The World Is Full of Babies

This upbeat if slim volume takes a cursory look at how human babies' development compares to that of various animals, revealing similarities as well as differences among species. Manning and Granstrom ably target their audience with a simple yet descriptive presentation: ""All over the earth, babies are getting dirty!... If you were a cat or a polecat kitten you would be licked clean every day by your mom's rough tongue."" Children learn that while ""You slept cozy in a crib with blankets and gentle music,"" baby bats ""sleep upside down, hanging on with tiny fingernails in a drafty old roof space."" Combining somewhat childlike spot art, an open, 26-point typeface and handlettered captions, these pages have an informal feel. Though not a must-buy, this holds a dual enticement for preschoolers, who can't seem to get enough information about tiny animals, a category that includes themselves as babies. Ages 2-6. (Oct.)