Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. Candlewick Press, Cambridge, MA, 1994.
Hardcover edition, 48 pages, ISBN 1-56402-344-3.
Cooke takes us on an affectionate, lighthearted romp through the individual arrivals for a family party, with each member (auntie, uncle, cousin, nannie, gran-gran, and daddy), all greeting the baby with an exuberant burst of love.
"I want to kiss him,
I want to kiss the baby,
I want to kiss him
SO MUCH!"
Between each arrival, the colors of Oxenbury's resting, waiting characters become muted and almost washed out, mimicking Cooke's text:
"They weren't doing anything,
Mom and the baby and Aunt Bibba,
nothing really..."
As each new family member enters, the colors brighten, reflecting the joyous atmosphere and energy generated by Cooke's zestful language.
Great for toddler storytime.
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