cover image A Child's Good Morning Book

A Child's Good Morning Book

Margaret Wise Brown, , illus. by Karen Katz. . HarperCollins, $17.99 (32pp) ISBN 978-0-06-128864-7

Katz's (Princess Baby ) nursery patchwork quilt approach is a far cry from the Jean Charlot illustrations originally paired with Brown's (Goodnight Moon ) text back in 1952 (the book was created as a companion to the Caldecott Honor title A Child's Good Night Book ). “A squirrel pops out of his hole in the tree. Who woke me up? The sun! The sun is up!” announces a typical spread. Katz turns on the twee faucet: she shows a cutest-ever baby playing peek-a-boo with a blanket while birdies, bunnies and a dozing horsey (with a silver-white mane) array themselves about the smiling squirrel's tree. Katz's legions of fans will certainly rejoice to see her signature kewpie doll–like characters cavorting to the words of the grande dame. But those who love Brown for her honesty and directness may just shake their heads. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)