Although well-meaning and important, this book neither fulfills its purpose nor broadcasts its message in a way that works...
Numerous studies have shown that the safest way for babies to sleep is in their cribs on their backs. This simple board book attempts to reinforce this important message to prevent sudden unexplained infant death.
The illustrations show a diverse group of infants and adults, both male and female, sharing gentle loving moments—hugging, cuddling, and playing together. A couple of nonrhyming lines of text on each double-page spread mention how much the adults enjoy spending time with their infants. “We’ll dance and sway, my bunny! / Each day is such a joy. // Tummy-time play, my peach. / I love to watch you grow.” Hartung’s calm, colorful illustrations feature mostly neutral facial expressions. The important reminder “In your crib, on your back, my love. / We’ll save the toys for play” comes nearly at the end of the book and depicts a white baby snoozing in proper position and with no blankets, pillows, or other impedimenta in sight. Concluding the book, “Tips for Safe Sleep” offer bullet points on best practices. With no backup information and no context, this book is unlikely to impress upon uninformed caregivers just how important it is to put their babies to bed on their backs. For the age children most at risk for SUID, the illustrations are not eye-catching enough to lead to requests for the book to be read again and again.
Although well-meaning and important, this book neither fulfills its purpose nor broadcasts its message in a way that works for infants and adults. (Board book. 0-1)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-58536-377-3
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: April 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
Wow.
The stories of the births of the universe, the planet Earth, and a human child are told in this picture book.
Bauer begins with cosmic nothing: “In the dark / in the deep, deep dark / a speck floated / invisible as thought / weighty as God.” Her powerful words build the story of the creation of the universe, presenting the science in poetic free verse. First, the narrative tells of the creation of stars by the Big Bang, then the explosions of some of those stars, from which dust becomes the matter that coalesces into planets, then the creation of life on Earth: a “lucky planet…neither too far / nor too near…its yellow star…the Sun.” Holmes’ digitally assembled hand-marbled paper-collage illustrations perfectly pair with the text—in fact the words and illustrations become an inseparable whole, as together they both delineate and suggest—the former telling the story and the latter, with their swirling colors suggestive of vast cosmos, contributing the atmosphere. It’s a stunning achievement to present to readers the factual events that created the birth of the universe, the planet Earth, and life on Earth with such an expressive, powerful creativity of words paired with illustrations so evocative of the awe and magic of the cosmos. But then the story goes one brilliant step further and gives the birth of a child the same beginning, the same sense of magic, the same miracle.
Wow. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-7636-7883-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2018
A delightful story of love and hope.
Families are formed everywhere—including large metropolitan mass-transit systems!
Baby Kevin, initially known as “Danny ACE Doe,” was found in the New York City’s 14th Street subway station, which serves the A-C-E lines, by one of his future fathers, Danny. Kevin’s other father, Pete (author Mercurio), serves as the narrator, explaining how the two men came to add the newborn to their family. Readers are given an abridged version of the story from Danny and Pete’s point of view as they work to formally adopt Kevin and bring him home in time for Christmas. The story excels at highlighting the determination of loving fathers while still including realistic moments of hesitation, doubt, and fear that occur for new and soon-to-be parents. The language is mindful of its audience (for example using “piggy banks” instead of “bank accounts” to discuss finances) while never patronizing young readers. Espinosa’s posterlike artwork—which presents the cleanest New York readers are ever likely to see—extends the text and makes use of unexpected angles to heighten emotional scenes and moments of urgency. The diversity of skin tones, ages, and faces (Danny and Pete both present white, and Kevin has light brown skin) befits the Big Apple. Family snapshots and a closing author’s note emphasize that the most important thing in any family is love. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11.3-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 43% of actual size.)
A delightful story of love and hope. (Informational picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-525-42754-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2020
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