THE BABYSITTER SINGS

Cheerful tropical pinks, yellows, greens, and blues enliven this charming Caribbean nursery tale. A loving babysitter sings to her young charge, trying to keep him cheerful when Mama and Papa go away. The words, based on traditional slumber songs from Africa, Spain, and the Caribbean, will remind readers of other “hush little baby” songs. “Hush little bird. / I’ll sing you a song. / Do you want to know/ where Papa’s gone?” Papa’s gone to catch a fish, and Mama’s gone to market. “La La La,” the babysitter sings, while baby in his cradle, goes, “Whaaaaa.” A white bird, with babies in a nest, flits in and out of the pictures, one of many details (the parents’ car, numbers in the sky, clothes on the line, a sleeping lion, a cow, a moon) that toddlers will delight in spying. As day ends, baby finally falls asleep just before the parents return. Young children and their parents, too, will enjoy this reassuring rhythmical tale. (Picture book, 1-5)