"In the little house, in the little town,/ a baby wakes and Mama takes him in her arm," begins Beck's (Pepito the Brave)
soothing look at the people and events of an infant's world. Meandering through the routines of suburban life, neighborhood boys ride bikes, while a woman hangs sheets on a clothesline, as bees and squirrels dance around a tree. Beck's text unwinds at a leisurely pace ("Daddy turns the sprinkler on./ Mama yawns a little yawn/ and pats her baby's back") while his full-bleed spreads and vignettes emphasize the steady, calm activities. Even a crowded avenue seems sedate: "Outside, the train goes down the track./ The mailman lifts his heavy sack./ The grocer puts a can on top./ Red light! Cars and buses stop." As the sky darkens and children head home, baby falls asleep in his father's lap. Each scene—with a fine line, simple shapes and saturated colors that recall vintage artwork—matches the text for austerity and gentleness. The book's many recognizable people and objects may well help kids relate to their own neighborhoods. Beck effortlessly and tenderly exalts the carefree days of childhood and a nostalgic sense of small-town America. Ages 3-6. (Oct.)
