There's certainly no shortage of books about a child's adjustment to a new baby in the house, but Layne's take on the familiar theme is sweet and direct enough even for very young children to grasp. Bunny greets his rabbit sib with a great big smile, but it isn't long before he decides that babies aren't good for much. Everyone tells him to "love the baby," but that's a tough order when it comes to a tiny, cute interloper who steals all the attention. The pictures, which are filled edge to edge with energetic bunny figures in broad, swirling strokes and pencil cross-hatching, pair nicely with the straightforward text, giving it a zesty layer of humor. Pull out Nancy Cote's
It's All about Me (2005) for children wanting "more like this one."
Stephanie ZvirinCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
From the Inside Flap
"Everywhere we went, everybody told me, 'Loooove the baby!'" "This story could well become a favorite for children who are grappling with accepting a new baby into the family." --School Library Journal "Steven Layne is one of our favorite teachers--and authors . . . "Love the Baby" is a clever take on sibling jealousy when a new baby comes home." --Teaching K-8 "Layne's take on the familiar theme is sweet and direct enough even for very young children to grasp." --Booklist When Baby arrives on the scene, the new big brother's transition from only child to sibling is not an easy one. As he pretends to do what family and friends are all suggesting--love the baby--his misery mounts! But when Baby needs a hero in the night, big brother saves the day and discovers, to his great surprise, that he really does love the baby after all. A chance meeting in 2004 led to instant friendship for Steven Layne and Ard Hoyt. Now, these experienced fathers have teamed up for a story of sibling rivalry and redemption that is both hilarious and heartwarming.
