Baby Danced the Polka (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards))
PreS–Mama and Papa put their baby down for a nap, but the youngster feels like dancing. Each time the adults set out to do a chore, Baby escapes the crib and boogie-woogies, cha-chas, or shooby-doobies with a different stuffed-animal companion. Soft pastel illustrations portray a cozy farmhouse and sturdy flaps on every other page hide the toys so that listeners can guess who the next dance partner will be. "While Papa shaved his whiskers,/And Mama washed her wig.../Baby danced the polka/With the polka-dotted... Pig." In the end, the entire family, including the cat, cannot resist temptation: " 'Get your fiddle!' said the mama./ 'And your dancing shoes!' said Pa./ 'We'll have the best ol' polka-fest/In all of Arkansas!'" Baby finally falls asleep after the sun goes down "With dreams of polka parties/Still a-dancing in his head." A bright and lively bedtime selection.–Olga R. Kuharets, Broward County Libraries, Fort Lauderdale, FLCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.