Seven Babies
by Forest Xiao; illus. by the author
Preschool    Candlewick    32 pp.
9/25    9781536245097    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781536248838    $18.99

One morning, a box of “SEVEN babies” delivers themselves to door #14: “DING-DONG!” A surprised woman and man greet them and invite them inside. For the rest of the day, the babies make themselves at home, playing, bathing, and being an adorable handful. Xiao’s digitally finished gouache and pencil illustrations feature distinct line art, loosely colored, projecting a homey quality that reflects the organized chaos of this instant family’s day. The babies are dressed in bright yellow onesies in different patterns (including one with zzzzs on a baby who is usually asleep with a blankie). They only brought along a tiny ladybug that readers can spot on every spread and a book about seven little peas in a pod that they all read together before bed. Aside from their matching yellow clothes, the round-headed babies are a diverse group, and the facial expressions and behaviors of the simply drawn characters are realistic and endearing. After the couple falls asleep, the babies depart with their box and a few new accessories (the woman’s sleeping mask, a tasty sock, and the man’s glasses). “What will they do next?” Exhausted caregivers and young listeners may have different answers to the book’s final question, but Xiao’s lighthearted story about celebrating new arrivals—even seven of them—is sure to be enjoyed by all.

From the September/October 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.