I HOPE IT'S A PUPPY!

A young girl tries to identify the creature that’s growing inside her pregnant mother in this picture book.

The narrator’s mother is having a baby, and while everyone tells the girl it’s a surprise, she proudly proclaims, “I’m super great at guessing!” Based on how “soft and fluffy” her mother’s body feels, the girl first predicts the infant will be a puppy. When the baby kicks, it reminds the narrator of a unicorn’s horn. But since the infant is hiding inside, perhaps it’s a shy bunny. The girl’s animal guesses continue as noises and the way her mother moves inspire additional speculation. With each creature, the narrator envisions what fun they will have together. When her mother finally provides an ultrasound, the girl realizes that the baby will be a tiny human who will be her friend forever. Achtman’s (The Day the Swing Stopped, 2018) rhyming, child’s-eye-view text mimics the imagination of a preschooler perfectly (though this precocious narrator is already studying math). Morosan’s (Good Morning, Mirror!, 2019, etc.) big-eyed white characters and delightful animals are cartoonish with soft edges. And the boisterousness of the girl’s creativity is presented beautifully in her hoped-for adventures.

For parents introducing the idea of a new child's joining the family, this playful tale offers a joyful and effervescent celebration of siblinghood.