Follow Me in Merry Measure! FA LA LA by Leslie Petricelli

It's the holly-jolly season, and while some grownups may be jaded with Jingle Bells and ho hum about Ho Ho Hos, not this kid! A go-go baby toddler encountering his first holly holiday season, he says "Bring it on!" (Well, he would if he could talk!)

First comes going out to choose a Christmas tree, and Baby picks a short one with a curly top knot just like his own. Back home, he has to get into the act, wrapping Christmas lights around himself and stashing a candy cane in his diaper as his enthusiam lights up the room all by itself.

LOOK AT ME!

I'M A CHRISTMAS TREE!

He helps Dad make a gingerbread house, and as the grand finale, he pushes it over with a giggle and a BOOM!

Wrapping presents is a new adventure. Baby make Mom a necklace out of cellophane tape, lots of it, and tears the gift wrap paper off its cardboard center to make a telescope for Dad. Most of the reel of ribbon for presents makes a pull toy for kitty!

Mom and Dad swing their excited baby in his warmest onesie between them as they set forth for his first visit with Santa Claus at the mall. Even the long line of parents and hyper-active kids is tons of fun for this first-timer! Until... it's Baby's turn to sit on Santa's plush lap and he gets a closeup of Santa's strange big beard. Hey! That guy is kinda scary! There are TEARS.

IT'S OKAY, BABY!

But the smiles are back just in time for the famous first photo with Santa! And then it's time to go caroling with his first FA LA LAs and his first Night Before Christmas... and best of all, Baby's first Christmas morning with a little Choo Choo for him and stacks of presents to help open, and two smiling parents with open laps as they sit in front of a jolly warm fire.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

What's not to love about Baby's first Christmas, with two smiling young parents sharing a special time in Leslie Petricelli's exuberant Fa La La (Leslie Patricelli board books) (Candlewick Press). Even the Grinch would love Petricelli's darling, goofy baby in his diaper and Santa's cap, experiencing it all for the first time with his happy mom and dad, who  in turn are experiencing it all as parents for the first time. Although Petricelli's text is simple enough for beginning readers, her illustrations, done in thick blackline and rich colors of the season, are charmingly humorous and filled with good cheer! Quips Kirkus Reviews, "Even Scrooge himself couldn’t resist this cheerful Christmas cherub."

Other jolly stories by Petricelli of this adorable toddler include Yummy Yucky (Leslie Patricelli board books), Quiet Loud (Leslie Patricelli board books), and No No Yes Yes (Leslie Patricelli board books).

QUIET! SHHH! The Baby's Asleep by JaNay Brown-Woods

NOW DON'T MAKE A PEEP....

THE BABY'S ASLEEP!

Mom creeps out of the room on the quietest of feet, worrying that the slight creak of the floor will wake the baby, who is finally asleep!!

But there's a whole big family downstairs, each one with his or her own noise potential.

Daddy's hungry stomach rumbles and Granny's washing swishes, and Pop Pop's big ACHOOS might end Baby's snooze! Sister Shae's hair dryer's whir gets shushed, as well as Dante's little hammer and Rover's howls.

Now what's that loud noise from next door?

MR. YOUNG'S MOWER ROARS!

UH OH! WAAAHHHHHH!

That does it! The baby is awake and bawling. Then big brother has an idea.

"YOU KNOW, WHAT WE NEED IS A GOOD BOOK TO READ!"

And brother Dante is at least partly right. Daddy reads and Baby loves the book, while the rest of the family slip into sleep, in JaNay Brown-Woods' brand-new picture book, Shhh! The Baby's Asleep (Charlesbridge Press, 2021).

With clever rhyming couplets with plenty of onomatopoeic words just right for read-aloud fun, and with artist Elissabura's bright caricatures of a multigenerational family and colored lettering that tracks the sounds through the not-quite-quiet house, this is a fine story for all the families who have ever been hushed or shushed while baby sleeps, or not. Says Kirkus, "Delightful comic relief for every household with a baby."

On the Home Team! It's Big Sister Time by Nandini Ahuja

MOM AND DAD BROUGHT HOME SOMEONE NEW TODAY. "IT'S OUR BABY!" THEY SAID.

"HOW LONG WILL THE BABY STAY?" I ASKED.

The girl is taken aback when her parents tell her the baby will stay forever and that he will be her best friend. He's not much of a friend at first. He's noisy. He smells really bad sometimes. And as soon as he can move around, she learns that he doesn't know ANY of the rules--like, Don't knock down your sister's best block tower.

"YOU HAVE TO TEACH HIM THE RULES OF THE HOUSE," HER DAD SAYS.

"YOU'RE THE BIG SISTER!"

The Big Sister decides that her Rule #1 will be "Do not play with my toys!"

But that's easier said than done. She soon finds that it's easier to let him have something she doesn't really need, like her crib blanket. When her grandparents come over to teach her how make a dessert, it all right if he wears the chef's hat, so long as she gets to stir and gets the first taste. When she plays superhero, he's happy with just one small scarf for a cape. When she builds a fort from cushions and pillows, it's sort of fun to read a cozy story to him inside it.

"ON MOVIE NIGHTS I GET TO SIT BETWEEN MOM AND DAD.

But there's something nice about offering to have her brother sit on her lap sometimes, too.

THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE IS, "WE STICK TOGETHER."

A family is on the same team together in Nandini Ahoja's It's Big Sister Time! (My Time) (Harper Festival Books, 2021), illustrated sensitively and sweetly by the artwork of Catalina Echeverri, which shows the the markers in the development of sibling affection, as a feeling of oneness and togetherness slowly grow between big sister and baby brother as part of a family. Says Kirkus, "A sweet debut that offers a tongue-in-cheek instruction manual for new big sisters."

I'm WHAT? It's Big Brother Time! by Nandina Ahula

MOM AND DAD BROUGHT HOME SOMEONE NEW TODAY. "IT'S OUR BABY!" THEY SAY.

When the boy asked how long Baby is going to visit, they say it'll be forever!

"BABY WILL BE YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND!" THEY SAY.

What? Who knew?

This baby doesn't seem like much of a bargain. He cries loudly. He's a mess most of the time. And sometimes he smells not so good. But he mostly stays put where Mom and Dad put him.

But soon Baby begins to crawl around and knocks over the boy's tallest block towers! The boy complains to Mom and Dad, but they say he'll have to teach Baby the rules.

"YOU'RE THE BIG BROTHER!"

But as time goes on, the new Big Brother gets the hang of his new job. He teaches baby to enjoy hiding in pillow forts and even lets him use his own blankie, since it seems to fit him better. When Big Brother insists on sitting between Mom and Dad on movie night, he finds that if Baby sits in his lap, they can both be in the middle. He teaches Baby how to clean up his big messes. He shows him how to share his toys and his grandparents. When Baby becomes a roommate, he teaches him how to be quiet at bedtime! And when the Big Brother has friends over to play, Baby has to be on his side. After all...

"WE'RE A TEAM!"

In Nandina Ahula's brand-new It's Big Brother Time! (My Time) (Harper Festival, 2021), the sequel to her book, It's Big Sister Time! (My Time), (see review here) older siblings find a new and very important role within the family as they find the responsibilities and fun of being the oldest. As in the previous book, Catalina Echeverri's adorable illustrations show the humor and joy of a growing family.

Stowaway Sister: B Is For Baby by Atinuke

B IS FOR BABY.

An endearing baby girl is the star of the story. Mama does up her baby's do, putting in the last BEAD, while BABY plays with the lid of a BASKET.

B IS FOR BROTHER.

Baby's big brother boogies to the music on his earphones as he packs a bunch of BANANAS into a BASKET. But while he practices his best moves, BABY wants a BANANA for BREAKFAST and crawls into the BASKET and stows away under the lid of the BASKET. Brother struggles to get the strangely heavy BASKET on the back of his BYCYCLE, while BABY giggles silently. But BROTHER is feeling big as he pedals down the road to take the BANANAS to his Grandfather BABA. The day is BEAUTIFUL, with a BAOBAB tree full of BIRDS and fluttering BUTTERFLIES. But the road to BABA'S BUNGALOW has its obstacles.

B IS FOR BUMPY!!

And there are BABOONS, one of which snatches the lid off the BASKET and swipes a BANANA! From her bed in the basket BABY begins to hand out BANANAS to the BABY BABOONS as they pass under their tree and the BOYS on the school BUS as they ride by. Over a BRIDGE and by the blossoms of BOUGANVILLEA, BROTHER finally arrives at BABA'S BUNGALOW with the gift for his grandfather. It's a surprise--with a BABY among the BANANAS in the BASKET, which calls for a snack from BABA for the two intrepid travelers.

B IS FOR BISCUITS.

And then it's BACK TO MAMA FOR BABY!

It's a BIG day for the letter B, in Atinuke's B is for Baby (Candlewick, 2019), a boisterous and endearing alphabet book which features a lively cast of characters and an adventurous and adorable baby sister who provides the plot for this lively story. The text is very much buoyed by the charming, bright, and beautiful illustrations provided by Angela Brooksbank. "...A charmer!" says Booklist.

Spare Sibling? Robobaby by David Weisner

The Robo family is expecting a new member of the family, and when a 278-pound shipping carton filled with parts arrives at their pod door, they are thrilled.

It's the new Flange model! Wow!

What a big boy!" coos Mama Diode.

Daddy Lugnut frowns.

"Babies have gotten a lot more complicated since we built Cathode!" he grumbles.

"I've got my tools," says little Cathode.

"Oh, how hard can it be," says Mama Di. "This is a mother's job."

But their first attempt isn't quite up to standards. in fact it CRASHES!

Daddy Lugnut asks Mama Di to call in her brother Manifold who arrives with Aunt Gasket and their two pets, Sprocket and Sprockie, along with jolly neighors bringing a sludge cake and and greasy gear cookies. Uncle Manny buckles on his tool belt and starts assembling parts. Little Cathy complains that he's not following the instructions, and Uncle Manny grouches that they can always do that later. But there's a major malfunction. Suddenly Baby Flange takes off with a WHOOSH out the door in wobbly flight, while Mama and Daddy call Robobaby Corporation for technical assistance.

But with the help of Uncle Mannie's pets Sprockit and Sprockie and a net, Baby Flange is retrieved, piece by piece, and with the expert help of the Robo tech guys, the talented Cathy, and the usual requisite updates installation, little Flange is soon functioning to specifications. The techies and neighbors depart, and baby Flange finally goes nighty night in her perma-rock cradle. Mama Di and Daddy Lug finally take a deep breath--until big sister Cathy discovers another shipping carton at their pod door. It seems Robobaby Corporation is having a special--there's a big box that says ROBO BONUS BABY, the AXLE MODEL on their porch.

Don't put away your toolkit yet, Cathy, in three-time Caldecott winner David Wiesner's latest inventive creation, Robobaby (Houghton Mifflin Clarion Books, 2020), which will make even devoted techno-types appreciate the way human babies are assembled. But The Jetsons' boy Elroy would feel right at home in Wiesner's rollicking illustrations of an expanding robot family, comically spoofing both interfamily relations and internet commerce and the unexpected "some assembly required" arrivals that come with it, while throughout celebrating the hard-wired love of family all along the way.

In a five-star product review, Kirkus says, "A retro-futuristic romp, literally and figuratively screwy."

If It Looks Like a Duck....My Brother the Duck by Pat Zietlow Miller

Read more »

Surprise Bundle of Joy! It's A Moose! by Meg Rosoff

The nursery was all ready for the new little bundle of joy, with crib and mobile, a rocking horse, teddy bear, rack-a-stack, and cute onesie pajamas and little blue suspender suits.

WE WERE EXPECTING THE USUAL SORT OF BABY, SO IMAGINE OUR SURPRISE!


HE HAD FOUR PERFECT HOOVES INSTEAD OF FEET.

When she's taken to see the new arrival at the hospital nursery, the little girl carries a balloon that says "IT'S A MOOSE."

And a baby moose in a diaper is darling. She falls in love with the new family member.

I FELT SORRY FOR THE OTHER BABIES.

THEY ALL LOOKED THE SAME!

Grandma observes that he has the same nose as her Great-Aunt Lydia!

But there are some unusual problems. When they take the baby out in his buggy, people tend to point and stare. He outgrows his baby clothes in no time, and before long they have to get a bigger car with a sun roof to accommodate his long neck and antlers when they go to the drive-through. He doesn't fit the furniture in the house, and from the dormer window upstairs, he begins to sing sad songs nightly under the moon.

So the family packs the car with provisions and heads north... way up NORTH... to the NORTH WOODS actually, where the moose soon finds another moose to play with. He sings a happy song.

AT LAST IT WAS TIME TO SAY GOODBYE.

And soon the family gets a post card from Moosie....

Dear Mom and Dad + Sis,
Having a wonderful time. Wish you were here.
XXX

Meg Rosoff's It's a Moose! (Putnam, 2020) is a book that grownups won't be able to wait to read aloud and kid will want to read over and over! It's fanciful and funny and sweet, and filled with charming illustrations by artist David Ercolini. Ercolini's carefully-drawn, double-page spreads of the hospital nursery, the baby's room at home, and Moosie's birthday party--with the moose antler ring-toss and Pin the Tail on the Moose game and the young guests in antlered party hats--will keep young readers giggling at each comic detail with each page turn. This one is a real winner for the primary set, a joy for all. Says Publishers Weekly, "Rosoff begins with a goofy what-if . . . but deepens their story into something much more: one about how loving families stick together, embrace radical acceptance, and know when to let go."

Meet and Greet! Welcome to the Party by Gabrielle Union

Sweet baby, there’s a party happening and it’s YOU who’s invited.

There's nothing like a new member of the family, and everyone's excited. Mom and Dad are proud to host your debut. The cousins can't wait to welcome you ... with the aunts and the uncles and the grandparents, too!

Say HI to your guests. They are happy to meet you.

They have waited so long, and can’t wait to greet you!
Down the red carpet goes the little invitee! There's Grandpa, Grandma, and all the family... . All take a place at the table, set with everything yummy! They'll laugh, share stories, and all kiss your tummy. They'll dance for you, sing to you, hug you, my sweet. 'Cause you're the one making our family complete!

There's no happier assembly than one introducing a new baby to life in a family, a time to party hearty, in Gabrielle Union's personal story of a much-wanted baby, Welcome to the Party (HarperCollins, 2020). With jolly rhymes and plenty of artist Ashley Evans' charming full-bleed illustrations of the special guest, the big occasion is celebrated in a happy reunion of assorted relatives. This first children's book by actress and best-selling author Union is great for parents with a new baby (and the new baby's siblings) and for grandparents as well, a perfect gift for birthdays and special days, and a great book to include with a Meet the Family photo scrapbook of the celebration.

So... This Is Baby by Jimmy Fallon

Babies come with all kinds of parts.

But they all come ready for love in their hearts.

They have darling parts in all sorts of shapes.

Knees with sweet dimples and necks with cute napes.

And late-night comedian Jimmy Fallon has his third hit baby book to join his long-time best-selling Your Baby's First Word Will Be DADA and Everything Is Mama, (see reviews here) in his latest celebration of infant and the parents of same, This Is Baby (Feiwel and Friends, 2019) in which Fallon provides a rhyming catalog of each delightful little part:

THIS IS BABY'S TUMMY,
AND EACH TICKLE IS A PROBLEM.
JUST TURN BABY OVER,
AND THIS IS BABY'S BOTTOM.

From nose to toes, from top to bottom, this is another charming board book for new parents and new babies, in a series that is too much fun to miss.

Sweet Feet! New Shoes by Chris Raschka

It's time for mom to put my shoes and socks on! But...

MY OLD SHOES HAVE A HOLE.

Leaky shoes are not a treat. It's time for new shoes for those bare feet.

It's off to the store where you get new shoes. The problem is....

It's hard to choose!

Some shoes come in blues. But look at those yellow ones!

... A LITTLE PINCHY...!

Maybe those orange ones will be cinchy!

And the proud owner of new orange shoes is soon off and running to show them to friend, Emma!

Caldecott winner Chris Rascha's New Shoes (Greenwillow Books, 2018) chronicles the process of buying new shoe for a toddler who wants a good fit, a certain look, and shoes that make for fast feet.

Chris Raschka's trademark illustrations focused on feet only show the whole process, from finding holes in the soles of old shoes, going to the store where feet get measured on strange devices, and trying on store shoes that may or may not feel just right. But this expedition is a success, with bright new sneakers to show off. Those young feet will wear out many a shoe, but this trip to the shoe store is special! Raschka's newest picture book is a good run through for the real thing!

UP! Tessa Takes Wing by Richard Jackson

Tessa wakes up at moonset, just before sunrise.

"UP!" says Tessa.

Mom, Dad, and sister Maggie are still sleeping.

"Goody," she says.

Borrowing a set of wings from the butterfly mobile above her crib, Tessa floats over the floor, performing loop-the-loops and backflips.

Tess dives down to give Maggie's forbidden blue elephant a wild ride on her push toy. She uses Maggie's polka-dotted umbrella to drift down like Mary Poppins. Spying Maggie's books, she pretends to read to her dog Bingo. But with his tail Bingo knocks over the tea table Maggie has built with her blocks.

Uh-OH!

The jig is up! Fast she can, Tessa tidies up and soars back into her crib, just as a sleepy Dad comes to investigate, turning on the light to see Bingo in the middle of a big doggie yawn and Tessa bouncing in her crib.

"Honeybee!--you're up!"

("If only you knew....") thinks Bingo!

Tessa goes up in her high chair and then Daddy lifts Tessa up high, and Mom swings her  high around the room... and soon they are off for their morning errands... until it's ...

... naptime!

The noted Richard Jackson's latest picture book, Tessa Takes Wing (Roaring Brook Press, 2018) is a delightfully designed fun fantasy about a baby who is definitely a morning person, one who relishes early solo expeditions on the wing. Julie Downing's jolly illustrations of the lighter-than-air Tessa are whimsical excursions into fantasy with great good humor and sight gags such as the flock of butterflies that flutter around Tessa whenever the grownups are not there. Bingo even grabs the bottom of one of Tessa's footies, pulling her pajama bottoms down to show her diaper decorated with--what else?--butterflies.

Says Publishers Weekly, "More poem than story, it's also a wonderful reminder that everyone is capable of a rich fantasy life."

Baby's Got a Brand New Bag! Tooth! by Leslie Patricelli

My mouth feels funny. Something is happening!

A little crankiness and a lot of drool! What's up with Baby?

It's a breakthrough!

I got a new tooth!

Mom and Dad have a mouth full of them, and Baby now knows that someday soon he will have a new set!

This changes EVERYTHING!

New functions are automatically activated. Biting! Chewing! Crunching! Chomping! (but only food, not friends!)

It's great, but with the tooth comes... oral hygiene! Oh--I have to brush now? (Hold the flossing for further developments!) Mom and Dad demonstrate how it's done. And Baby learns other interesting moves... swishing and spitting! Woohoo!

PTOOEY!

There's a whole new world of foods-- crackers, cupcakes, French fries, maybe even broccoli?--waiting for Baby, in Leslie Patricelli's shamelessly cute new board book, Tooth (Leslie Patricelli board books) (Candlewick Press, 2018), and some questionable things not to bite (chewy dog bones?), in this very small and sturdy book for tots.

Artist Patricelli's minimalistic comic cartoons charm parents and tiny tots alike. This celebration of the first tooth joins other not-to-be missed milestones for Baby, such as Nighty-Night, (Leslie Patricelli board books) Toot (Leslie Patricelli board books), and her salute to baby's first Yuletide, Fa La La (Leslie Patricelli board books)

Megaphone Manifesto! Feminist Baby Finds Her Voice by Loryn Brantz

HEAR YE, HEAR YE!

She's got words and she knows how to use them!

And she's got a MEGAPHONE.

Feminist Baby is back and she's got something to SAY!

EQUAL RIGHTS AND TOYS FOR ALL!

In her no-nonsense nappy, accented by her signature pink hairbow, Feminist Baby is part of her own opinionated movement, and girl power is on the march. They have a manifesto: no bathtimes or bottles, and the placards to back them up. It's time to unite on their Tyke Trikes and get on the move. They do, however, enjoy some girl time, now and again.

FEMINIST BABY STOPS AND LISTENS,

ESPECIALLY WHEN HER FRIENDS ARE DISHIN'!

Yes, she's B-A-A-C-K, with plenty of tongue-in-cheek opinions and with over-the-top visual humor to boot, er, bootee, in Lornyn Brantz' brassy and sassy sequel to her Feminist Baby, in her latest salute to toddlers of the female persuasion, Feminist Baby Finds Her Voice! (Disney Hyperion, 2018). The media is the message in this funny board book that offers some humor for grownups and tots alike.

Only Dog? The Other Dog by Madeleine L'Engle

First of all--I think you should know that I am the one who wrote this book.

So I, Touche' L'Engle-Franklin, wrote this book with the assistance of that inferior canine, Jo.

This summer... my mistress went away for a few days. And when she came back, she brought another dog.

Touche' is a proud and mature poodle in the perfect household, until her mistress brings a new pet into the home.
Touche' terms the new one, whom she calls Jo-Dog, a terrible mistake.

One dog is enough for any family.

Not only does Touche' regard her lap-sitting services as exemplary, this new Jo-Dog doesn't even meet minimal pet standards. While Touche' condescends to go out for "fresh air" in all sorts of dismal weather, this Jo-Dog only goes out--in a carriage yet!--only when the weather is lovely. And her master and mistress dress the new dog in something they call "diapers."

At first I did not understand the significance of this. When I did, I was shocked.

I would never do that in the house!

To add insult to injury, Touche' only gets fed once a day, while this "Jo-thing" gets fed any old time she wishes to eat. Touche' decides that her master and mistress are trying to feed Jo up in hopes she will grow a lovely tail like her own.

But when Jo-Dog gets her own doghouse, Touche' finds it's fun to play peekaboo with her, and they find ways to play ball together on the floor. And Jo-Dog is actually quite pleasant to nap with, several times a day!

"I have come to to a surprising, amazing, astonishing conclusion: In every home there should be at least two dogs."

An old dog can learn new tricks, in Madeleine L'Engle's semi-autobiographical reminiscence of her beloved only dog and her firstborn child, in The Other Dog (Chronicle Books, 2018). Narrated by her sophisticated and not a little superior pampered poodle Touche', this revised edition of beloved author L'Engle's first book for children humorously treats the story of the displaced only dog in a way that hints at the surprise that an only child feels at the presentiment of an infant sibling. Christine Davenier's soft but stylish 1950s'-styled colored pencil illustrations evoke the period while perfectly revealing the indignation of the supercilious poodle who in time learns to love the "Jo-Dog" as well. Says Publishers Weekly, "The closing shot of dog and baby nestled together for a nap is timeless," as is the Newbery-winning (for A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet), L'Engle's classic story of family life, augmented by her author's note, reveals more about the history of her dog Touche' and her daughter Jo.

The Little Stranger: Splat and the New Baby by Rob Scotton

Splat's eyes opened and his mouth fell open when his mother told him the news.

"Soon, Splat, there's going to be a new baby in the house."

What? Splat is flummoxed. He's always thought it would be fun to be a big brother. But this is so sudden!

Splat knows that there is going to be a lot to do, so he pitches in. He and Dad do up the spare room as a nursery with cutesy wallpaper and a mobile and bring up Splat's old crib from the basement. The two congratulate each other on their work. But before Splat can ask any questions, Mom appears at the front door with a baby in a carrier.

Splat can't wait to see the baby. He takes the shortcut, sliding down the banister. But....

"YIKES!"

Splat can't believe his eyes. The baby is... a...

CROCODILE! "How did this happen? He'll eat us up!"

Splat zips back up the stairs and hides under his bed. But Mom and Dad assure Splat that little Urgle doesn't eat cats, and that he'll only be there a few days while his mother is away on a trip. And anyway, this will be Splat's chance to try out some big brother skills. And once Splat gets the hang of it, he's soon helping out with Urgle's bath and lunch, and (GULP!) assisting with a diaper change--for which Splat dons his handy yellow hazmat suit.

Soon he's in the swing of things, having fun with little Urgle.

And when Urgle's mother comes to take him back home, Splat is sad and wonders when he'll ever get a chance to play big brother again. But with a smile and a wink, Mom says something intriguing....

"One day soon... very soon!"

There's a hint of big changes ahead in Rob Scotton's newest picture book, Splat the Cat: Splat and the New Baby (Harper, 2018). In this happy and heartwarming family life story, Scotton's always nervous preschooler gets a little preview of coming attractions in this long-running and successful series. As always, Splat's facial expressions and nervous tail telegram his anxiety as he encounters a new situation, while his parents help him succeed and gain competence and confidence in his new setting, and Scotton's charming illustrations tell the story well, with both humor and good will.

Lotsa Littles! The Littles and How They Grew by Kelly DePuchhio

LITTLES ARE CUDDLED

AND CRADLED JUST RIGHT.

ON BELLIES, WITH BLANKETS;

IN SLINGS SNUGGLING TIGHT.

All those cute and darling and lovable things about babies are true. They're all that--and more.

In her newest, Littles: And How They Grow (Doubleday and Company, 2017), Kelly DiPucchio celebrates all the wonderful things about babies.

Never mind the troublesome times. That's another set of rhymes. These jolly quatrains sing sweetly of the joys of babies for expectant parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles and maybe even some siblings.

LITTLES ARE DRESSED

IN SNUG SLEEPERS AND TEES,

AND ONESIES THAT SHOW OFF

THEIR SWEET DIMPLED KNEES.

This little book in praise of infants, ably and charmingly illustrated by AG Ford, shows babyhood at its best, all cute and cuddly, and it's all too true (Okay, maybe not every single moment!) Still it makes a perfect gift for expectant parents, or grandparents, or even an expectant big sister or brother or godparent to point up what a wonderful gift a new baby is. As the saying goes, "A child is a gift you give yourself," and this book says that well. Says Publishers Weekly, in a starred and starry-eyed review, it's "a warmhearted celebration of early childhood."

Mega-Monster! Rodzilla by Rob Sanders

WELCOME TO MEGALOPOLIS, the sign proclaims.

Megalopolis seems a bustling city of sturdy buildings, bustling trucks and cars, and busy pedestrians...

... but something is afoot!

"ONE MOMENT, PLEASE....

BIG, BAD TROUBLE IN MEGAPOLIS!"

With a WOBBLE and a CLUNK! a fleshy monster invades the cityscape. Gigantic, rotund, and wearing a tee shirt that says TOTALLY ROD, he lumbers, scattering the buildings like baby blocks and snatching up the people and the cars like toys in his pudgy paws, leaving a trail of destruction behind him.

And speaking of behind--what's that stinky smell?

ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE SUCH AN AWFUL CREATURE!

But it only gets worse. As the monster lumbers across the landscape, he cries out and clutches his considerable belly, and then.... without further warning...

HE HURLS... .

BLECK! It's a trail of disgusting devastation as Rodzilla totters on, squishing through the glop in his path. The massively messy monster wobbles through his slimy wake and, with people and the news crew retreating in fear, Rodzilla belly flops right in the middle of the morass!

"HE'S ON HIS FEET AGAIN!

THIS JUST IN! RODZILLA IS NOW CLIMBING UP SKYSCRAPER TOWER!"

Can Rodzilla be stopped? Is the city doomed? But...WAIT!

"I HAVE JUST GOTTEN WORD THAT TWO BRAVE CITIZENS HAVE COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE CREATURE!"

It's Mom and Dad, of course, rushing to restore law and order to the rampaged playroom, in Rob Sanders' and Dan Santat's tall tale of total toddler meltdown, their just published Rodzilla (Margaret K. Elderry Books, 2017).

Artist Santat provides all the cues for sharp-eyed readers to suss out the real identity of Rodzilla, as toddler Rodney trashes his own turf, the playpen. Santat's skilled manipulation of perspective, revealed in varying cinematographic angles, provides lots of clues, beginning with the author's name spelled out in alphabet blocks and the illustrator's name on an Etch-A-Sketch on the cover. Older primary students with tots at home will giggle and groan knowingly throughout the mayhem--the plentiful toddler drool, tot toots, baby barf, and smashed toys--and will rightfully see what true heroes parents can be. This one has plenty going on on every page to keep laughing kids coming back over and over for a re-read.

Just Right for the Job! Little Big Girl by Claire Keane

Matisse was a little girl in a big world.

And Matisse knows her way around her world. She brushes her "little" teeth and puts on her own little clothes--and shoes. She fastens herself into her car seat and heads out into the big city with her mom.

With her clearly "expecting" mom right behind her, she leads the way through the giant supermarket and the big box stores where they shop, as well as the fun places they visit, like the aquarium where big sharks swim right over her head. Back home she builds a playhouse and playground with sofa cushions, and even naps happily there.

Life is good. But then one day . . .

Little Matisse met someone even littler than her.

He had little fingers

and little toes ...

Even his yawns are SO little. His shirts are super small, and so are his tiny shoes.

Suddenly Matisse sees that she is not little, not really little, compared to her baby brother. Not at all.

She is even big enough to choose the baby's little clothes and put his little shoes on his little feet and read his little books to him.

Matisse realizes that what she is is a Big Sister, in Claire Keane's Little Big Girl (Dial Books 2016). Author Keane looks mostly on the bright side of having a new baby at home, setting the stage slyly with hints of the coming event around the house for Matisse's realization of her promotion to a new family status. There are plenty of good books about the trials and tribulations of sibling-hood, but this book is just right for reading just before the new baby comes.

The granddaughter of Bil Keane, creator of the iconic Family Circus cartoons, artist Keane shares his curved lines and sense of movement as well as the ability to convey the warmth of family life in her digital drawings that make this one special. "Simple in composition but bold and expressive in its use of line and splashes of color," School Library Journal calls this one "a charming, child-focused celebration of becoming an older sibling."

Hostile Takeover! The Bossier Baby by Marla Frazee

From the moment his sister arrives... the Boss Baby had a feeling change was in the air.

Boss Baby has ruled the executive suite for a long time. His dark power onesie and skinny tie show he's all business, but suddenly it seems his staff (Mom and Dad) have conspired to carry out a hostile takeover, in the form of a new baby sister. In her no-nonsense black onesie and baby-safe pearls, she's swiftly moving into the corner office.

She is bossier than Bossy Baby has ever been. And she's set to carry out a total restructuring of the corporation...

"... from the top down!"

She revels in the perks of her position....

Organic catering service (mother's milk on tap)

Aromatherapy (dirty diapers whisked away by subcontractor Tidee Didee)

Stress management (an assortment of stylish pacifiers)

And her ride is the Cadillac of exec baby carriages.

There's no doubt that Bossy Baby has been demoted, kicked downstairs by a baby sister, who is clearly the Bossier Baby. He's definitely a disgruntled employee and opts for a bit of industrial sabotage.

He slips out his professional onesie in public, but Mom doesn't give him a glance. He pees into the park flowers, but Dad doesn't notice.

...the CEO and staff paid no attention to him.

No matter what he did!

The Boss Baby has clearly been terminated, forced into early retirement. He tosses his briefcase down and rips off his green eyeshade. He goes to his room and crouches in a corner for a good cry.

But the CEO knew what to do. (She wasn't CEO for nothing!)

The Bossier Baby crawls into his room, and when the old Baby turns around, she gives him the universal and irresistible "pick-me-up" gesture. Savvy in handling restiveness in the ranks, this CEO knows how to handle her human resources, and in the Caldecott-winning Marla Frazee's clever follow-up to her hit, The Boss Baby (Classic Board Books), her just published The Bossier Baby (Beach Lane Books, 2016) will have the gross sales chart heading on up.

Frazee's cleverly comic 1950s-retro setting is perfect for this spoof of both corporate takeovers and the newborn blues, a dandy pairing with her first book for a mock-sophisticated look at the new baby syndrome. Along with its clever premise, Frazee's prize-winning artwork finds its metier in her stylized and stylish gouache and pencil illustrations for this book. "Someone give Frazee a raise!" says Kirkus in a starred review.