FICTION

The Baby Swap

by Jan ORMEROD
illus. by Andrew Joyner. 32p. S. & S./Little Simon. Feb. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781481419147. LC 2013047673.
COPY ISBN
PreS-K—Caroline Crocodile is not at all fond of her baby brother and can't understand why Mama Crocodile spends her time on him. One day, while her mother goes to a hat shop to make an exchange, Caroline spies The Baby Shop and sets out to make an exchange of her own. She trades her sibling for a series of other baby animals, including a panda, an elephant, and twin tigers. But each swap presents unexpected problems, and she is left with just one conclusion— that her baby brother is the right choice for her. Joyner's bright, busy illustrations evoke the work of Bernard Waber and H.A. Rey—a perfect fit for the timeless, classic feel of Ormerod's text. Giggles will ensue as the ridiculousness escalates.
VERDICT Whether used one-on-one or in storytime, this engaging story will tickle kids' funny bones.
Reviewed by Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD
Mama Crocodile gushes over her new baby, which makes sister Caroline "very, very, very jealous." So she swaps her brother at the Baby Shop. Except the baby panda is fussy, the elephant "too squirty," and so on--good thing a "secondhand crocodile" is still available. The funny new-sibling story's vintage-feeling illustrations depict a town teeming with animals going about their busy day.
, Feb 01, 2015

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