Review by Annie Cronin Romano
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After couples marry, most go on a honeymoon to enjoy time together--just the two of them--before returning to the business of everday life. But what about when a baby is born? The arrival of a new little one is often paired with pressure to share every moment, be it through social media or a constant flow of visits from relatives and friends. Amidst the excitement, the importance of having new family time is often lost. This need to take time to bond as a family is the focus of Hayley Barrett's debut picture book, BABYMOON (Candlewick, 2019). A couple and their newborn are depicted, cherishing each moment and learning from first experiences, joys, doubts, and amazements. In BABYMOON, Barrett's lyrical text is warm and reassuring. The value of taking a "babymoon" to spend quality time together with your little bundle is lovingly highlighted with a sweet, lulling rhythm. Juana Martinez-Neal's illustrations, using smooth, curved lines and a neutral pallet of yellows and browns, are as soft and cozy as a baby's blanket. Visually soothing and with text that hums like a sweet lullaby, BABYMOON is one picture book every new family should hold close to the heart. (Fiction picture book for ages 2-5) 

On Writing
Hayley Barrett’s debut is a strong example of sparse, lyrical text with stunning impact and beauty.

For more information on Hayley Barrett’s work, visit https://hayleybarrett.com/about-hayley/.
​To learn more about Juana Martinez-Neal's work, visit her website at http://juanamartinezneal.com/.

 ​Review by Amanda Smith
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Often, in order to help preschoolers make sense of their world, adults organize things into perfectly logical groups. As children grow and learn, they discover the lines between these groups are blurred, and sometimes well-defined groups become barriers. Xander Panda learns a similar lesson when he wants to throw a bear affair, but discovers his friend, Koala, is not a bear. XANDER'S PANDA PARTY (Clarion Books; 2013) is a fun rhyming picture book about inclusivity and what happens when we expand our borders.

Written by Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park and illustrated by Matt Phelan, XANDER'S PANDA PARTY is an attention grabbing read-aloud pleasure. The text dances off the tongue with a happy rhythm and playful rhyme. Flawless, whimsical internal and end rhyme make this book titillating to read, and provide enough silly-factor to satisfy young readers (and listeners).

The humorous, ink and watercolor illustrations further enhance the read. Each animal is illustrated with considered character: Show-off black bear, shy grizzly, an adorable polar bear pair, a cuddly baby penguin, a tower of turtles that will melt your heart, and of course, Xander himself with bucket loads of personality. Young readers will take pleasure at each page turn when they are introduced to new animals, and Xander’s growing party conundrum.
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Xander’s Panda Party is a perfect choice for story time and is definitely one of those books adults won’t mind to read again, and again, and one more time please.