Peddicord creates a heartfelt story commemorating the wonderful development that occurs between infancy and early childhood. She portrays the various stages of achievements and milestones most infants go through. The repetition of the first and last verses in each section creates a gentle rhythm in the tale and expands upon the theme of continuity through change. But it’s the compelling juxtaposition of Peddicord’s text with So’s ethereal artwork that conveys the essential meaning. Each section detailing the accomplishments of the baby concludes with the phrase, “and grew and grew . . . and grew!” with the accompanying watercolor illustrations depicting the baby as a preschooler engaged in a similar but more advanced extension of the infant’s activity. For example, depictions of a crawling baby tugging on mother’s skirt segue into an exuberant tot running across a field of flowers. This joyful testimony to a child’s progression is bound to appeal to a preschooler’s sense of pride in their recent gains. (Picture book. 3-6)
