THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BABIES AND COOKIES

A little girl responds to her mother’s description of babies with an alternate point of view. “Mom said babies are as cuddly as puppies,” but older sister finds that “they drool more.” Even though babies have cheeks as rosy as apples, “you can’t give your sister to your teacher.” The illustrations are tight, close-up watercolors of roundheaded, button-eyed kids—baby sister often just in her diaper—in candy colors and expressive, lively line. The illustrations play off the text in nifty ways, too, as in: “Mom said babies smell like whipped cream”—and the reader turns to a double-paged spread of an entirely grossed-out sibling saying, “Don’t count on it.” Baby’s little feet at the edge of the picture frame indicate just exactly which regular activity is taking place. “Mom said babies are gifts from the angels” is the caption for a picture where Baby kisses her pleased older sister, but: “I don’t know where Mom gets this stuff.” There’s plenty of love between older and younger sister, so the effect is both funny and charming making this a great new addition. (Picture book. 3-7)