Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and Their Parents

Judge offers an intimate study of the lives of animal babies and their parents, accompanied by her typically tender, naturalistic illustrations. Emphatic phrases like “the baby needs to be caressed and groomed” introduce spreads on these and other topics. Paragraph-long vignettes describe how the animals are cared for and slowly gain independence: “A two-week-old guanaco calf begins to eat a little grass. Over the next few months she will depend less and less on her mother’s milk.” Airy white space keeps the focus on the expressive animals, while endnotes and a glossary provide additional detail about the 26 featured animals. Ages 5–8. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. (Oct.)