LEO LOVES BABY TIME

Leo, who first appeared in Lola Reads to Leo (2012), attends a baby program with his mother.

He and his fellow sitting-up babes enjoy singing and playing on their grown-ups’ laps, as well as exploring books and toys. The single- and double-page spreads include one or two sentences describing the action written in a bold, black type: “First they sing the happy song. / Then they play peekaboo with scarves!” Hearson effectively channels the style of Rosalind Beardshaw, who illustrated the previous Lola titles, and creates cozy cartoon scenes in warm jewel tones. The setting of this program is left unclear, but it could easily be a public library or a community center in a very diverse neighborhood (the skin tones range from chocolate to peach). Organizations offering such events will want to stock up on this title, since it offers a perfect introduction for babies and their caregivers alike. While the ending feels a bit abrupt, little ones will find much to recognize here, and their grown-ups will appreciate the baby-friendly book design with its thicker-than-normal pages, jacketless cover and rounded corners. Like Leo and his friends, this book is a buoyant and bouncy delight. (Picture book. 6-18 mos.)