Lawrence’s lovable infant basks in the warmth of familial affection in this exuberant companion title to Baby Loves. Joyful prose celebrates some of Baby’s favorite types of snugs and smooches, with a focus on the beloved group who occupy Baby’s immediate world. The ebullient sentences overflow with just the right amount of nonsense to tickle tiny funnybones; from a bewhiskered grandpa are “prickly tickly kisses,” while grandma doles out “snuggly cuddly hugs.” However, this genial tot gives as much as he receives, enthusiastically showering those around him with gleeful baby love. The simple writing and familiar characters engage even the youngest audience. Reynolds’s bright illustrations, featuring large-sized, colorful figures, convey the whimsy and wonder of Baby’s world. Droll pictures capture all the chaos of a tot on the loose; his eyes squeezed shut in loving bliss, Baby hugs his kitten while the hapless feline patiently endures the over-zealous tribute. With his oversized, perfectly rounded, and nearly-bald noggin, Baby is irresistible, stealing readers’ hearts. A cheery tale that is bound to please fans of Baby Loves and enchant a new generation of readers. (Picture book. 1-4)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-7894-5649-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: DK Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2000
A joyful celebration.
Families in a variety of configurations play, dance, and celebrate together.
The rhymed verse, based on a song from the Noodle Loaf children’s podcast, declares that “Families belong / Together like a puzzle / Different-sized people / One big snuggle.” The accompanying image shows an interracial couple of caregivers (one with brown skin and one pale) cuddling with a pajama-clad toddler with light brown skin and surrounded by two cats and a dog. Subsequent pages show a wide array of families with members of many different racial presentations engaging in bike and bus rides, indoor dance parties, and more. In some, readers see only one caregiver: a father or a grandparent, perhaps. One same-sex couple with two children in tow are expecting another child. Smart’s illustrations are playful and expressive, curating the most joyful moments of family life. The verse, punctuated by the word together, frequently set in oversized font, is gently inclusive at its best but may trip up readers with its irregular rhythms. The song that inspired the book can be found on the Noodle Loaf website.
A joyful celebration. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-22276-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Nov. 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2020
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
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