is Baby. In addition to the housewives, the characters are ordinary people with respectable jobs such as coal miners, house and roof builders, and painters. They include the characters necessary to create a whole community, such as the gossip, the polite...