What Baby Wants - Hardcover

Root, Phyllis

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763602078 ISBN 13: 9780763602079

Publisher: Candlewick, 1998

Synopsis

WAAAAAAAAH! This family goes to great—and hilarious lengths—in trying to lull Baby to sleep until Little Brother discovers that what Baby really wants is something very simple.

WAAAAAAAAAAH!
What does Baby want? Mama’s gone to bed, so Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt and Uncle, Big Sister, and Little Brother set out to soothe Baby. Does Baby want a soft feathery goose to cuddle? No. Does he want a flock of woolly sheep to keep him warm or a tree full of birds to sing him to sleep? No. As Little Brother proves, what Baby really wants is something very simple. Jill Barton’s funny, warm illustrations are perfectly tuned to Phyllis Root’s lively characterization of a family going to great—and hilarious—lengths to lull its youngest member to sleep.

About this title

About the Author

Phyllis Root says, "All parents have experienced the desperation of this situation—their baby won't settle down to go to sleep and they will attempt anything to try to hush the baby. I know I experienced it when my children were babies!"

Jill Barton grew up spending summers in the country, and she turned to her rural background for inspiration for WHAT BABY WANTS. She says, "I was inspired by memories of my childhood, especially of my grandparents' farm, and the illustrations for this book just seemed to flow out of the end of my brush."

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-When Mama gets tired, the rest of the family volunteers to take care of Baby, but he's not happy and they can't figure out why. Grandma decides that he needs to look at something pretty, so she surrounds his cradle with meadow flowers ("WAAAAAH"). Aunt thinks a kiss will comfort him, so she brings a cow into the house to lick his face ("WAAAAAH"). Uncle thinks Baby needs something warm, so he herds in a flock of woolly sheep ("WAAAAAH"). Each loving relative goes to funny extremes to try to comfort the infant. Finally, it is left to Brother to give him what he really needs-a cuddle, a kiss, and a soft lullaby. By the time Papa gets home, Baby is asleep, the house is full of farm animals, and the whole family is ready for a nap. Barton's delightful watercolor paintings perfectly complement Root's depiction of a caring, if confused family. The expressions on the characters' faces are priceless, as hopeful anticipation changes to perplexed concern and even the cow looks worried. The endpapers at the beginning show a busy farm scene, while those at the end offer a quiet nighttime version of the same view. The repeated refrain, "Was that what Baby wanted?" and a variety of fun sound effects will have children chiming in. Filled with warmth and affection, this book is great for reading aloud or sharing at bedtime.
Kathy M. Newby, Russiaville Branch Library, IN
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0763602078
• ISBN 13: 9780763602079
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Barton Jill