Honey Baby Sugar Child FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Debra Briatico
In this touching picture book, a mother tenderly expresses her unconditional love for her toddler son. She shows her love by holding her son in her arms and hugging him tightly, giving him gentle kisses on his cheeks, twirling and running with him in the green grass, and playing games, such as patty-cake with him. No matter what time of day or what activity they are involved in, she always takes the opportunity to share her affections with her son. It is easy for readers to see how much this mother loves her son, and how important he is to her. This endearing story is a perfect read-aloud for bedtime or anytime parents want to remind their children how much they mean to them. Young readers will enjoy the soothing, poetic text, as well as the warm, endearing artwork. 2005, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Ages 3 to 6.
School Library Journal
PreS-Rhythmic, somewhat dialectal prose combines with Keeter's warm and expressive oil paintings to convey a sense of song and motion across the pages of this simple book. Heartwarming scenes of an African-American mother and child cuddling, playing, dancing, and napping together are sure to evoke powerful feelings of love, nurturing, and security in both parent and child. Pair this lyrical offering with one of these other stories depicting young children, mostly African American, within the context of a loving family: Trish Cooke's So Much (1994) and Full, Full, Full of Love (2003, both Candlewick); Ann Tyler's Baby Dance (1999); and Vera B. Williams's "More More More," Said the Baby (1990, both HarperCollins).-Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
The use of oils on gessoed paper makes for extraordinarily rich painting, and Keeter's double-paged, full-bleed, beautifully colored illustrations have a delicious power. A mother and her son fill these pages, usually in tight close-up, while the mom cuddles her little one, feeds him, takes him out to run in the grass and play patty-cake. Mom, with her gold jewelry, corn-rows, and open, smiling face is as beautiful as her bright-eyed little one-who appears to be about one or two-is cute. And what does she say? What all moms say, crooning a maternal love song: "Sugar Child, / Sweet Puddin' 'n' Pie, / Lord knows / it's true what I say. . . . You the star in my crown. / You the joy in my smile. / You the angel in my dreams." This paean to maternal heart's delight is couched in lilting language with a touch of black or Southern intonation, excellent for reading aloud and rocking along. (Picture book. 3-7)
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