World So Wide

Toddler-PreS–Young parents’ love for their new baby abounds as they cherish each of its first moments. A light-skinned baby is born to a blonde father and brunette mother and moves through the early days, cuddling their parents and taking in the wide world around them. McGhee uses the gender neutral “they” gracefully and short rhyming stanzas switch from the third to second person as the child grows up and has a baby of their own. The description of the baby being for one single moment the “youngest person alive” is a lovely concept. However, there is a disconnect between this statement and the illustrations, as the supposedly new baby, who takes in their first sights, smells, and sounds, appears to be in a later stage of infancy. Despite this artistic license that Alizadeh takes, her delightful digital illustrations bring to mind watercolor crayons with a bright and vibrant array of colors. The skies and landscapes are reminiscent of Impressionism and the simple faces of parents and child express joy and wonder.