Reviews: (by author)

McElmurry, Jill. I’m Not a Baby! Illustrated by Jill McElmurry. New York: Schwartz and Wade, 2006. ISBN 0-375-83614-4. $16.95. Ages 4-8.

Leo Leotardi is a boy on a mission. He must get a message across to his family. Leo’s message, “I’m not a baby,” becomes his emphatic mantra as he tries to break free from his assigned role. Leo finds changing his family’s perception to be a difficult task because everything he requests—waffles, “big boy pants,” permission to climb trees and to go to school—are denied because he is only a baby. As the book progresses, however, it becomes apparent Leo’s family members are delusional; he is a growing boy forced to dress in a light blue romper and baby booties. Even as he graduates high school, gets a job, and marries, his family sees him as a baby. Only when Leo’s own baby calls out for his Daddy are they able to recognize him as the adult he has become.

Children will love the humor in this book, found in the narrative and especially in the illustrations. The story chronicles some of Leo’s achievements, like playing the violin and starring in a school play, but does not mention his constant wearing of baby clothes. This detail is left as a humorous visual. There is also humor in the anachronistic elements found in the illustrations. The story is set in Edwardian times, yet the nanny wears Converse sneakers and the mother’s coffee of choice is Starbucks. McElmurry uses an unusual and bold color scheme, favoring hues of avocado green and salmon pink that harmonizes perfectly with the understated text.

Despite its humor, this book has an important message. Being the youngest, Leo’s family pigeonholes him into the role they need him to play. In the process, they discount Leo’s feelings and deny him opportunities to grow. Adults reading this story will see the futility and preposterousness of wanting to keep someone a baby forever, while children who are being coddled can be inspired by Leo’s eventual triumph.

Highly recommended.
Kira Hall, June 2007

Back to reviews L-Q