ALA Booklist (Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2001)

One of the coauthors of the indispensable What to Expect When You're Expecting (1996) now authors a series called What to Expect Kids, of which this title is a part. The subject is preparing your first child for when a new sibling joins the family. A friendly dog named Angus leads readers through ten questions that frame the information. Questions such as What do new babies eat? and Why do new babies cry so much? receive a double-page spread, complete with colorful illustrations and kid-friendly ideas marked with a paw print. Murkoff's answers are gentle and developmentally appropriate. In the excellent spread Can I play with the baby? She lays out three rules for playing with a baby and then suggests that an older sibling talk to the baby in different voices (squeaky, soft, high, low) and see what the baby seems to like best. This book succeeds on many levels, but most importantly, it allows a parent and child to have a reassuring conversation during a time of great change.

Horn Book (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2001)

Trying to catch her runaway dog, Mrs. McNosh chases George through a pond, a wedding reception, a baseball game, and a fountain--but only manages to catch a trout, a bouquet, a fly ball, and a cold. She returns home, where playful George greets her at the door with her slippers. Told in rhyme, this amusing follow-up to two earlier books about Mrs. McNosh is illustrated with Westcott's lively watercolors.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1-Instead of being set up as a story in which a child experiences the various realities of having a new sibling, this book poses questions that are then answered in paragraph form. Queries range from "Why do new babies cry so much?" to "Can I play with the new baby?" The answers tell why babies are the way they are, how they create change in a household, and how one can interact successfully with them. Two small drawings appear on the left with the text; a full-page illustration appears on the right. The family friend, Angus the Answer Dog, acts as tour guide, providing plentiful commentary. A paw print highlights his simple suggestions for a new baby, such as practicing holding a doll or stuffed animal before holding the infant. Murkoff is a master at deciphering common concerns. Unfortunately, as hard as this book tries to be approachable, with different-colored typefaces, word balloons, and full-colored cartoon drawings of family scenes, the intended audience will be hard-pressed to sit still long enough to appreciate all of the lengthy yet well-intentioned advice. This book will be helpful to parents. Along with the dense introduction there is a well-balanced variety of important topics to address. Children will be better served if adults share these ideas one at a time, in their own words.-Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.