HOW TO BE AN AWESOME TODDLER

Gentle directives for children and adults alike.

As the “Letter to Caregivers” at this book’s start explains, the days are long and the years are short when it comes to raising toddlers. But help can be found in these 50 rhymes. Each page contains a brief verse, a takeaway, and a conversation starter for events as mundane as brushing one’s teeth and as complex as respecting personal space. Entries are broken up into sections covering health and hygiene, social skills, and safety. Burk’s straightforward, workmanlike rhymes get the job done. Far more impressive, however, is the range of difficult topics they cover; for example, children are instructed to tell someone when they know a “bad secret.” Holmes’ brightly colored, simple art peppers the pages. The diverse cast of kids remains consistent throughout—and readers will enjoy looking for familiar characters—but it is unfortunate that the same Black female character is the instigator in both the “No Name-Calling” and the “No Hitting” sections (arguably two of the most contentious topics). On the whole, though, this one should be a go-to for anyone with a little one in their life.

Teaching toddlers can feel overwhelming; expect new parents to cling gratefully to this guide.