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BABY KNOWS BEST

Babies always have a mind of their own when it comes to what they want to play with, eat, and wear, and the little girl in this story is no exception. In a room stuffed with every toy imaginable, baby’s interest is taken with the keys to the front door. With shelves full of board books with bright pictures, baby only wants to read the newspaper. When dinnertime rolls around, baby has no interest in the carefully prepared mashed bananas or the baby-sized cookies; instead, she wants to eat the spaghetti that the rest of the family is eating. An older brother watches (and reports) as baby begins to make her own decisions about what she wants to do and he’s amazed at the things she likes. Loosely rhyming text is accompanied by colorful drawings that seem to tumble across the pages as baby makes her way from one activity to the next, always climaxing in a double-paged spread of baby with her choice. The illustrations are full of stray pencil marks highlighting the chaotic effect that one opinionated baby can have on a family. This roly-poly little one will bring a smile to every reader. (Picture book. 2-5)

Pub Date: April 1, 2001

ISBN: 0-316-60580-8

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2002

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HAPPY IN OUR SKIN

The combination of lovingly humorous and detailed mixed-media illustrations and infectious rhymes will cause little ones and...

More than skin deep, this rhyming paean to diversity offers readers an array of families of all colors and orientations, living and loving one another in a vibrant city setting.

A giggling baby is tummy-tickled by her white and black mothers (or white mother and black father—impressively, the illustration leaves room for interpretation) in New York’s Central Park in its summertime glory. "This is how we all begin: / small and happy in our skin." This celebration of skin not only extols the beauty and value of various skin colors, but also teaches the importance of skin as an essential body part: “It keeps the outsides out / and your insides in.” Park, public-pool, and block-party scenes allow readers to luxuriate in a teeming city where children of all colors, abilities, and religions enjoy their families and neighbors. The author and illustrator do not simply take a rote, tokenistic approach to answering the cry for diverse books; the words and pictures depict a much-needed, realistic representation of the statement “it takes a village to raise a child” when a child skins her knee and many rush to her aid and comfort. Though her palette of browns is a little limited, Tobia creates sheer joy with her depictions of everything from unibrows, dimples, and birthmarks to callouts to recognizable literary characters.

The combination of lovingly humorous and detailed mixed-media illustrations and infectious rhymes will cause little ones and their families to pore over this book again and again. (Picture book. 2-5)

Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-7636-7002-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: May 11, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2015

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THE BIGGEST KISS

Although a bit on the slight side, this offering is infused with a warm, light humor just right for cuddling up with a young...

This title previously published in the U.K. takes a cozy look at all kinds of kisses.

Walsh’s rhyming text is full of cutesy rhythms: “Kisses on noses, kisses on toes-es. Sudden kisses when you least supposes.” Sometimes the phrasing stumbles: “Who likes to kiss? I do! I do! Even the shy do. Why not try, too?” But toddlers and young preschoolers will probably not mind. They will be too engaged in spotting the lively penguin on each spread and too charmed by Abbot’s winsome illustrations that fittingly extend the wording in the story. Patient dogs queue up for a smooch from a frog prince, cool blue “ ’normous elephants” contrast strikingly with bright red “little tiny ants” and a bewildered monkey endures a smattering of lipstick kisses. Be the kiss small or tall, one to start or end the day, young readers are reminded that “the very best kiss… / is a kiss from you!” Perhaps no big surprise but comforting nonetheless.

Although a bit on the slight side, this offering is infused with a warm, light humor just right for cuddling up with a young tyke or sharing with a gathering for storytime.     (Picture book. 2-5)

Pub Date: Dec. 20, 2011

ISBN: 978-1-4424-2769-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Nov. 19, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2011

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