Bebe Goes Shopping

Starred review from February 20, 2006
Any parent who's attempted to grocery shop with a toddler in tow knows what an impossible task that can be. Elya (Oh No, Gotta Go!
) demonstrates what happens when a sensory-packed excursion gets the best of baby. Her rhyming bilingual text demonstrates a skilled storyteller who is clearly comfortable with both languages (" tugs on a carton with muchos colores
/ in butterfly yellow, with pink and white flores
"). Much like the author, Bebé's mother, too, can multitask; she juggles her shopping list while keeping a watchful eye on Bebé. Salerno (Coco the Carrot
) packs the supermercado
(grocery store) with such fiesta-bright hues, cartons and canned goods, it's no wonder Bebé can hardly keep his hands to himself. Mamá's attempts to cajole him—and buy herself a little time to complete her shopping—with a box of animal crackers will resonate with adults. Here the pairing of text and art, which seemed ideally suited all along, hits its finest moment: the animal-shaped treats loom large as they outshine the groceries (and, in particular, Mamá at the melon stand) in both size and attraction ("Bebé finds a camel—a humpy sopresa
!/ Mamá picks a good one. He eats the cabeza
"). This delightful tale turns an everyday chore into a lively adventure, brimming with entertainment and enjoyment for all. Ages 2-5.