King Baby by Kate Beaton. Unpgd. Arthur A. Levine Books/ Scholastic Inc., September, 2016. 9780545637541. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)
The back cover of this delightful book declares, "It is good to be the king!" Indeed, who gets more attention and adoration than a brand new baby? Who can be more demanding and tyrannical than a brand new baby?
Make room on the shelf with "New Sibling" books for this amusing gem. A bright palette depicts a potato-shaped newborn first bathed in a spotlight and sporting a crown. The next double-page spread depicts a diverse receiving line of adoring friends and family and the proud parents. Baby smiles and coos give way to demands such as, "Feed me!" and "Change me!" as the proud parents quickly devolve into an exhausted puddle.
As King Baby bumps up against his immobility and inability to communicate, he decides to do it himself. The page turn reveals an adorable sequence depicting King Baby crawling. But this is a mere stepping stone! There's talking and walking to conquer on his way to becoming a Big Boy! Ah, but there is a surprise in store for King Baby.
A bright palette, humorous cartoon expressions make this universal story of the highs and lows of a new family a keeper.
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