PPBF: This Little Baby

Today's Perfect Picture Book Friday pick

This Little Baby, by Tony Bradman and Jenny Williams

This Little Baby
Written by Tony Bradman
Illustrated by Jenny Williams
Originally published by G. P. Putnam as a Weekly Reader Book, 1990, Fiction, ages 2-6

Themes:
babies, childhood experiences, routine, comfort

Opening:
"This little baby loves the morning,
this little baby waves bye-bye,
this little baby's getting dressed now,
this little baby . . .starts to cry." (The baby spills his milk.)

Synopsis:
A simple rhyming text about the events in a toddler's day.

What I Love:
This book may seem simplistic and ordinary at first glance. Perhaps that is so, because this book is about the everyday of a child's world. I love this book because it was one our son asked for repeatedly. He identified with the little rituals of the day: eating in the high chair, getting dressed, bathtime, bedtime. He adored the hundreds of details from his own experience: pictures of foods he ate, toys he played with. The illustrator included recurring characters as well, in the cat and the stuffed penguin. This may not be the most amazing book in my collection, but it was one of the most indispensable. It was bookish "comfort food."

Note: This book features a dad who changes diapers, grocery shops, and cooks while Mom goes to work!

Bonus:

Interior art by Jenny Williams, 1990

1. This book lends itself to activity. Imitate the baby games which are illustrated, but not mentioned: peek-a-boo, patty-cake, this little piggy, kitchen band, etc. One could also spend time naming all the utensils or toys. The illustrations of food could be sampled or used as a list for I Spy.
2. This book highlights the activities of the toddler's day. Have your child list the activities of other family members: What is sister doing at school? What is Mommy doing at work? What does a policeman do all day?
3. Use old magazines to create a collage similar to the illustrations. Draw or paste a picture of an activity in the center, and glue related items all around.
4. Older siblings can look at their own baby pictures, listing the things they do differently now that they are bigger.

Check out all the recommended titles for Perfect Picture Book Friday for May 17, 2013 at Susanna Leonard Hill's blog.