A warm and tender welcome to the world! 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.
“A lovely package.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Vintage-looking, pastoral prettiness.”—Publishers Weekly
On sale: April 14, 2015
Age: 0-2 years
Grade: Up to Preschool
Page count: 32 Pages
ISBN: 9780399167423
Reading level: Lexile: AD480L
Melissa Marr (www.melissamarrbooks.com) writes fiction for adults, teens, and children. Her books have been translated into twenty-eight 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 is best known for the Wicked Lovely series for teens and the Graveminder series for adults.
Bunny Roo, I Love You is her first picture book. She lives in Virginia with her spouse, children, and many dogs.
Teagan White (www.teaganwhite.com) wrote and illustrated
Adventures with Barefoot Critters. She is a freelance designer and illustrator from Chicago, now living and working in Minnesota, where she earned her BFA in Illustration from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design in 2012. Her clients include Target, Papyrus, Anthropologie, Honda, Nike,
Wired magazine, and
The Washington Post.
“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
