LITTLE ONE

A precious paean to a beloved child.

Two parents’ gentle welcome to their young child lovingly explains what to expect of the world. This introduction to the wonders and adventures all around and that lie ahead is matched by colorful, whimsical illustrations featuring flowers, foods, animals, diverse people and landscapes, toys, and more. There’s so much to see and explore, little one! And guess what? As the adults help the child to grow, their offspring will, in turn, “through the eyes of a child,” help them “discover the world once again.” This Spanish import expresses sweet sentiments, and even though the book enters an already-crowded field of similar titles, it will make a fine gift at a baby shower or just after a child’s birth; further, it provides vocabulary to help new parents tell their child what the world has to offer and how they can navigate it together as a loving, supportive family. Whether the book works equally successfully as a read-aloud to a young child is open to question, however, as some concepts may confuse very little ones. The delightful illustrations lift this above many others of its ilk; the captivating opening spread shows the sleeping face of a brown-haired white infant surrounded by birds, butterflies, and flowers as the adults tell the child that “Everything around you has been created for you.”

A charming if adult-centric ode.