The Baby Tree

K-Gr 3—When the young narrator's family surprises him with the news that a baby is coming, he has lots of questions. Most pressing is: Where will the family get the new baby? His parents are busy with preparations, so he turns elsewhere for answers. His babysitter tells him babies come from a baby tree, his teacher explains that they come from hospitals, the mailman says they come from eggs, and Grandpa reveals that the stork brings the newborns. Each new explanation is more confusing than the last, so the narrator finally asks his parents. They explain that babies grow from the father's seed and the mother's egg and when they're big enough, they're born in a hospital. The boy realizes all the answers he received were partly correct—except Grandpa's. Narrator Chris Patton infuses this work with childhood wonderment, and his storytelling is a perfect match for Sophie Blackall's ink and watercolor picture book images (Penguin, 2014). Jazzy background music reflects the lighthearted tone of the story and complements the vivid drawings.