DADDY’S LULLABY

A loving valentine to young fathers everywhere, this British import pairs a murmurous monologue with low-lit, realistically detailed illustrations. Only the cat’s still up by the time Dad wearily comes through the door on Friday night—no, not quite true: baby’s wide-awake. Time for a stroll through the house in Daddy’s arms. After peeks at big brother and “the best mother a baby could have,” the night owls settle down in an easy chair for a lullaby: “ . . . Daddy is with you, / So don’t make a peep. / Rock-a-bye baby, / Let’s both . . . go . . . to . . . ” Cockcroft (Snow Ponies, 2001, etc.), winner of the BBC’s first Blue Peter award, displays rare expertise, lighting his speckled, spray-bordered scenes just enough to show cozy domestic details and tender facial expressions, and closing with an intimate morning-after family portrait. Fans of Mark Graham’s similarly atmospheric pictures will grow misty-eyed over these, too. (Picture book. 3-6)