Review by Booklist Review
"In catchy verse and with large-scale, eye-catching artwork, this picture book offers both practical and absurd suggestions for getting a reaction from a baby. Each double-page spread proposes a new idea for encouraging a response. A smile? Grin like Papa Crocodile. A coo? Sing like Daddy Robins do. A grin? Tickle the baby under its chin. Readers and listeners will find themselves wiggling their ears and making faces as the rhyming text rolls along. All the wild animals shown in action early in the book reappear as stuffed animals on the final pages, when big sister gets a smile from the baby and tucks him into bed. Broad black outlines and flat areas of bold colors clearly define the characters and settings with wit and style. This upbeat, easygoing picture book encourages older siblings to interact with babies and toddlers in ways that should be fun for everyone."--"Phelan, Carolyn" Copyright 2007 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Featuring some of Strevens-Marzo's (Kiss Kiss) best artwork yet, a simple but amusing text from Sturges (The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza) and an instantly appealing title, this high-spirited preschool book will have babies giggling at every page turn. Although the illustrations focus attention on large animal shapes suitable for youngest readers, the artist's heavy black outlines contain interesting details and textures that complement but never distract. Before the text begins, a toddler sits amid a plethora of stuffed animals, and subsequent pages contain brightly colored illustrations that imagine each baby animal with a parent who invites it to smile, laugh or coo ("How do you make a baby smile? Grin like Papa Crocodile"). The animal mothers and fathers model simple baby games as well-Mama Baboon makes a face, Daddy Raccoon plays peek-a-boo-and the interaction between the bright-eyed babies and parents will undoubtedly invite mimicry. Eventually, an older sister appears and tickles the human baby's chin with the tail of the stuffed animal raccoon. The bedtime ending ("When baby yawns and nods its head,/ Tuck the baby snug in bed.") winds down with just the right amount of slowing action and reassurance as the sister lovingly puts the contented baby to sleep. Ages 6 mos.-5 yrs. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Various animals respond to their children in this playful rhyming book. "How do you make a baby laugh?/Twist your neck like Papa Giraffe,/Or make a face like Mama Baboon,/Or play peekaboo like Daddy Raccoon." The opening page shows a human baby who, at the close of the book, is cozily tucked in with stuffed animals that correspond to the creatures featured. Strevens-Marzo's cheerful spreads with friendly, smiling animals will appeal to children. The bright monochromatic backgrounds, thick bold outlines, and use of interesting perspectives make the illustrations quite striking. A charming book for one-on-one sharing or storytimes.-Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Sturges asks, ""How do you make a baby smile...laugh...coo...grin?"" The answers are delivered in pleasant-enough rhymes that introduce animal babies and their parents into the proceedings (""Grin like Papa Crocodile,"" ""Twist your neck like Papa Giraffe,"" etc.). The illustrations, featuring black-outlined drawings on bold monochromatic backgrounds, are appropriately playful, but the text doesn't stand above other human-babies-juxtaposed-with-baby-animals books. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
"How do you make a baby smile? Grin like Papa Crocodile." The animal kingdom comes to the rescue of a baby's doting older sister in this simple, rhyming bedtime story that offers numerous tips on how to amuse fussy youngsters of all species. Each oversized, color-drenched double-page spread features an animal parent's loving attempt to keep baby happy. Mama Elephant wiggles an ear to make her not-very-wee one smile, Daddy Deer shakes his horns for his spotted fawn and Papa Giraffe twists his neck to delight his long-lashed cutie pie. In the end, the baby's human sister tickles her brother under his chin, and when he yawns, tucks him into bed with his menagerie, cleverly composed of stuffed versions of the nine animals previously pictured. The friendly artwork, all affectionate animal eyes and big animal smiles, is a baby-pleasing combination of rich, saturated color, bold black lines and artful compositions. A cheerful, if not groundbreaking, offering for the very youngest baboons. (Picture book. 1-3) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
