HONEY BABY SUGAR CHILD

The use of oils on gessoed paper makes for extraordinarily rich painting, and Keeter’s double-paged, full-bleed, beautifully colored illustrations have a delicious power. A mother and her son fill these pages, usually in tight close-up, while the mom cuddles her little one, feeds him, takes him out to run in the grass and play patty-cake. Mom, with her gold jewelry, corn-rows, and open, smiling face is as beautiful as her bright-eyed little one—who appears to be about one or two—is cute. And what does she say? What all moms say, crooning a maternal love song: “Sugar Child, / Sweet Puddin’ ’n’ Pie, / Lord knows / it’s true what I say. . . . You the star in my crown. / You the joy in my smile. / You the angel in my dreams.” This paean to maternal heart’s delight is couched in lilting language with a touch of black or Southern intonation, excellent for reading aloud and rocking along. (Picture book. 3-7)