Xiao, Forest. Seven Babies. Forest Xiao, Illus. Candlewick, 08/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-5362-4509-7. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Preschool. ADDITIONAL.
Seven babies, in an open box, show up in front of a door. A couple takes them in, entertains them, plays with them, feeds and bathes them, all while the babies cause quite the ruckus as they crawl all over the place. Brief text combines with the gouache, pencil, and digital illustrations such that readers focus on the babies and the adults instead of the setting. The babies have various skin colors, though all are dressed in similar, yellow onesie outfits. Young readers will enjoy the baby antics, including that the babies seem to take their box and continue off to somewhere else at the end.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library