Review by Booklist Review
There is a slew of books told from the point of view of a parent to a new baby. This differentiates itself with three-dimensional illustrations created with clay and acrylics, which gives it a distinctive look. Employing a poetic text, the book follows a couple through the seasons as they experience the joy of impending parenthood. The words sometimes tend toward the banal ( A song in our hearts / a star in our eyes ), but there are also some nice images here, too; for example, acknowledging the baby as a curve in the road or describing dawn as sunrise ribbons that ripple and flow. The unusual art focuses on the natural world of flora and fauna, with an array of animals and their babies commanding the spreads. The depth and intricate detail of the pictures invite a second look, especially when watching the seasons change from fall to winter to summer leaves fall, snow covers branches, and butterflies appear. A sweet addition to the genre.--Ilene Cooper Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Kerbel's lullabylike verses draw allusions between moments in nature and a family's anticipation of a new baby: "You were.../ A song in our hearts,/ A star in our eyes,/ A smile on our lips,/ Shimmering skies," she writes. Rizzo's unique illustrations are rendered using polymer clay and acrylics to create a dioramalike effect. Forest and mountain scenes feature textured trees and blue-tinged snow, thick like cake frosting. Among the animals in the spreads are foxes, bears, birds, and deer, and a blue whale and calf swim under ocean swells. The many animals gather to welcome the infant, "where Father Sky/ meets Mother Earth,/ A new family dawns/ in the glow/ of your birth." A mother and father hold their newborn in a verdant seaside meadow. Rizzo brings eye-catching allure to Kerbel's wistful welcome. Ages 4-7. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Baby-Toddler-It is amazing how much the world changes when a baby is born: such a small creature can somehow make everything seem different. From the time before conception through pregnancy and birth, Kerbel's simple, lyrical text brings the anticipation and joy of a growing family to life. Though the language is lovely, it is the striking artwork that truly shines. Del Rizzo's elaborate figurines and scenery crafted from polymer clay and acrylic paint are used to depict the story; the words almost disappear within these noteworthy visuals. The pages vary from somber tones to brighter hues, including images of humans and animals coexisting with their children in a multifaceted world rich in texture and beauty. A gorgeous, captivating, and moving story, this book will touch the hearts and mesmerize the eyes of readers both young and old. VERDICT New parents will love reading this book as they prepare for and welcome new additions to their home. Additionally, art students will relish the complexity and unique nature of the presentation.-Mary Lanni, Denver Public Library © Copyright 2019. 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 Kirkus Book Review
Poetic verses compare a child's pre-birth potential with things in the natural world in this latest collaboration between Kerbel and Del Rizzo (Sun Dog, 2018)."Before, you were / A song in our hearts, / A star in our eyes, // A smile on our lips, / Shimmering skies, // The sun on our faces, / The full moon at night, // The tiniest murmur of tender delight." While rhythmic and rather soporific, the comparisons are not ones children will be familiar with or likely to understand, and they only grow more abstract from this beginning. For parents-to-be and new moms and dads, though, the metaphors will surely strike a chord: A child in utero is "A curve in the road, up ahead out of view, / A whispered secret that only we knew." And the ending is both beautifully illustrated and poignant: "Where Father Sky meets Mother Earth, // A new family dawns in the glow of your birth." Accompanying the first line of the couplet are many of the animals that have appeared before in a sunrise gathering near the ocean, and accompanying the second is the light-skinned familymother, father, babyin each other's arms and overlooking the same ocean sunrise. While the text is abstract and tends toward treacly, Del Rizzo's polymer clay-and-acrylic wash artwork is the star here, adding texture and depth to the scenes, which show animals, many with babies, in their natural habitats.Parents-to-be may enjoy the poetry, but only the pictures are meant for children. (Picture book. Adult) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
