Publisher's Hardcover ©2021 | -- |
Infants. Juvenile fiction.
Families. Juvenile fiction.
Stories in rhyme.
Babies. Fiction.
Family life. Fiction.
Baby-Toddler With brown babies and their twinkling eyes burrowed into blankets, nesting amid the love that infuses each page, this book will have most lapsitters feeling as if they are right there, nesting, too. In this treasury of five poems that will be released as five separate board books (the first, Count to Love , is already out), the text is lilting and perfect, "Brown baby, born bright./ Greet the world. Spread your light./ Sparkling eyes blink hello./ Bright brown baby, you will GO!" In happy domestic scenes, there are parents, also brown, connecting with their children; babies will want to lean in for the cadence of the language and bright colors, while toddlers will want to repeat the lines out loud with whomever is sharing this book. The universality of the big and small world of the babyeverything is so new, but the sensation of being coddled is soothingly familiarmakes this a book for all families to share and savor. VERDICT For every collection, this treasury invites snuggling. Kimberly Olson Fakih , School Library Journal
ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)In this treasury of five simple short stories, meant for the youngest listeners, the author provides gentle instructions for caregivers a kind tone that will help inexperienced adults gain confidence how to share the book and ways to talk about elements of the text. Brightly colored, energetic illustrations, rendered in gouache, acrylic, and India ink, depict Black and brown family members in various combinations (parents and child, woman with a baby, man with a daughter). Warmth flows from every page, furthering the message that "beauty begins with you." The brief stories, which could be viewed as rhythmic poems, are paired with inspiring introductions, such as poems originating with Langston Hughes or ancient Sanskrit, as well as quotations from Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, and Michelle Obama. The story titles, "Bright Brown Baby," "Count to Love," "Peek-a-You," "Baby Boy, You Are a Star," and "Hey, Baby Girl!" leave no doubt about the positive tone of the collection. Affirming and inviting, this book will be well used in baby storytimes and family read-alongs.
Kirkus ReviewsThe Pinkneys, prolific creators of books for children, offer a guide for caregivers to affirm their babies' senses of self-worth.This treasury has more text directed to caregivers than to children. An introduction headed "Welcome to Joy!" invites caregivers to hold their babies while reading to them and sharing words and pictures that "will hug them tight." Each of the five sections, with titles such as "Bright Brown Baby," "Count to Love," and "Peek-a-You," begins with a meaningful quote, four from great African American leaders and one from a Sanskrit poem. Then a series of instructions to caregivers ("Get ready to make a big list of blessings") is followed by illustrations of brown babies with their adults accompanied by short, simple text in the style of board books for babies. (In fact, the separate sections will be released over time as stand-alone board books, with Count to Love! releasing simultaneously.) A final note to parents instructs them to go back through the pages of the treasury and read the quotes aloud to their babies as they take in the images of brown families. Brian Pinkney's signature swirling curves and saturated colors create a sense of movement in the playful scenes on the book's pages, while the combination of encouraging text aimed at adults and simple text aimed at babies extends a hand to new parents wanting to tell their little ones how precious they are. The treasury offers a vehicle to carve out the time to do just that.A lovely gift and guide for new parents. (Picture book. 1-3)
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)In a five-section treasury of poems with directions for adult readers, married collaborators Davis Pinkney and Pinkney (
Starred Review for Publishers Weekly (Tue Feb 07 00:00:00 CST 2023)
School Library Journal Starred Review (Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)
ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)
Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
A rhythmic, whimsically illustrated celebration of Black and brown babies and the joy, tender moments, and boundless love shared between children and their caregivers, from New York Times bestselling and award-winning duo Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney.
Brown baby, born bright.
Greet the world. Spread your light.
Sparkling eyes blink hello.
Bright brown baby, you will GO!
Cuddle up with your little one, read aloud, and REPEAT: This gorgeous picture book treasury is sure to become your favorite storytime anthem. Dive into these five beautiful poems that celebrate the tender, cozy, early days between parent and child, and the exuberant joy of watching a brand-new life take shape. Warm, winsome, and welcoming illustrations from Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator Brian Pinkney exude joy and love on every page. Bouncing, rhythmic text from New York Times bestselling author Andrea Davis Pinkney rolls off the tongue and begs to be read aloud, in these poems that include "Count to Love," "Hey, Baby Girl!," and "Baby Boy, You are a Star."
A celebration of Black and brown joy, babies, and families, this beautiful picture book treasury is the perfect gift item, bookshelf staple, and long-lasting classic in the making. Just right for new and expectant parents, baby showers, birthdays, graduations, and more, this book is sure to be treasured for years to come.
And if you're looking for a board book edition for baby? Each poem will also be released as a separate board book edition, with Count to Love out now!
Peek-a-you!
Hey, baby girl!