Beat the rise! Delivery fees are going up soon.
Abby Cooper is the author of several middle-grade novels, including Friend or Fiction, Sticks & Stones, and True Colors. A former teacher and school librarian, her favorite things in the world (besides writing) are getting and giving book recommendations and sharing her love of reading with others. She recently founded the non-profit organization A Book of My Own that ships high-quality children's books directly to families in need across Minnesota. Abby lives in Minnesota with her husband, son, and miniature poodle. Eliana Gutierrez studied illustration in Madrid and Valencia. After working in advertising for many years, she is now dedicated to her true passion- drawing.
An omniscient everybaby instructs other infants on the care and feeding of a new mother. “Congratulations! It’s a…MOM!…You’ve introduced yourself, had a snuggle, and shared a meal. BUT…” A thought balloon reveals a newborn baby’s most pressing concern—“WHAT NOW?”—as the little one is cradled by Mom in a hospital bed. Fortunately, the narrator is here to walk a theoretical all-baby readership through Mom Care 101, dispensing both affirmations (“You’ve been preparing for this since you were the size of an avocado. If anyone can take good care of her, it’s you”) and practical advice (“Your new mom will require round-the-clock care, so it’s best to plan for staying up all night”). (Ah! So that’s why babies are awake at all hours.) In case it isn’t obvious by now, the book’s abundant humor is suited to adults familiar with new-parent agita (“Don’t plan on her wearing any one outfit for long. New moms are notorious for spit-ups and spills. It’s all part of the fun!”). While many kids will enjoy Gutierrez’s cartoonish digital art featuring adorable babies in a range of skin colors, some may be confused rather than amused by images of the book’s despondent moms. In one such illustration, a “fussy” (crying, overwhelmed, and defeated) mother sits on the floor as a baby in a bouncy seat yowls across the room. On-the-nose humor geared for new parents and precocious kids. —Kirkus Reviews
