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IT'S NOT THE BABY by J. Patrick Lewis

IT'S NOT THE BABY

by J. Patrick Lewis & Leigh Lewis ; illustrated by Maddie Frost

Pub Date: Sept. 12th, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-68152-194-7
Publisher: Amicus Ink

A board book with great potential for interaction between a baby and the reader who shares it.

From one spread to the next, text poses observations and questions that are answered with the titular refrain, “it’s not the baby.” Accompanying pictures provide context and invite readers to point to key elements or to verbally identify them in response to the text. For example, the third double-page spread reads, “Who just tiptoed in to take frosting off the birthday cake? / It’s not the baby.” The accompanying illustration shows a grinning mouse gripping a hunk of brightly frosted cake in its front paws. Other animals and one white preschool-age child make similar mischief throughout the book, until the final spread when the white baby depicted on the cover reappears and is identified as the one who made “a great big slurp followed by a giant BURP.” “It IS the baby,” concludes the text as characters from the prior pages look on with wide-eyed expressions. The digital art uses bright colors to attract the eye and employs a cartoon style befitting the playful text, though the busyness of the pictures indicates an older toddler rather than infant audience.

I-spy reading fun for little eyes.

(Board book. 18 mos.-3)