FICTION

No Room for Baby!

by Émile JADOUL
No Room for Baby! tr. from French. illus. by Émile Jadoul. 28p. Kids Can. Oct. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781771388412.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—A young penguin, Leon, welcomes home his new baby brother, Marcel. Leon worries that there is no room for the new baby in his room, on his mother's lap, or in his parents' arms. Ultimately, he decides that his own arms are the perfect size to snuggle baby Marcel. The artwork is rendered in pencil, crayon, and oil. The simple style and limited palette are well suited to addressing the often stressful transition of bringing a new baby into the family. Soft lines and the use of white space help create a controlled and secure setting. The story is straightforward, and the illustrations are minimalist, with some texture to enliven the characters.
VERDICT Parents, especially those anticipating a new baby in the household, will appreciate this sweetly humorous read-aloud. Early elementary students could also read this tale on their own.
Reviewed by Kelly Topita, Anne Arundel County Public Library, MD
In this French import, penguin Leon worries that there's no room in their family for new brother Marcel: Mama's lap is too small and Daddy's shoulders are too high. Finally, Leon declares that Marcel best fits "in [cf2]my[cf1] arms... They are just the right size to snuggle a baby penguin!" The soft, spare illustrations emphasize Leon's initial anxiety and subsequent happiness about the new addition.
 , Jul 01, 2017

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