I Will Keep You Safe and Sound

PreS—Essentially a short illustrated poem, this title depicts beatifically smiling baby animals and their grown-ups cuddling in their dens, nests, and other dwellings-"Gators in the shade/While the sun burns high/Squirrels in the log/While the hawk sails by," etc. On each spread, a full-page illustration of the animals faces two lines of the poem in large black font, with a smaller illustration under it. The refrain, "I will keep you safe and sound," lends a soothing, lullabylike cadence, while watercolor and pencil illustrations create a sleepy, calm atmosphere. This cozy somnolence is temporarily disturbed by a lost kitten that is immediately found by the mama cat. The reassuring message of this book-that parents are there to care for and protect their offspring-as well as the large illustrations and spare text, will appeal to a very young audience. A sweet but additional choice.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY