Synopsis
Will Codie have her gift ready in time for the new baby?
School Library Journal
Gr 2-4-In this beginning chapter book, Codie is about to become a cousin. Her favorite aunt is two weeks away from giving birth and, though she's been pregnant before, ``This is the closest she's come to a baby full done.'' This overnight visit at Aunt Alix's is different from the numerous others, because in the middle of the night the woman goes into labor. The child's anxiety over the birth and her worries about losing her special place in Alix's life are handled sensitively and realistically. Hesse incorporates a touch of symbolism with the blanket that the girl is sewing for the infant Lavender-a finished blanket will insure a full-term, healthy baby. The simple language allows for easy reading, and the full-page pencil illustrations break up the text nicely. Codie is a caring youngster eager to please, even when experiencing some doubts about the arrival of her first cousin. A fresh, gentle approach to a standard theme.-Rita Soltan, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI