I Love My Baby Because...

In a story first published in the U.K. in 2013, a young mother lists the reasons why she adores her cherubic baby (“I love my baby because she bakes with me. And she shares beautifully”). However, like any toddler, the girl can be a handful. For each expression of love, Thomas’s illustrations provide a knowing wink to readers, which may be best appreciated by mothers in the same boat: the baby throws eggs out of the cart at the grocery store, scatters her books across the bedroom floor, paints on the wall, and ambles away from her mother while shedding clothes with each step. A gentle palette, a blend of stripes and polka-dot patterns, and a houseful of friendly stuffed animals all contribute to the cozy ambiance of this testament to the messy joys of raising a child. Ages 1–3. (Apr.)