ANIMAL BABIES

Vibrant illustrations accompany various facts about baby animals in this toddler-friendly board book.

From the start, readers won’t be able to help but smile at Fuge’s charming illustrations of baby animals; there’s a tiny duck grasping at the finger of a baby chimpanzee! The rhyming quatrains keep the pace moving as they convey very basic facts about baby animals, perfect for a toddler audience. It’s true that meerkats are immune to the venom of some snakes, and so Fuge writes, “Meerkat babies aren’t afraid of snakes, as you can see,” to accompany an illustration of gleeful, teasing meerkats and a frazzled snake, a wonderful way to explain a complicated fact. Fuge’s watercolor images walk the line between realistic and cartoon, giving the animals clear personality while still appearing true-to-life. For the most part, the rhymes read well and aren’t forced, though many eyes will be rolling at the line “Daddy sea horse has the babies, without any fuss.” Though it doesn’t make any sense in terms of adherence to reality, the final double-page spread of the baby animals asleep in a pile is simply adorable.

For its age-appropriate facts, but most especially for its sweet and inviting illustrations, this is a nice addition to a toddler’s bookshelf.