Tumbleweed Baby

September 29, 2014
In her first picture book, Myers (Time of the Witches) introduces the hardscrabble Upagainstit family and their foundling child. In pencil-and-ink drawings of drought-ridden Texas landscapes, Vess (Blueberry Girl) pictures the father, mother, and children as sharecroppers in an earth-colored farmhouse. When the five siblings find a baby in a tumbleweed and debate whether to keep her, one child disapproves: “ ‘She’s a wild-all-over baby,’ said the littlest-of-all girl. ‘Put her back.’ ” They take her home anyway, only to find that the long-haired, naked Tumbleweed Baby revolts in the bathtub, flings food, and makes “a terrible ruckus.” Nevertheless, everyone but the youngest girl wants to give her a chance. Myers eases readers through the folksy story, repeating evocative names and phrases. She reveals the reason for the littlest girl’s resistance only on the last page, ending on a piquant surprise note. Vess’s child characters are awkwardly proportioned, and the baby’s size varies dramatically, yet images of dirt fields and blue skies capture the aura of mystery and hopefulness of this strange country tale. Ages 4–6. Author’s agent:
Victoria Marini, Gelfman Schneider. Illustrator’s agent: Barry Goldblatt, Barry Goldblatt Literary.

September 1, 2014
A family gets a new addition in a tall-tale sort of way. The Upagainstit family (say it out loud) has five children in their "falling-apart house." Coming home from school one day, they discover a baby in a tumbleweed, and they promptly bring her home. "She's a wild-all-over baby," says the "littlest-of-all girl," and she is, with hair down to her little naked ankles. Tumbleweed Baby does not take well to bathing or to sleeping, although she is very enthusiastic about dinner-messily so. The next morning, the littlest-of-all girl is still insistent that the family cannot keep her, although the "biggish boy," the "not-so-big girl" and all the other siblings find ways that they can help to do so. When Tumbleweed Baby kisses Papa's cheek, it's all over but finding the right name for her. Much later, the littlest-of-all girl shares a secret that will not surprise adult readers and will probably delight the younger ones. Myers' consistently idiosyncratic nomenclature is charming, as is her matter-of-fact tone. Vess does the most expressive hair-each Upagainstit has distinctive locks, but none more so than Tumbleweed Baby's. As usual, his color and line are expressive and rich while staying within a gently rainbowed palette. An adoption story, a feral child story, a foundling story, a child-of-difference story-perhaps any and all of these; certainly wise and full of delight. (Picture book. 4-8)

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October 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 3-The Upagainstit family of seven lives in Texas in a dilapidated house surrounded by sand and tumbleweeds. As the five children are walking home from school one day, the "biggish" boy stumbles over a tumbleweed concealing a wild baby. The youngsters agree to take her home, all except the littlest-of-all girl, who thinks they should just put her back. When the kids get back, Mama decides that this wild baby needs a bath immediately, and the much-needed washing is a challenge indeed. The family begins to work together to try to settle the baby into their routine, much to the chagrin of the littlest-of-all girl, who maintains that this addition is a bad idea. Each family member uses his or her unique interests and talents to help the baby assimilate and to make an argument as to why they should keep her. When the final decision is finally made, an interesting change of heart brings it all home. Myers's tall tale is reminiscent of Dust Bowl-era Americana. The characters are warm and likable, and the interaction among siblings is realistically appealing. Vess's beautifully drawn artwork created in ink and colored pencil adds a higher level of emotion to a sweet tale of family life.-Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2014
Preschool-G The Upagainstit family's ramshackle home in Nowhere, Texas, is surrounded by sand and tumbleweeds everywhere. When a foundling somersaults out of the brush, the littlest-of-all Upagainstit girl objects to this interloper. She's a wild-all-over baby. . . . Put her back. Mama gives the resisting newcomer a bath, and Papa gives her a supper of peas and mashed potatoes, which she hurls madly into the air. Furthermore, she produces a terrible ruckus at bedtime. However, the family members provide creative justifications for keeping her and proceed to love all the wildness out of her. Full of warmth and energy, the story is illustrated with a palette of sandy yellows, warm browns, and vast blue skies that depict a nostalgic western landscape. Illustrations in colored inks and colored pencils and specific dialogue give special character to each family member, including the tangle-haired toddler, who learns a surprise from her sister at the conclusion. Lots of humor here and lots of love.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)