Counting down from ten and then back up again, Southern babies walk, crawl, and roll through this numbering tale. Whether eating peanut patties, frolicking in the kudzu, or taking a bath in washbasins in the yard, these redneck babies (by virtue of the title, they’re all white) are having fun. Wacky rhyming verses filled with the distinctive Southern vernacular provide a unique take on the familiar format: “4 redneck babies buttering grits. . . .” While mostly good-natured, occasional passages fall into unflattering stereotypes of Southern life, detracting from the overall tone of the story. Humorous paintings filled with sun-kissed babies in a variety of settings, offer another view of an often disparaged way of life. An occasional misstep only minimally detracts from this feel-good tale. Loaded with Southern charm. (Picture book. 3-6)
