by Sheryl Haft ; illustrated by Jane Massey ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 2, 2017
Both young listeners and caregivers will relish this ode to their own favorite Baby-Boos.
What child hasn’t felt boundless love for a special doll or toy?
An adorable young light-skinned, pink-cheeked girl bedecked with blue barrette holding back wispy bangs assures her equally adorable white, pink-cheeked, pink-bowed baby doll that she loves her day and night, in all sorts of weather, and while they engage in a variety of activities and adventures. The simple, very reassuring story is told in lilting rhymes that scan well. The endearing, uncomplicated, gently colored illustrations, rendered in gouache, pencil crayon, watercolor, India ink, and collage, are set against lots of white space on double-page spreads, allowing young readers/listeners to focus attention easily on the child, her doll, and the action; some words are highlighted in pastel tones for visual appeal and to signal adult readers to emphasize them to enrich the listening experience. Though this slim book explores a well-trod concept, it’s a charmer to share with the very youngest audiences at quiet, one-on-one lap times and before bed; it’s also a lovely paean to the caregiver-child bond.
Both young listeners and caregivers will relish this ode to their own favorite Baby-Boos. (Picture book. 1-3)Pub Date: May 2, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-399-54782-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 13, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2017
Share your opinion of this book
More by Sheryl Haft
BOOK REVIEW
by Sheryl Haft ; illustrated by Jeremy Holmes
BOOK REVIEW
by Sheryl Haft ; illustrated by Jill Weber
by Rose Rossner ; illustrated by AndoTwin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 2020
Perfect for Valentine’s Day, but the syrupy sweetness will cloy after the holiday.
Animal parents declare their love for their offspring in alphabetical order.
Each page displays an enormous capital letter, one line of verse with the keyword capitalized, and a loving nonhuman parent gazing adoringly at their baby. “A is for Always. I always love you more. / B is for Butterfly kisses. It’s you that I adore.” While not named or labelled as such, the A is also for an alligator and its hatchling and B is for a butterfly and a butterfly child (not a caterpillar—biology is not the aim of this title) interacting in some way with the said letter. For E there are an elephant and a calf; U features a unicorn and foal; and X, keyed to the last letter of the animal’s name, corresponds to a fox and three pups. The final double-page spread shows all the featured creatures and their babies as the last line declares: “Baby, I love you from A to Z!” The verse is standard fare and appropriately sentimental. The art is cartoony-cute and populated by suitably loving critters on solid backgrounds. Hearts accent each scene, but the theme of the project is never in any doubt.
Perfect for Valentine’s Day, but the syrupy sweetness will cloy after the holiday. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7282-2095-6
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
Share your opinion of this book
More by Emily Emerson
BOOK REVIEW
by Rose Rossner ; illustrated by Emily Emerson
BOOK REVIEW
by Rose Rossner ; illustrated by Morgan Huff
BOOK REVIEW
by Rose Rossner ; illustrated by Aleksandra Szmidt
by Patricia Hegarty ; illustrated by Thomas Elliott ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 3, 2021
Guess how much you’ll be reading this.
Parent and child share a day of small adventures and cozy snuggles.
That the two happen to be tortoises is totally beside the point. Die-cut holes and shaped edges turn nearly every page flip into a surprise. Following a parental “Good morning, Baby” to greet the youngling’s “Wake up, wake up, I want to play… / The sun is up, it’s a brand new day!” the two reptiles ramble off to munch on leaves, weather a sudden rain shower, discover a flock of butterflies, climb a hill, watch the moon rise, and, at last, weary little one perched on top, settle down to snooze again. The paper engineering is ingenious. Turning a seemingly arbitrarily shaped page with a special window framing a pink butterfly fills the spread with many jewel-toned insects; even though the tortoises never change position, the scene is completely transformed. Hegarty’s rhymed narrative features lots of tender sentiments—“Wherever you are, wherever you go, / Baby, I’ll always love you so”—while steering clear of any gender references. In Elliott’s peaceful, grassy settings the wanderers’ small smiles and shared glances likewise create a sense of loving intimacy. This is likely to become a victim of its own appeal, being as the paper stock is rather too flimsy to survive much contact with toddler hands. Still, a clear winner for sharing with audiences of one or dozens.
Guess how much you’ll be reading this. (Novelty. 18 mos.-3)Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-7282-3509-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
Share your opinion of this book
More by Patricia Hegarty
BOOK REVIEW
by Patricia Hegarty ; illustrated by Lucy Barnard
BOOK REVIEW
by Patricia Hegarty ; illustrated by Fhiona Galloway
BOOK REVIEW
by Patricia Hegarty ; illustrated by Xuan Le
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.