A delightful day of unbridled love.
A youngster tries very hard to keep up as Daddy does his chores.
Cooking, cleaning, and tending the garden: The list of household tasks seems endless. But tall, bearded Daddy cheerfully completes each one. A child toddling around in star-covered pajamas is inspired to do the same. As Daddy does laundry, the little one joins in. But taking folded clothes out of the basket is much more fun. When Daddy prepares a meal, the toddler cooks, too (surprising no one, the cat ends up with a bag of flour on its head). Somehow, the little one’s “help” always result in more work. But Daddy is patient and loving. Dike’s spare, repetitive phrasing makes a sweet read-aloud. “Daddy is doing laundry. Me too! Daddy is cleaning.” Then, a new chore: “Daddy is planting. Me too! Daddy is cleaning.” It forces a close inspection of the illustrations to see what the silly youngster is up to (and, subsequently, what Daddy needs to clean next). Glenn’s unassuming pastel backdrops let the father-child relationship take center stage and shine. The tale comes to a lovely conclusion; a day filled with domestic duties has clearly exhausted this industrious little one, and the child snuggles up with Daddy as he reads a story. Both characters are Black.
A delightful day of unbridled love. (Picture book. 1-4)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
ISBN: 9798887772714
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an...
A little boy exults in his new role as big brother.
Rhyming text describes the arrival of a new baby and all of the big brother’s rewarding new duties. He gets to help with feedings, diaper changes, playtime, bathtime, and naptime. Though the rhyming couplets can sometimes feel a bit forced and awkward, the sentiment is sweet, as the focus here never veers from the excitement and love a little boy feels for his tiny new sibling. The charming, uncluttered illustrations convincingly depict the growing bond between this fair-skinned, rosy-cheeked, smiling pair of boys. In the final pages, the parents, heretofore kept mostly out of view, are pictured holding the children. The accompanying text reads: “Mommy, Daddy, baby, me. / We love each other—a family!” In companion volume I Am a Big Sister, the little boy is replaced with a little girl with bows in her hair. Some of the colors and patterns in the illustrations are slightly altered, but it is essentially the same title.
A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an older sibling can do to help. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-68886-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An invitation for readers to learn through observation.
Llama Llama and Mama spot different shapes at the farmers market.
Dewdney’s iconic llama stars in this board book, a part of the Learning With Llama Llama series. The story showcases five shapes: rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, and stars. Rather than simply showing the shapes and naming them, illustrator Morrow embeds them inside scenes from the farmers market. Each page turn uncovers a different shape. Signage and a shopping bag pop as rectangles, while umbrellas, a slice of watermelon, and the peaks of the tents form triangles. Shapes that appeared on previous pages are visible even as the story progresses, and the final page helps readers revisit and recall shapes they’ve already found. There are plenty of engaging details to keep readers looking, including other animal shoppers, kite-flying, and sudden, surprising rain. The text is concise, and each spread features a simple question inviting participation. This title is more captivating than other shape concept books, especially those that show block-colored shapes without context. Llama Llama’s popularity will make this a hit with fans, and readers looking for substance will find it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An invitation for readers to learn through observation. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-46509-7
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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