Baby Boo, I Love You

March 1, 2017
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)

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October 1, 2017

Toddler-PreS-A round-faced little girl playing with her doll pretends to be a mommy in this sweet offering that will resonate with children. She poses hypothetical questions while reassuring her baby that she will always be there. The chorus ("Me and you./One and two./Wherever we go,/whatever we do,/Baby-Boo,/ I love you.") will make little ones and their grown-ups smile. The gouache and pastel watercolor illustrations match the book's sweet tone and are a nice fit for the rhyming text. VERDICT Perfect for little ones everywhere who have a cherished doll or stuffed animal.-Brooke Newberry, La Crosse Public Library, WI

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
A pigtailed, rosy-cheeked narrator expresses her devotion to a beloved doll in this picture book. The repeated comforts expressed in singsongy rhyme ("What if you're scared to slide and climb? / I'll catch you, baby. Every time") seem more like an adult's reassurances than a child's sentiments. Nevertheless, the appealing candy-colored illustrations of the pair's tender interactions capture the pleasures of independent, imaginative play.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)