More More More, Said the Baby Board Book: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner

This is a wonderful book, both the English and Spanish versions. I just wish we could find the Spanish version in board book format. The stories are simple and sweet and it is just the right length for babies just starting to "read" books. I love the cultural/gender diversity, too!

In three separate vignettes, three toddlers are chased, hugged, tickled, cuddled, kissed, and tucked into bed by parents or grandparents until they beg for "more more more." The active physicality of the characters is matched with colloquial, rhythmic language - "Little Pumpkin scoots away so fast Little Pumpkin's grandma has to run like anything just to catch that baby up. But Little Pumpkin's grandma catches that baby up all right." The book is oversized (10"x11") and illustrated with bright and colorful gouache paintings. Each illustration is framed with a colorful border that bleeds to the edge of the page and the text itself is mottled with color. The backgrounds of the illustrations are mostly flat planes of color, putting the focus on the interaction between the children and adults. The three adult-child relationships portrayed represent a racially diverse selection of families, notably including an apparently multiracial child. The story does not necessarily make a subject of ethnicity, however the repetition of many elements among the stories does demonstrate the universality of the affection and tenderness that parents and grandchildren have for their children, perhaps subtly suggesting that this commonality supersedes any superficial difference based on race. The rhythmic language makes this a superb read-aloud book for toddlers and older children of any ethnic makeup. With the final vignette focusing on a sleepy toddler being put to bed, this is also appropriate bedtime or naptime reading.

I bought this book for my daughter, who is 18 months old. It took all of one reading to be added to her list of favorites--she constantly asks for "more more babies". The pictures are wonderful for toddlers, simple and brightly colored. Not only do little ones love the story--lots of repeated elements, little people like them--it's virtually impossible to read it to a child without cuddling. This has become part of my standard baby gift package.

This short book for preschoolers depicts three babys who are playing with, respectively, a father, a grandmother, and a mother. It is simply a story of the love of children. Interestingly, the second child is African-American but the grandmother appears not to be so. This is the first Caldecott book I've seen suggesting the existence of interracial families. If I'm correct, I readily applaud the author. But, even if I'm wrong, it is still a beautiful book of love. The book was a 1991 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children.

I first found this book in my local library and had to add it to our collection. The big bright pages and adorable babies had my toddler crying, "More, More, More!" The stroies are simple and heartfelt, showing the close bound between a baby and those who care for him or her. My family truely cherishes this book, a true work of art, and so will your family!