While Danzig, an R.N. who has led sibling preparation classes for two decades, and Tilley (Growing Up: It’s a Girl Thing
) seek a spot on a very crowded bookshelf, their practical, straightforward approach merits a look. Focusing on day-to-day living with an infant, the text adopts an unfussy tone that subtly flatters readers as being sensible and mature (relatively speaking). “Babies are small and fragile and strong,” writes Danzig. “Watch out for your ears and nose, and don’t let your hair get too close.” It’s also notable that Danzig refers to the infant as “your baby,” clearly signaling that the reader has a stake in all this, too. She reinforces the connection by referring readers frequently to their own babyhood: “Can you believe you had to learn to roll over?” Tilley’s ink and watercolor cartoons are sunny and empathic in the Laura Cornell mode, and include plenty of visual jokes to encourage anxious kids—and their parents—to bond. Headings on most spreads make this volume eminently browsable—and therefore a handy family resource. Ages 3–5. (Jan.)
