A baby’s life can be pretty tough. This baby would love to join his sister and the other big kids in their active games, but he’s just learning to walk. He bemoans his limited diet, which is due to his lack of teeth. As the baby goes through his day, from waking up with a wet diaper to naptime in his crib, he shares his woes over everything he cannot do and cannot control. Each complaint is followed by a matching classic blues-style response. From his crib he sings, “I’m a baby, / Paying my baby dues / B-A-B-Y, baby, / Got those locked-up baby blues.” Fortunately, he lives in a home with an attentive mother and a loving sister and his blues are quickly diminished with hugs and kisses. A diverse cast of characters and charming illustrations of everyday activities add to the appeal of this book. (Ages 3–7)

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of an infant is really like? In this bluesy story, sometimes being a baby is enough to make you cry.

Oh, baby, wouldn’t it be grand to be a baby? No worries, no woes, the whole world doing everything for you. Like floating down easy street. . . . But wait one guitar-pickin’ minute. That’s a lie! Babies can’t talk, can’t walk, can’t even really chew. It’s enough to make the baby in this story blue, blue, blue. So get ready for a sad tale of soggy diapers, mushy meals, and sleepin’ behind bars that may make you cry, too — but more likely will make you giggle! Jamming with illustrator Lauren Tobia, Carol Diggory Shields gives a tip of the fedora to B.B. King in an ode to babyhood that’ll have readers feeling anything but blue.