BROWN SUGAR BABY

Brown parents cajole and cuddle their adored youngster.

This picture book is written as a poem in the casual voice of a parent speaking to a small child, whom they address as “brown sugar baby.” The caregiver alternates between admiring the child—“your smiling swirls, / your chocolate curls, / your blessed bubbling grin”—and assuring the child that they are cared for—“I’ll keep you toasty warm… / all along / where you belong, / near me, safe from harm.” This slight ode is illustrated digitally in a brown, yellow, green, and light blue palette. The artwork shows a brown-skinned mother with a large Afro puff and a father with slightly lighter brown skin, both doing housework while juggling the responsibilities of caring for their round-cheeked, large-eyed tyke. The conversational tone of the text echoes traditional African American poetry in the style of Paul Laurence Dunbar. Despite some inconsistency in the rhythm and cadence of the verses, the story is fun and touching. Well suited for cozy lap readings, this board book will be a welcome addition to many families’ shelves in the early days of child rearing. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sweet endearments to share with a beloved little one.