HUSH, LITTLE BABY

This traditional American lullaby is gracefully interpreted in Pinkney’s distinctive style, showing a 1900s-era African-American family working together to hush their baby, a solemn little girl two or three years old. It’s Mama’s day out in town, so Papa and big brother are trying to please the little girl, taking care of her with the traditional offerings of this old song, along with a few new additions to the lyrics to jazz up the action. The brother plays his guitar and dances along with his father throughout their day, and after a bumpy ride in a fire truck, the little girl is finally soothed by a lullaby sung by her returning mother. This satisfying conclusion improves the song by making the lullaby itself the thing that finally hushes and soothes the little one. A single line of text flows through each illustration in a graceful design, echoing the joyous movement of the dancing daddy. The music for the lullaby is included on the back cover. (author’s note) (Picture book. 2-7)