Baby! Baby!

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

In this wordless board book, charming young babies are featured. The standout feature is comparing the pictures of the babies with members of the animal kingdom. The comparisons should intrigue babies and bring smiles to adults. The basset hound opposite our first baby offers a solid clue as to what to expect as the pages are turned. The baby curled up like a frog is one of my favorites, as is the baby with eyes half closed and tongue out—just like the lion on the opposite pages. The baby and the rabbit are also a treat. The pictures are all surrounded by wide solid color borders in pastel shades—it is set up like a photo album. A great gift for expectant or new parents and their babies. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

School Library Journal

PreS- This simple, wordless book has instant appeal despite its misleading title. Each spread features two photographs: a picture of an animal faces a human baby in a similar pose. One spread has a baby lying on its stomach with its knees bent out opposite an image of a frog. Another page has a baby with its eyes closed, mouth open, and tongue sticking out, and the facing page depicts a yawning lion. Each photo is centered on a pastel-colored background. The matches are incredibly effective, and the photos are both crisp and attractive, whether in color or in black and white. While not all of the animals are "babies" (the frog clearly is not, and some of the others are questionable), all are appealing and work well with their human counterparts. Youngsters love to look at pictures of animals and of other babies, so this title is sure to please, even though the animals are not all immediately identifiable. Conceptually interesting, this lovely board book will enhance toddler collections.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT