Bunny Roo, I Love You

 When I found you, you were small and trembling, and I thought you might be a little bunny. I held you close so you were warm. The world can seem like a big, bewildering place for new babies - fortunately, their mothers know just how to sooth and comfort them. This book cleverly explores a baby's emotions with apt comparisons to animals and, in doing so, reassures young children that their caretakers will always love them and keep them safe. The lovely illustrations of mummy animals caring for their babies playfully reinforce this message, making for a visually captivating book.

Review: "Using examples from nature in which animals care for their young, a human mother describes how she cares for her own baby. . . . Marr's soothing text should prove calming for lap-sitting infants just beginning to focus on illustrations. White's watercolor and gouache artwork exhibits a cozy feel, with realistically drawn animals posed against simple, recognizable settings. This makes a good choice for one-on-one sharing or as a baby story-hour selection."-Booklist

"A mother's observations of her new baby lead to a series of sweet comparisons to various animals. . . . Playful yet comforting language. . . . Each of the child's behaviors leads to a tender action taken by the mother: tucking the baby in, offering milk, and giving a bath. . . . The overall design of the book [has] a vintage feel. . . . A lovely package, this quiet title will be best as a gift book for new moms eager to read aloud to the newest members of their families."-Kirkus Reviews

"Young children love to pretend they're baby animals-it's an opportunity to explore the world in new ways, while ensuring their nurturers remain close at hand. In novelist Marr's (the Wicked Lovely series) first picture book, a mother plays along, imagining her baby and herself as six different animals as she lovingly tracks its development. . . . White's (Adventures with Barefoot Critters) restrained detailing, smudged colors, and frequent use of circular framings give her watercolors a vintage-looking, pastoral prettiness. It's also fun to see how the mother retains her essential 'momness' regardless of what species she assumes."-Publishers Weekly