Sentimental, sometimes old-fashioned pigs, bears, cats, mice and other creatures frolic with children in Chorao’s fifth Baby Book. Thirty-seven rhythmic, mostly rhyming poems and chants introduce such classics as “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “The Teddy’s Bear Picnic” and “The More We Get Together” as well as selections by Shakespeare, Longfellow, Stevenson, Myra Cohn Livingstone and lesser-known traditional sources. The poems center on playtime activities, with many, such as “I’m a Little Teapot” and “This Is the Way the Ladies Ride,” inspiring movement and adult-child interactions. Chorao groups similarly themed poems in double-page spreads, and accompanies each with detailed, action-filled illustrations sure to delight young children. Readers familiar with Chorao’s previous poetry collections will welcome this latest installment. (Picture book/poetry. 1-4)
