|
|
|
|
The Babysitter
SiNgs
illustrated
by Mélisande Potter
Holt,
2004
|
*Bank
Street’s Best Children’s Books, 2005
*Starred
review, Kirkus
|
| From
the
book jacket: |
|
Baby
cheeps like a bird,
and I know why.
When
Mama and Papa go out,
Baby starts to cry.
It’s hard when Mama and Papa leave home. You
want to go with them. You want them to stay. You want to know just when
they’ll return; and still, it’s not soon enough. But there’s lots of
fun to be had with a loving babysitter on the watch. Just listen as she
sings playful, comforting songs. Listen, listen and know "Mama’s
coming home. Papa won’t be long. Hush, little bird. I’ll sing you one
more song.”
With nursery-rhyme images pulled from
traditional lullabies of Africa, Spain, and Caribbean islands, this
soothing picture book reassures young children that Mama and Papa will
indeed be back home soon.
|
| A little
about the book: |
So many friends,
family, and editors helped with this project! It started out as a
collection of lullabies, some of which my husband translated, and then
it eventually evolved, with Christy Ottaviano at the helm, into a
picture book. I discovered along the way how rich and varied slumber
songs are, and how many of them are sung by babysitters, and also how
very important lullabies are not only in soothing fussy babies but
allowing caregivers to express their feelings. Lullabies offer insight
into the differences and similarities of cultures around the world.
Interestingly, researchers have come to the
conclusion that babies hear music in the womb and that infant brains
are predisposed to a universal musical structure. In fact, said
researcher Sandra Trehub: “The very existence of music and important
aspects of its structure may stem from the relevance of music to
infants.”
So, when a baby is born, and cries, and cries
some more, music is born-- simple, singsong, and rhythmic. Some of the
words might be meaningless--la la la, lu lu lu, yo yo yo, but some
might also describe the realities of a daily life filled with danger,
toil, and poverty, or a caregiver’s hopes, dreams, impatience, worry,
fear, anger, sadness, tenderness, love....
|
| From the reviews: |
“Cheerful tropical
pinks, yellows, greens, and blues enliven this
charming Caribbean nursery tale. A loving babysitter sings to her young
charge, trying to keep him cheerful when Mama and Papa go away....A
white bird, with babies in a nest, flits in and out of the pictures,
one of many details...that toddlers will delight in spying. Young
children and their parents, too, will enjoy this reassuring rhythmical
tale.” Kirkus, starred review
“Done in ink and gouache, the brightly hued
paintings give the book an appealing tropical island setting. The
text’s reassuring tone and the dazzling artwork make this offering a
gem to share with little ones experiencing separation anxiety.” School Library Journal
“Gershator smoothly integrates bits of traditional lullabies from
Africa, Spain, and the Caribbean into original verse in this tribute to
babysitters. Perfectly paired text and pictures follow baby and
caregiver through a full day of games and songs, intermingling images
from the rhymes; the seemless transitions in the text mean readers
won’t miss a bet....As Mama and Papa return under a deep purple sky,
baby and sitter snuggle close, eyes closed--a quiet moment at last. The
book celebrate this undersung relationship while providing a bedtime
resource sure to please little eyes and ears.” Horn Book
|
|
|
|
|
