cover image Big Book of Little Children

Big Book of Little Children

Laurence Anholt, Catherine Anholt. Candlewick Press (MA), $15.99 (80pp) ISBN 978-0-7636-2210-7

Gathering another quintet of previously published books, Catherine and Laurence Anholt's Big Book of Little Children by the husband-and-wife team, adapts material from books published between 1991 and 1998. The round-up surveys a range of topics, such as ""What do babies play with?"" (the list includes ""Frizzy hair, saggy bear, Empty box, Daddy's socks"") in a selection called ""Very Little Children"" from Here Come the Babies. There are also some extended verse, as in a poetic portrait of ""Little Children's Families"" from the duo's Big Book of Families: ""Mommy, mommy, sweet as honey, busy as a bee, Buzzing off to earn some money, Buzzing home to me."" The airy watercolor-and-ink spot illustrations have enough level of knowing detail to prompt plenty of pointing and commentary. (Sept.)