Cinnamon Baby

PreS-Gr 2—Every day, Miriam rides her bicycle to the bakery where she makes a variety of delicious breads, always saving her favorite-a sweet cinnamon loaf-for last. One day, a violinist named Sebastian comes by on his bike. Attracted by Miriam's singing, he purchases a loaf of cinnamon bread and makes it a daily habit until they marry a year later. A baby soon follows, but after three days, the child starts to cry. After trying all the usual methods to calm an infant, Miriam finally takes the baby to the bakery where she begins to make her cinnamon bread. The fragrant smell and the sound of Mother crooning finally comfort the child, who never cries again. This charming story features a Caucasian mother, a brown-skinned father, and a biracial baby. The cream-colored paper, adorned with graphite pencil sketches, earth-toned watercolors, and paper collage, gives the story an old-fashioned look. Swirling hearts, flowers, and music notes indicate Miriam and Sebastian's happiness, while torrents of rain depict the unhappy baby's tears. Children able to appreciate the quaint plot and drawings will enjoy this cozy story.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT