Thirsty Baby - Hardcover

PreS-K. In this rhyming variation of the folktale "The Cat and the Parrot," Baby is thirsty. After finishing his bottle, he downs the bathtub water, the pond in the park, and the rolling river. But it isn't until he has drained the shining sea that he declares, "That's enough!" "He started with a sip, and he finished with a sup, / And the shining sea of silver, he drank it all up." McPhail's watercolor-and-ink illustrations bounce with just the right amount of exaggeration. Unlike the original folktale, the water here doesn't come back up, but Baby does vow not to drink another drop--until bedtime. Youngsters will love the premise and find the preposterous notion of Baby downing oceans of water very funny. The subtle reinforcement of the idea of extended family (grandparents appears in several scenes) is a nice touch. The towheaded baby conveys a typical baby's persistence with good humor that gives new meaning to the words, "I'm thirsty." Julie Cummins
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PreSchool-Thirsty Baby drinks his bottle, but it's not enough, so he swallows the water in the bathtub, the pond, the river, and finally the ocean. When Grandpa searches for another source of water, the baby burps and assures everyone that he has had enough-at least until bedtime. McPhail's signature watercolors with their oddly proportioned people sporting oversized heads and noses lend just the right touch of humor to this amusing tale. Preschoolers will laugh at the infant's insatiable thirst, as rivers run dry and the ocean floor is nothing but sand and sea creatures, and sunken items. With its large pictures and repetitive phrases ("He started with a sip, and he finished with a sup"), this rhyming story is sure to become a storytime favorite.
Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA
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