Shady Baby

May 1, 2021
Inspired by the authors' own daughter, Shady Baby brings a vivacious style and presence to every part of her day and to all the people she cares about. "Shady might be tiny / but she's a mighty big deal!" Her day starts by coordinating fashion, then she drops beats at the pool and plays a quick pickup game with her stuffed animals, all followed by a trip to the park. When trouble brews among other kids at the park, who argue over swings and fall short on sharing, Shady steps up. "Shady stands real tall / flashing her famous side-eye. / Then she says to [the kids] / 'You should give kindness a try.' " And they do, even helping Shady in kind when someone steals her toy. It's all in a day's work of being fabulous, and before bed, Shady relaxes and settles in for her favorite family snuggles. Laid out in rollicking rhyme, the text sets a pace as energetic as its protagonist, keeping the pages turning and the rhythm bouncing for storytime read-alouds and independent readers alike. Toddler enthusiasm and artful side-eye come to life in Whitaker's bright, open spreads and saturated color palette, bringing vibrancy to Shady's many boss moves. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Serving looks and a little bit of shade with every reread. (Picture book. 3-7)

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June 18, 2021

PreS-Gr 1-Meet Shady Baby, an expressive baby who wears her emotions out in the open. She's a trendsetter, beat maker, and athlete, but most importantly, she's someone who speaks up when she sees bad things happening. Doing the right thing isn't always easy, but she finds a way to do it in her Shady Baby way. She sets an example for her friends and shows them the importance of playing fair and standing up for each other. This gorgeously illustrated picture book introduces the world to Shady Baby, who is inspired by the authors' daughter. The title character helps model essential interpersonal communication practices for the picture book's audience. Her choice to share even when she doesn't want to reminds children that they should always be kind. The book's vibrant color palette portrays a variety of skin tones, giving kids a refreshing and necessary example of representation. VERDICT This is not only a fun, lesson-filled journey about standing up for yourself and your friends, making it a valuable addition to picture book collections.-Myiesha Speight, formerly at Towson Univ., Baltimore

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