The Bossier Baby

Starred review from July 5, 2010
In a perfect pick-me-up for both older siblings and bleary-eyed new parents, Frazee (All the World) hilariously parses their new status. The brilliant baby-as-boss metaphor drives the book from the start, as a baby strides in from his taxi, outfitted with a suit (complete with rear-end flap and pj-style "footies"), briefcase, and a permanent scowl. Caldecott Honoree Frazee milks this comparison for every possible laugh ("The funky thing was, he never, ever said a single word that made any sense at all"), and the baby's job perks include "the spa" (a bubble bath), "the executive gym" (he attempts a pull-up on a baby gym), and "drinks made to order, 24/7" (the baby sits at a red-checked table littered with bottles, demanding service with his finger in the air). Cartoon vignettes in pencil-streaked gouache hum with a funky, retro style seen in sleek furnishings and the '50s fashions of the accommodating but increasingly exhausted parents. Finally, when the baby's tantrums can't rouse them, he discovers a more effective management technique––"Ma-ma? Da-da?" Clever and empathetic, this book is an especially apropos choice for the baby shower circuit. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from October 10, 2016
In The Boss Baby, Frazee compared first-time parenthood to life under a tiny, bald corporate chief in a one-piece suit. Every bit as funny as its predecessor, this sequel presents the dramatic shake-up after the arrival of the Boss Baby’s infant sister, who “restructure the organization... from the top down.” The new CEO accessorizes her black onesie with a string of chewable pearls, carries an Etch-a-Sketch like a laptop, and “was bossier than the Boss Baby had ever been. Which seems impossible.” The demoted Boss Baby glowers as “the staff” dotes on the CEO and ignores his attention-seeking behavior. Frazee excels at locating the humor in trying situations in her always lovely pencil-and-gouache artwork, picturing the independent toddler stripping naked and peeing on a bed of flowers while his oblivious parents coo at the CEO in her fancy stroller, aka “the private limo.” Elder siblings and parents alike will recognize the tensions that come with a growing family, and the just-sweet-enough resolution proves that this CEO knows how to negotiate a takeover with savvy. Up to age 8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

A new baby sister hands the Boss Baby a demotion.Although this title introduces a new eponymous infant CEO, it, like its predecessor (2010), remains focused on Boss Baby himself. Frazee's text employs a tongue-in-cheek corporatese, which is matched by the Mad Men-esque modern aesthetic of the pencil-and-gouache illustrations. Combined, words and pictures first convey that the Boss Baby's diaper is in a twist over his black-pantsuit-and-pearls-clad baby sister's arrival. "The staff" (their parents) "was strangely delighted" reads the droll text, and her many "perks" compound his misery. Accompanying illustrations show the white baby girl soaking up her parents' adoration while enjoying "the organic catering service" (nursing), "aromatherapy" (diapering), and so on. After the ousted boss acts out and then retreats to sulk, it's the Bossier Baby who literally reaches out to her big brother. After all, "she wasn't CEO for nothing!" An excellent wordless spread shows her reaching up to a shocked Boss Baby, who scoops her up into his arms on the facing page. This snuggle gives way to a scene of domestic bliss with the siblings reading together on the next spread as "the staff" gazes at them adoringly. In a trademark Frazee final page turn, a satisfying conclusion rooted in reality shows that it's not all bliss in the baby boardroom. Someone give Frazee a raise. (Picture book. 3-6) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-This sophisticated sequel to Boss Baby provides comeuppance for the tyrannical infant, who is now a toddler. A new baby sister arrives with a Kewpie doll curl and a string of pearls, confident enough to usurp authority at every turn. Her organic catering demands (nursing), aromatherapy (diaper disposal), and afternoon spinning (turning in a jumpy bouncer) result in a media frenzy in which her brother, aka Boss Baby, is ignored. When his outrageous attempt to grab attention by stripping in public and weeing in a garden is ignored, he resigns himself to sulking in a corner at home. Bossier Baby is a wise CEO and extends hugging arms to her brother, creating teamwork and tranquility in the family. The comical pencil and watercolor drawings in mid-century style embellish the business lingo text. VERDICT Great fun for hip readers familiar with terms like stress management and social media team.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 15, 2016
Preschool-G *Starred Review* A new baby sister has arrived to challenge bespoke-suited Boss Baby's (first seen in Frazee's The Boss Baby, 2010) dominant position in the home. This infant executive, complete with a laptop and dressed in pearls and a ruffled onesie, has implemented a business plan to restructure the organization from the top down. With her promotion to CEO, her big brother angrily gathers up his toys and stumbles off, demoted and out-bossed. He realizes in abject misery that the staff (aka his parents) seem strangely delighted with the tantrum-throwing hellion. She is fed, cuddled, photographed, and entertained, and her private pram limo exceeds any perks Boss Baby ever had. Furious, he tries outrageous antics, stripping his clothes off in the street and peeing on the flowers, but no one notices. Discouraged, he crawls into a corner, crying in utter despair. Sensing a breakdown in productivity, Bossier Baby seeks him out and soothes him, and the company is back to business (at least, most of the time). Frazee's hilarious artwork in black pencil and gouache captures the challenges and emotions experienced at the arrival of a new sibling. Her wry satire on parenting and family dynamics cleverly captures a child's feelings in this comical blend of words and pictures. Sheer delight.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)