cover image Now That I’m Here

Now That I’m Here

Aaron Meshon. Dial, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7352-2936-5

Meshon (Delivery) celebrates the making of a family from a young child’s point of view (“They couldn’t wait to meet me”), comparing the tranquility of life in a two-adult household with the uproar that a baby brings. “Before” spreads are rendered in calm, cool shades, and “after” spreads are shown against warm red. “Breakfast used to be super dull” describes a scene of parents drinking green tea and espresso in quiet serenity; “Now breakfast is so awesome” accompanies an image of a cluttered table with cereal puffs, the child’s paintings, and an overturned juice glass. “Time to GET READY!” reads a banner above images of the grown-ups hurrying to pull garments over their heads: “They are late again!” the family bulldog complains. A cross-cultural theme is subtly introduced: red-haired, freckled Dad eats leftovers for lunch; Mom is Japanese and brings tamagoyaki in her bento. Meshon’s rounded, marshmallowy shapes carry cheerful, goofy energy that amplifies the cozy chaos in this fresh perspective on how children expand their parents’ lives. Ages 3–5. [em]Agent: Rubin Pfeffer, Rubin Pfeffer Content. (May) [/em]