You and Me, Baby

* “The special bond between mothers and babies is explored with tenderness and grace. . . . From loving looks to careful hugs, mothers and babies of all ethnicities are drawn in beautifully rendered pastel colors and soft, curving lines. . . . Life with a new baby is not all smooth sailing, of course, and this is gently acknowledged in the lyrical text. . . . This is the kind of book children will want to hear again and again, and it would work just as well to share with a new big sister or brother who might be anxious about the new arrival to remind them how they were welcomed into the world. A beautiful book on the wonders of early life, this is a recommended purchase.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“An omniscient everymom’s ode to a baby’s first year. . . . Distinguishing this offering from the pack of picture-book love letters to babies is the narrator’s intimation that a mom’s (or presumably any parent’s) experience with an infant isn’t all sunshine, roses, and intoxicating new-baby smell. The book’s penultimate sentence is ‘Together, we will make it through,’ to which a beleaguered new parent may reply, ‘Whew! Glad to hear it.’ Glenn’s pastel-colored digital art, in which a diverse cast plays out the narrative’s mother-baby moments, has a soft-filter look that makes every scene appear invitingly cushiony, as if ready to absorb a tumble. The whole package should be alluring to young children who are curious about their earliest days while also reassuring to adults who wonder if they’ll ever get the hang of parenthood. A pleasure for young kids and a balm for new parents.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Addressing a child in a tone of wonder, Saeed highlights maternal bonds via this simple chronicle of early parenthood. The book opens with the moment when the speaker ‘became a mom,/ and you, my baby,’ as lines note the relationship’s newness and sensitively express a common concern: ‘How would I perfectly care/ for a perfect baby like you?’ . . . Glenn’s mellow-feeling digital renderings employ pastel hues and sinuous lines, while pale stars shimmer around caretakers connecting with infants and toddlers. As images show the achievement of actions such as crawling and standing, text turns proactively supportive, observing the never-ending learning process of being a parent and closing with a cheerleading sentiment: ‘You’ll teach me/ and I’ll teach you.’” —Publishers Weekly

“Gentle and lyrical, this picture book is a love letter to new mothers and their babies. Designed to be read aloud in those earliest days, each page carries only a few words, flowing like lines of poetry. The tender text will likely resonate more with mothers than with little ones, while the soft illustrations evoke memories of holding a newborn. . . . The book unfolds like a poem—simple, lyrical, and full of love. This is a lovely choice for new mothers, and while young children may not grasp the words, the warmth of the reading experience will still shine through. Ideal for baby-shower gifts or library collections serving new families, this heartfelt title reads like both a lullaby and a keepsake.” —Booklist