In a gorgeous picture book that’s playfully sweet and visually captivating, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr and talented new illustrator Teagan White celebrate the many ways parents make their new babies feel at home.
The world can seem like a big, bewildering place for new babies—fortunately, their mamas know just how to soothe and comfort them. Through enchanting scenes portraying all kinds of mama animals looking out for their little ones, the mother in this story reassures her baby, and young children everywhere, that their caretakers will always love them and keep them safe. This beautiful picture book has the feel of a classic and its heartwarming premise should make it a family favorite.
“Using examples from nature in which animals care for their young, a human mother describes how she cares for her own baby. . . . Marr’s soothing text should prove calming for lap-sitting infants just beginning to focus on illustrations. White’s watercolor and gouache artwork exhibits a cozy feel, with realistically drawn animals posed against simple, recognizable settings. This makes a good choice for one-on-one sharing or as a baby story-hour selection.”—Booklist
“A mother’s observations of her new baby lead to a series of sweet comparisons to various animals. . . . Playful yet comforting language. . . . Each of the child’s behaviors leads to a tender action taken by the mother: tucking the baby in, offering milk, and giving a bath. . . . The overall design of the book [has] a vintage feel. . . . A lovely package, this quiet title will be best as a gift book for new moms eager to read aloud to the newest members of their families.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Young children love to pretend they’re baby animals—it’s an opportunity to explore the world in new ways, while ensuring their nurturers remain close at hand. In novelist Marr’s (the Wicked Lovely series) first picture book, a mother plays along, imagining her baby and herself as six different animals as she lovingly tracks its development. . . . White’s (Adventures with Barefoot Critters) restrained detailing, smudged colors, and frequent use of circular framings give her watercolors a vintage-looking, pastoral prettiness. It’s also fun to see how the mother retains her essential ‘momness’ regardless of what species she assumes.”—Publishers Weekly
Melissa Marr writes fiction for adults, teens, and children. Her books have been translated into 28 languages and been bestsellers in the US (New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal) as well as in various countries overseas. She also wrote the best-selling picture book Bunny Roo, I Love You, and she is well-known for the Wicked Lovely series for teens and the Graveminder series for adults. She lives in Arizona with her spouse, children, and many dogs.
View titles by Melissa Marr
TEAGAN WHITE is a freelance designer and illustrator from Chicago, now living and working in Minnesota, where they earned their BFA in Illustration from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Their work encompasses intricate drawings of flora and fauna, playful watercolors of anthropomorphic critters, illustrated typography, and everything in between. Teagan lives in the woods across the street from train tracks and a fox den, and spends their free time scolding neighborhood squirrels, exploring forests, rivers, lakes, and swamps, picking wildflowers, and collecting animal bones. This is their second book featuring the Barefoot Critters — Adventures with Barefoot Critters was their first picture book. Teagan lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.
View titles by Teagan White
In a gorgeous picture book that’s playfully sweet and visually captivating, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr and talented new illustrator Teagan White celebrate the many ways parents make their new babies feel at home.
The world can seem like a big, bewildering place for new babies—fortunately, their mamas know just how to soothe and comfort them. Through enchanting scenes portraying all kinds of mama animals looking out for their little ones, the mother in this story reassures her baby, and young children everywhere, that their caretakers will always love them and keep them safe. This beautiful picture book has the feel of a classic and its heartwarming premise should make it a family favorite.
“Using examples from nature in which animals care for their young, a human mother describes how she cares for her own baby. . . . Marr’s soothing text should prove calming for lap-sitting infants just beginning to focus on illustrations. White’s watercolor and gouache artwork exhibits a cozy feel, with realistically drawn animals posed against simple, recognizable settings. This makes a good choice for one-on-one sharing or as a baby story-hour selection.”—Booklist
“A mother’s observations of her new baby lead to a series of sweet comparisons to various animals. . . . Playful yet comforting language. . . . Each of the child’s behaviors leads to a tender action taken by the mother: tucking the baby in, offering milk, and giving a bath. . . . The overall design of the book [has] a vintage feel. . . . A lovely package, this quiet title will be best as a gift book for new moms eager to read aloud to the newest members of their families.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Young children love to pretend they’re baby animals—it’s an opportunity to explore the world in new ways, while ensuring their nurturers remain close at hand. In novelist Marr’s (the Wicked Lovely series) first picture book, a mother plays along, imagining her baby and herself as six different animals as she lovingly tracks its development. . . . White’s (Adventures with Barefoot Critters) restrained detailing, smudged colors, and frequent use of circular framings give her watercolors a vintage-looking, pastoral prettiness. It’s also fun to see how the mother retains her essential ‘momness’ regardless of what species she assumes.”—Publishers Weekly
Author
Melissa Marr writes fiction for adults, teens, and children. Her books have been translated into 28 languages and been bestsellers in the US (New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal) as well as in various countries overseas. She also wrote the best-selling picture book Bunny Roo, I Love You, and she is well-known for the Wicked Lovely series for teens and the Graveminder series for adults. She lives in Arizona with her spouse, children, and many dogs.
View titles by Melissa Marr
TEAGAN WHITE is a freelance designer and illustrator from Chicago, now living and working in Minnesota, where they earned their BFA in Illustration from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Their work encompasses intricate drawings of flora and fauna, playful watercolors of anthropomorphic critters, illustrated typography, and everything in between. Teagan lives in the woods across the street from train tracks and a fox den, and spends their free time scolding neighborhood squirrels, exploring forests, rivers, lakes, and swamps, picking wildflowers, and collecting animal bones. This is their second book featuring the Barefoot Critters — Adventures with Barefoot Critters was their first picture book. Teagan lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.
View titles by Teagan White
