cover image Baby in a Car

Baby in a Car

Monica Wellington. Dutton Books, $4.99 (14pp) ISBN 978-0-525-45296-6

A touring toddler spies familiar objects in these vivid board books by the creator of All My Little Ducklings. Both books open with the query, ``What does baby see?'' and proceed to depict, one per page, such varied subjects as a butterfly, an airplane, pair of roller skates, traffic light, balloons, fire engine, etc. Wellington's illustrations pack a punch: several consist of swaths of solid, vibrant hues, while others-a tree's leaves, a butterfly's wings-are composed of textured collages that seem to pay homage to the work of Eric Carle. Freeform, almost childlike lettering reinforces the books' lighthearted tone. Ages 1-3. (June)