Poppy’s Best Babies

Poppy, a little bunny with ears so long they trail to the floor, is excited that her beloved grandmother GeeGee has come to help with her new twin sisters. But the twins occupy most of GeeGee’s time; she’s too busy to make crafts with Poppy and can’t even stay awake while reading her a bedtime story. Poppy finally reaches a breaking point. “Worst babies!” she shouts, throwing a tantrum in the kitchen, “Worst Grandma!” Bonnet’s mixed media and collage illustrations start out winsome, but Bonnet soon shows she can make Poppy’s disappointment, hurt, and righteous anger visceral and authentic. In this follow-up to Poppy’s Best Paper, Eaddy takes an unhurried approach to storytelling, giving emotional depth to a familiar tale of displacement. Readers will feel sympathy for Poppy, though the tough situation ultimately leads her to become more self-reliant and capable of putting others first. Ages 5–8. (May)