BABIES ON THE GO

“Some babies stand up right away. They take a step then run and play. But many need more time to grow, so they have other ways to go.” In her mostly page-sized, close-up animal portraits, Dyer (Little Brown Bear Won’t Take a Nap, 2002, etc.) depicts in delicate detail a koala baby perched on Mama’s shoulders, a chimp clinging to a parental front, a joey nestled cozily in a pouch, the young of crocodile and lion being carried in their parents’ mouths, and so on. The text runs to single lines of large-type text per page, and many of the animals look directly up at viewers, inviting closer inspection. Elephants, koalas—and a coterie of human toddlers in strollers, backpacks, and front packs—open and close this very basic introduction to getting around. The animals are identified in a visual key at the end. “On the ground or high above, babies always ride with love.” Sweet. (Picture book. 2-5)