Using the repetitive and sometimes nonsensical words that toddlers employ, this three-part tale imagines what babies and children might say when waking up, when eating, and when settling into bed. Sweet babies, adventurous toddlers, and cuddly stuffed animals dance and swirl around the rhythmic and lilting verses describing the sensations of babyhood. Ripe strawberries are mashed into oblivion then swallowed with a sweet gulp. Pony rides on parents’ knees and a game of hide-and-seek provide endless fun and a cuddly set of arms becomes a warm bird’s nest of comfort for the night. Softly smudged illustrations rendered in pastels on textured paper feature a dreamy landscape full of animals and babies in imaginary settings. Tongue-twisting verses (“Tickle me / tackle me / sack-a-potato me, / tug-a-bug / jumble-bee / tumble me tumbily!”) will challenge even the most seasoned readers, but the delightful imagery rewards persistence. Inventive and fun. (Picture book. 2-5)
