The Baby Shower

September 1, 2007
PreS-Gr 1-The animal characters from Bunting's "The Wedding" (Charlesbridge, 2003) celebrate a new arrival in this rhyming picture book. When friends of Ms. Brindle Cow and Mr. Bull learn that the pair is expecting a baby, they set off to share in the joyous occasion. Each one brings a gift for the infant along with well wishes for the parents-to-be. The predictably happy ending has a slight twist as the couple welcomes twins. Children will enjoy the rhyming couplets: "The moon and stars lit up the sky./Fireflies came dancing by./They kept repeating to each other, /'Brindle's going to be a mother!'" Love's illustrations, done in transparent inks on Arches watercolor paper, are a charming complement to the gently plotted story. Sharp-eyed readers will notice touches of humor, including a couple of the creatures reading books that connect to their particular species. While not an essential purchase, libraries that own the earlier title will want to consider this one."Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA"

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