REVIEW

Title: I Just Couldn’t Wait To Meet You

Author: Kate Ritchie

Publisher: Random House

★★★★★

RADIO host and former soapie star Kate Ritchie once thought it would be insulting to write a book about herself, but the joy she felt when pregnant led her to the keyboard.

Instead of a memoir though, she wrote a book that is as much for expectant mums as it is for babies, with her warm words beautifully illustrated by Hannah Sommerville.

I Just Couldn’t Wait To Meet You resulted from a collection of little notes she wrote while pregnant with her first child, Mae.

The title comes from a line in the book: “At times it felt like I would burst – I just couldn’t wait to meet you!’’ Then later she adds: “So I’ll be here to watch you grow, and guide you on your way.’’

They are comforting words for an infant. Older children — aged say two or more — might want a bit more action.

The book was released last year and Random House has now printed a second edition.

Ritchie’s first experience with publishers involved approaches to write her story when she was acting in Home And Away.

“It was a bit insulting,’’ she said when her children’s book was first released. “I was in my early 20s and remember thinking ‘I think I still have a bit to do’.’’