Good Night, My Darling Baby

January 30, 2017
In one of two titles kicking off the New Books for Newborns line, Capucilli and Bach showcase an array of animal parents bidding their offspring good night by moonlight. The repeating language creates a lulling mood (“Papa horse sang a good-night tune/ to his baby foal beneath the blue, blue moon”) as does the moody, muted palette of Bach’s tenderly illustrated scenes, which give off a welcoming, folk-art vibe. Simultaneously available: Mama Loves You So by Terry Pierce, illus. by Simone Shin. Up to age 3. Author’s agent: Liza Voges, Eden Street Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Bookmark Literary.

July 1, 2017
Little animals bed down for the night.The sun has set, the stars are out, and the moon has risen. The time has come for the barnyard animals to go to sleep. "Daddy cow" (best not to interrogate this too closely), "mama sheep," "papa horse," and more softly sing to their little ones as they nuzzle up and drift off. The animals' signature sounds are included in their lyrics: "Moo, moo, moo, moo... / Sweet dreams, my darling baby," croons daddy cow. The book ends with the interracial, evidently heterosexual (mom white, dad brown) farmer couple putting their own baby to sleep. The illustrations are colored with warm greens, blues, and yellows, lulling little readers to snuggle with their own caregivers. This is an ideal bedtime story for reluctant sleepers, well suited to end a long bedtime story session. The equal representation of both mothers and fathers is quite refreshing in a subgenre that seems to feature mostly moms. The singing is a nice touch, and caregivers will think about inducing their own little ones to sing repetitive lullabies that will pave the way for their own bedtimes. An excellent bedtime storybook. (Board book. 1-2)

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