Here’s my selection for Perfect Picture Book Friday:
Baby’s Got The Blues
Author Carol Diggory Shields
Illustrator Lauren Tobia
Candlewick, 2014
Fiction
Suitable for ages: 3 to 7
Theme/Topic: Babies, Family, Siblings
Opening Spread: You think babies have it easy?
Brief Synopsis: (From Candlewick’s website)Oh, baby, wouldn’t it be grand to be a baby? No worries, no woes, the whole world doing everything for you. Like floating down easy street. . . . But wait one guitar-pickin’ minute. That’s a lie! Babies can’t talk, can’t walk, can’t even really chew. It’s enough to make the baby in this story blue, blue, blue. So get ready for a sad tale of soggy diapers, mushy meals, and sleepin’ behind bars that may make you cry, too — but more likely will make you giggle! Jamming with illustrator Lauren Tobia, Carol Diggory Shields gives a tip of the fedora to B.B. King in an ode to babyhood that’ll have readers feeling anything but blue.
Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of an infant is really like? In this bluesy story, sometimes being a baby is enough to make you cry.
Resources: There are plenty of resources about new siblings. But, this is really about the life of the baby. If you have a child dealing with the new baby blues, you could use the book as a talking point to show how their life might just be better than a baby. This book would be great paired with books like Not Yet, Rose by Susanna Leonard Hill or The Baby Tree by Sophie Blackall.
Why I Like This: I love this twist on a baby book. From this baby’s perspective, LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS GRAND. I mean check this out:
I laugh every time we read this one.
For more PPBF books, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s Blog.
There’s such a plaintive expression in that baby’s tiny dot eyes. I just want to pick him up and give him a big hug! Great example of a unique POV book Stacy.
Those dots are expressive! Great point!
Another new title for me. Poor baby! Although nap time has a certain appeal . . .
But is it a crib or a jail Wendy? 🙂
Great POV choice!
Yes. It’s a unique one.
Love the illos! I will pick that for you to read at our next sleepover.
The illustrations are great. The parent and older sibling character are very contemporary. I like it and a great choice for a sleepover.
Oh, I can hear the B.B. King guitar riff right now.
It’s a good one Mike!
I agree, this is an excellent book for a sibling. But, after dealing with a brain injury and feeling trapped in an infant’s body, it’s no piece of cake when you can’t communicate what you want and have to rely on others to care for you. So, I understand why Baby has the blues.
The spread you shared is hilarious! Thanks.
This book sounds adorable. I just ordered it from my library. Thanks for the review.
Very cute and sounds like fun from and interesting point of view. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like a funny book. I like the illustrations and the little bit of rhyme too.
Sounds like a country song… but what fun! and the whole thing about is it a crib or a jail? Maybe we could put it to music…