Everywhere I Go, God Is with Me

In one of five titles kicking off the Best of Li’l Buddies series, Keefer explains that God is always nearby, whether at the beach, riding in a car, or taking a bath. What makes the book distinctive is the messenger: an enormous, smiling blue whale who plays on a seesaw with a group of human children, sits uneasily in a comparatively tiny cart at the grocery store, and sprawls out on a rug at day care. Keefer keeps the text simple and direct (“God is with me... when I am with my friends”), and Perez’s gently textured, Golden Books–retro images bring a welcome dose of absurdity to the book’s comforting message. Up to age 3. (Aug.)