BABY BABY BLAH BLAH BLAH!
by Jonathan Shipton and illustrated by Francesca Chessa
Emily has a serious case of the baby blues. When the freckled, pigtailed redhead learns her mother is pregnant, she writes a list to voice her objections. She admits little siblings have their uses; Emily can, of course, “swoosh it through puddles,” but her predominant concern is her uncertain role in her growing family. She proclaims, “It will be baby this and baby that and baby goo goo and baby blah blah blah.” Naturally, her parents soothe her fears, and Emily gradually adjusts to the impending arrival. Chessa uses graph paper and bright backgrounds to support colorful drawings that have a childlike exuberance, as Emily draws to express her feelings. Her shifting moods are enhanced through varied perspectives and disproportionate characters. The loving family’s photographs reveal life’s milestones, and the girl’s guinea-pig sidekick strikes a whimsical touch. While stories centered on new babies’ arrival abound, the concluding surprise on this traditional topic provides a delightful twist. One baby’s a handful, but two may be double trouble. (Picture book. 3-6)