Wee Rhymes: Baby’s First Poetry Book

“We both believe that literature begins in the cradle,” write Yolen and Dyer at the beginning of this collection of 75 brief but vivid poems. Most are originals from Yolen (10 poems are credited to Mother Goose), and she provides many options for incorporating song and rhyme into a child’s day, from mealtime to naptime, from games to errands (“Let’s go to the supermarket,/ Ride down every aisle,/ Wave at all the shoppers,/ Make everybody smile”). Beloved toys and objects also get attention, and several poems suggest interactive moments between parent (or grandparent) and child. Tidy borders frame Dyer’s pencil-and-watercolor illustrations, which offer an ethnically diverse array of children and adults. Tenderness and comfort radiate from every page, making the book a lovely addition to any new family’s library. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)