The Bump

Addressing readers, Kelly shares the story of an expectant mother’s “bump”: “She cherished that bump like she cherishes you,/ and the bump—like her love—grew and grew.” Allan’s ink-outlined cartoons in light, airy colors depict the mother as she views the ultrasound, picks out clothing for the baby, and gleefully skips to the hospital hand-in-hand with Dad. There are some oddities in both the rhymes and the plot (at one point, the bump helps the mother-to-be win a sandcastle competition), but it’s nonetheless a cheerful, reassuring window into life before Mom was Mom. Ages 3–up. (Mar.)