Never Give a Baby a Library Card

The power of books to educate and inspire generates a furor in this goofy story with a serious message. Just as a baby is about to receive their first library card, a “shouty man” halts the proceedings with the titular declaration, adding “ideas come from books, and too many of those/ can lead to big problems, as everyone knows!” The critic notes that books may teach the infant to cook, sew, drive, or even do rocket science, and Sandberg’s perky rhymes identify consequences ranging from silly to nonsensical (“The next thing you know, the sun is on fire!”). Booth’s digital artwork adds humor through lightly shaded, fully realized depictions of infants running a fancy restaurant (on the menu: baby carrots) and designing expensive “Pradada” diapers for people of all ages. When the alarmist, chastened by child library patrons, eventually stands down, the story shifts abruptly to an empowering appreciation of reading. Illustrations portray figures with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)