West Coast Wild Babies

January 15, 2020
In this Canadian import, baby animals and birds of the Pacific West Coast region are introduced with brief descriptions of their birth environments. The introductory pages show a human father and his baby near the shore of the Pacific Ocean, with a pair of raccoon cubs peeking out from the roots of an enormous tree. In a subtle framing device, the final spread shows a human mother with her baby, observing a mother raccoon and her two little ones on the beach. The human characters present white. The animal and bird babies are presented through a structured format in subsequent double-page spreads, with a large trim size that effectively showcases the dramatic illustrations. The appealing animals and birds stand out in scenes filled with the soft blues and greens of outdoor settings interspersed with trees, wildflowers, and ferns, and a variety of perspectives and motion enhance interest. The names of the babies are set in large type followed by a paragraph of text detailing circumstances of birth, early growth, and other details such as diet or migration patterns. One or both parents are shown tending to their young, sometimes with surprising tenderness, as in the illustration of a sea otter pup nestled on its mother's chest. This informative introduction will be especially useful in the Pacific West Coast region, but it has a wider appeal to a broad audience in both locale and age. A succinct and satisfying first look at some fascinating creatures. (author's note, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 3-8)

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April 15, 2020
Grades 1-3 This soothing picture book by the team behind West Coast Wild: A Nature Alphabet (2015) covers springtime life on the U.S. West Coast. Opening and closing spreads depict human families exploring nature, but otherwise the work introduces animal mothers and young, both familiar (black bears) and less well known (pelagic cormorants). Each of the 14 species profiled is covered on a two-page spread, with brief textual information discussing the babies' first days and how their habits will develop. For example, Hodge explains that cougar kittens love to play, and the rough and tumble helps their hunting skills emerge. A closing note for parents offers more detail on natural life in the region. The relatable parent-and-child details will pique readers' interest and prepare them for more in-depth explorations in series nonfiction and in the suggested further reading. While the brightly colored watercolors depict a wide variety of flora and fauna, the animals look oddly static in some cases. Still, this is a worthwhile addition to picture-book shelves, especially on the West Coast.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)