Catch That Baby!

K-Gr 2—When Rudy doesn't want to get dressed after his bath, a fun game of catch that naked baby commences. Zipping about with his dog at his heels, "Nudie Rudy" manages to elude his mother, father, siblings, and grandparents. In the greenhouse, the game morphs into "finding" the baby, and the family makes its way back through the house with Rudy hiding behind the furniture. In the grand revealing of "Cutie Rudy," the child has clothed himself using his own personal dress code. The cartoon illustrations feel retro in both style and color. Each picture has a simple black border whether there is one per page or several. The characters speak using word balloons, while the narrator's words are in black boxes with white text. Rudy's genitals are cleverly concealed at all times by his leg, the dog, a plant, a table, etc., but his buttocks do make a full-moon appearance. This playful tale provides a positive look at a multigenerational family interacting in a loving way, and the book has a place either in storytime or one-on-one sharing.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH