PASS THE BABY

At a family dinner, Baby brings joy and chaos.

The whole family has gathered for a home-cooked meal, and Baby is the star. With the table set, the candles lit, and the whole spread laid out—enchiladas and guacamole, ravioli and meatballs, black-eyed peas, olives, lemonade—guests take their seats and pass the baby around the table, sharing little bites and laptime. All goes well until Baby is seated in her highchair, where she makes a huge mess that the dog helps clean up. After the meal, the exhausted adults snooze in the living room; suddenly there’s no one to pass Baby around. Bored, Baby is poised to make a ruckus when her big sibling saves the evening. Written in rhyme, this story captures the joy and chaos of a family dinner when one of the guests is a beloved, doted-on baby. The baby’s big sibling appears in many of the illustrations observing from the sidelines. The chronology falters just once early in the book—the linear action suddenly and inexplicably backtracks to earlier preparations after everyone has just sat down at the table—but that’s a small issue. Colón’s handmade illustrations give the tale a cozy feel. The characters have brown skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sweet reminder to siblings big and small that they are all important members of the family.