PRESCHOOL
Brown-Wood, JaNay

Shhh! The Baby's Asleep

(2) PS Illustrated by Elissambura. "Now don't make a peep... / The baby's finally asleep," begins this lighthearted and enjoyable story. After putting Baby down, big sibling and Mama tiptoe away from the crib. "Creak! Creak! Creak!" goes the floor, but, phew, they make it. What's that noise from the kitchen? It's Daddy's "loud belly," which "wants PB and jelly...Grumble! Grumble! Grumble! 'Shhh! The baby's asleep!'" The older child goes around the house shushing people--handkerchief-holding "Pop Pop's red nose / just needs some good blows"; hairdryer-and-comb-wielding "Shae's hair is still wet / her curls haven't set." Finally everyone, including a lawn-mowing neighbor, knows to keep it down. But dogs will be dogs, and with a spread-spanning cry, the baby awakens. Fortunately, there’s one more trick up our protagonist's sleeve: a book. Elissambura's digitally painted mixed-media illustrations, featuring textures galore and variations in family members' skin tones, are lively, colorful, and personality-filled. The story, with its predictable pattern, highly relatable situations, and enjoyable sound effects, has good read-aloud potential--but quietly.

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