Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* On the title page, a pooch perks up his ears a hint that the peaceful scene on the next spread of a moonlit block awash in dreamy blues is about to explode. On this quiet street, a not-so-quiet baby cried . . . W-A-A-A-A! The retriever, Roy, is first to arrive cribside in this clever, rhyming cumulative tale that uses plenty of repetition and pleasing onomatopoeia. Bark! Bark! says the dog, fetching the baby's toy lamb. When the father and mother run to the baby's room, they dismiss Roy; the brother and sister come next to change the baby's diaper and tickle her: P-e-e-u-u-w-w! Peek-a-boo! Hush, hush! Rush, rush! Yelchin's watercolor, cut-paper illustrations are on saturated, nighttime-blue backgrounds, while the wakeful baby's room is always a sunny, bright gold. The more they tried, the more that baby cried is the refrain as adults attempt to calm the baby. Meanwhile, on sunny pages festooned with cheery-looking lambs, Roy tries again and again to soothe the baby with the toy, and when he finally gets his chance, the relief is palpable. Good boy, Roy! With irresistible refrains and one hilariously expressive dog, this pitch-perfect tale will make a raucous read-aloud.--McDermott, Jeanne Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Baby-Toddler-A baby is crying in the middle of the night. Her parents, grandparents, sister, brother, and neighbors do everything they can think of to make her stop. Roy, the dog, knows the answer all along, but no one is paying attention, and his repeated barks only add to the din. The humorous cumulative text invites participation, as each person's attempt ends with the refrain "But the more they tried, the more that baby cried.W-A-A-A-A!" Yelchin's mixed-media illustrations are fun and full of life. The characters have the look of watercolor cutouts, arranged on top of vibrantly colored, swirling, painted backgrounds. What the baby wants is her toy lamb, a solution that children will predict from the beginning of the story. Child readers will love being in on the joke, identifying with Roy and an equally perplexed mouse as they try to help the clueless humans. Beautifully composed, each page propels the story to a climactic spread filled with hula hooping, magic tricks, juggling, soap bubbles, and music! With everyone else busy, Roy is finally able to deliver the toy to the baby, who smiles and falls asleep, at last. VERDICT The only tears shed at bedtime will be ones of laughter when families are reading this delightful book.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA © Copyright 2015. 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
When Baby cries, no one sleeps. First to wake up is Roy, the family dog. Next Mother and Father, then Brother and Sister, Grandma and Grandpa, and finally the neighbors. Beaumonts sound effectsheavy repetitive text describes each persons efforts to soothe the child: Father hurried to the babyRush, rush! Mother tried to quiet BabyHush, hush! Rush, rush! But the more they tried, the more that baby cried. Roy, too, tries to help, but his actions are repeatedly rebuffed: No, Roy! Down, boy! Baby doesnt want that toy. Yelchins collage illustrations -- nicely patterned cut-outside-the-lines forms against rich-hued backdrops -- have energy and style. With everyone bending over backward to get Baby to stop crying, the house starts to resemble a circus, and a lively double-page spread with a swirling yellow-painted background shows Sister hula-hooping, Brother juggling, Grandpa balancing a chair on his nose, etc. Roy had the answer all along, of course, and Baby, reunited with her stuffed-animal sheep, drifts off to sleep -- at six a.m. If only theyd listened to Roy from the beginning. elissa gershowitz (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A black Labrador retriever is the only family member who can soothe a crying baby in this humorous, cumulative story that cries out to be read aloud with plenty of sound effects. The story begins "in a quiet house on a quiet street," but the stillness of the night is broken by a resounding "W-A-A-A-A!" set in large, red display type. The titular "crybaby" is clearly distressed and wailing loudly in her crib. The old family dog, Roy, comes a-running with the baby's favorite stuffed toy, but his help is repeatedly rejected. Each family member tries a different tactic to help quiet the baby, from rocking to a bottle feeding to changing the baby's diaper. Every action is given a sound-effect description, usually two words, with the rhyming phrases adding up in a funny reverse list that children will enjoy repeating or acting out: "P-e-e-u-u-w-w! / Peek-a-boo! / Hush, hush! / Rush, rush!" Faithful Roy the retriever keeps offering the baby's stuffed lamb, and eventually the baby reaches down for her toy, solving her crying spell and allowing everyone to get to sleep just as the sun is rising. Loose watercolor illustrations with the look of collage effectively incorporate the sound-effect words within the page designs. Roy is portrayed as a gentle giant carrying the toy lamb in his mouth, and the depictions of family and neighbors add humor to the parade of potential helpers. A winning choice for reading aloud in storytimes and a fine gift for a family with a new baby, with or without a dog. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
