Baby Parade
This sweet picture book taps into two things babies love: other babies and waving. The opening spread presents a long line of cherubic-looking tots, each being pushed, carried, or pulled in a red wagon by a family member. From there each spread focuses on a single child with the simple words “wave to the baby in the orange pouch,” or “wave to the baby in the bright yellow backpack,” and so on. Once everyone has been acknowledged, the final spreads see the babies crawling, then standing, and finally walking. O’Connell (The Baby Goes Beep, 2003) strikes just the right interactive note for toddlers, as they get to wave to each baby in turn, and she emphasizes the babies’ pride at being independent as they come to form their own baby-only parade. Nicely complementing the text are Poole’s bright full-bleed illustrations featuring a multicultural cast of round-faced babes with pindot eyes appearing on fun patterned backgrounds. Share this at toddler storytimes for lots of waves and smiles. Preschool. --Ann Kelley