Mama Lou's Belly

PreS-Gr 3--A family is preparing for a new baby, and everyone is trying to guess what's in Mama Lou's belly! A bird is worried it might be a new cat that will try to eat her. The cat is hoping it's a big fat mouse for her to eat. The ball in the living room is sure that it will be another ball. Grandpa hopes the new baby will not be bald like he is. Big Sister is hoping for a doll to dress up and play with. As each character tells about what they are thinking, the baby, from inside Mama Lou, also makes comments about what it will and won't be. Once the baby is born, there is no gender reveal and the author uses gender neutral pronouns with the baby. This is a fun story to read because, as Daddy says in the story, "Expecting a baby is a gift!" The warm artwork and gently rendered characters echo the love and affection the family feels for each other that the text projects. This would be a good addition to libraries with populations of young or growing families. It would also make a good lesson about making predictions, as well as point of view. VERDICT A welcome addition to libraries looking to add books about new babies to their collections.--Debbie Tanner