July 1, 2024
A child explores the world, sharing emotional wisdom. Broad lines, big shapes, and bright colors form a beachy landscape where a dark-skinned parent, a brown-skinned kid, and a variety of other people play and swim. Wonder Baby, narrating in simple rhyming verse, describes the world with enthusiastic curiosity, repeating often, "Wow! WHOA! / You're a part of me / I don't yet know." This refrain is also a key tenet of the author's socially focused nonprofit, the Revolutionary Love Project, which could explain why this is less a story and more a meandering assortment of musings. A few spot illustrations introduce some relatable tension: Wonder Baby hears "sad stories," sees an unhoused person and a candlelight vigil, and marches in a racially diverse crowd under a vague sign promoting "justice." A double-page spread suffused with angry red waves depicts Wonder Baby overwhelmed by "tears / and fire inside." But Wonder Baby rallies, declaring that "each feeling / plays a special part / in showing me / how to love my heart." When another child kicks Wonder Baby's toys, Wonder Baby responds with compassion; the book concludes with the protagonist marveling at the vastness of our world. Though the art's thoughtful compositions are evocative, the preachiness of the text muffles its emotional resonance. Rather than a meaningful journey, this is a mishmash of affirmations. Contains some valuable insights, but little ones aren't likely to clamor for rereads. (Picture book. 3-6)
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