SEVEN BABIES

An unexpected delivery brings chaos, joy, and an abundance of love.

“One Thursday morning, a box of babies arrives at this door.” With this whimsical premise, Xiao has crafted a heartwarming tale that perfectly captures the exhausting yet rewarding reality of caring for little ones. Seven distinctively expressive round-faced infants—varying in complexion—quickly make themselves at home, requiring feeding, bathing, and entertaining. The simple text is gracefully balanced with the visual exuberance of babies tumbling across pages, exploring their surroundings, and eventually snuggling up together. Xiao employs a restrained palette in her gouache and pencil illustrations—the tots’ yellow sleepers contrast against mostly muted backgrounds—creating scenes that are pleasingly detailed yet never overwhelming. Each baby has individual personality traits conveyed through subtle facial expressions and positioning, enticing children to follow their favorites through the pages. The diverse caregivers respond with good-natured acceptance to the sudden responsibility, modeling joyful adaptability amid domestic disruption. The story ends with a delightful invitation to readers—“What will they do next?”—cleverly setting up a potential sequel while also encouraging children to imagine their own adventures for these seven charming youngsters.

A sweet, rambunctious celebration of babyhood that begs for repeated readings.