Most picture books about older siblings coping with new babies deal with the sorts of conflict that many preschoolers know all too well: changes in household routine, loss of a parent's undivided attention, and the intrusion of a helpless (and often noisy) stranger. The big sister in My Baby Brother Has Ten Tiny Toes, however, has accepted the newcomer with rare grace and charm. She actually seems to like the little fellow. Maybe it's because the circumstances of his arrival have given her so many things to count: the baby's nose, his two eyes, his three silver spoons, his four hats, his five teddy bears, and so forth, right down to his ten tiny toes. As the big sister counts objects associated with her little brother, the two siblings are shown at play throughout the day while the story moves from morning till night. Artist Clara Vulliamy is quickly establishing herself as one of the finest illustrators of picture books aimed at toddlers because she obviously understands a young child's world view as well as she does an infant's distinctive anatomy. Together the story and pictures make it clear that the best thing in this baby's world is his adoring, attentive older sister. (Ages 1-3)

The busy, jelly bean-colored paintings show such typical infant activities as dressing, playing and bathing . . . young kids will like the focus on the familiar, not to mention the objects to count, and many parents may appreciate the upbeat sibling relationship.--Booklist.