Alpha and the Dirty Baby

Until I visited this page, it never occurred to me that anyone could find this book scary. My children and I loved reading it when they were young. It's a silly story, but with a deeper truth: The character who saves the family is the one who sees what is right and is not afraid to speak the truth and behave accordingly. Alpha cannot be dissuaded from following her conscience, even though those apparently in authority are telling her to do what is wrong. (Well, getting the house dirty isn't exactly a horrible crime, but it's the principle.) Alpha's parents initially are bickering childishly, not an unheard-of occurrence with real parents. The child who behaves like an adult saves the adults who act like children. Each of us has choices, and how we exercise those choices determines whether we fulfill our potential or fall short. And the love of family members for one another, along with willingness to forgive each others' failings, help them to do their best in the future. As someone who raised my children to do what is right regardless of whether there is someone in authority looking over their shoulders -- and in fact, to do what is right even in the face of pressure from authority figures and peers to do wrong -- I certainly found nothing in this story contrary to those values. (And have no fear, I now have teens with a strong internal sense of right and wrong who feel responsibility to contribute to their community, young people any parent would be proud of. There's a difference between being defiant and being principled, and it's important to encourage the latter.)

A student of mine brought this book in and asked me to read it to the class. Their amusement began with the title itself. They looked around at each other with silly smirks and wondered who this dirty baby could be. They giggled at the strange commands the Imps gave Alpha. Then they rolled with laughter as the Imps yelled to Alpha "Don't wash my dirty baby!" I must have been asked to reread that book a dozen times that week and not once did someone complain. I have taught K through Second and everyone has loved Alpha and the Dirty Baby!

Any parent looking for a strong heroine in literature should pick this up. Alpha is strong, self-reliant, and very clever. Cole's illustrations are energetic and appealing.