Baa Haa

January 15, 2025
Laughter isn't always the best medicine. Babette the sheep's always giggling and acting silly. She enjoys making others laugh, too, so her pals call her Baa Haa. Babette doesn't just chuckle when she hears something funny; she laughs when she's surprised, excited, glad, nervous, or scared--even when she's in trouble. Unfortunately, masking her discomfort with laughter is giving her a stomachache. She ignores her pain and tries different ploys to feel better. Nothing works. When her pals ask if she's OK, Babette puts on a brave front but quickly breaks down. With friendly support, Babette's knot unravels, and she giggles, confessing she'd felt "sheepish" for always concealing her emotions. She's assured that, among friends, she needn't pretend: "All feelings are welcome." Thereafter, Babette always displays her feelings; so do her pals. "Because that's what true friends do." This tale should reassure children, though most kids probably won't need reminders to display emotions; they're usually transparent about their feelings. Still, youngsters who are reluctant to open up might feel less constrained after reading Babette's story--and everyone will appreciate the laughter. Adults will have to explain the numerous puns, some based on sheep bleats, such as "baah-bles," "baah-utiful," and "Maah-nicures." The humorous scribbly, cartoony illustrations, starring a googly-eyed all-animal cast, feature onomatopoeic sound effects representing laughter and are set in colored type. A chuckle-worthy reminder that kids needn't feel sheepish for showing their vulnerable sides.(Picture book. 4-7)

COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.