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The Baby That Roared    by Simon Puttock & Nadia Shireen Amazon.com order for
Baby That Roared
by Simon Puttock
Order:  USA  Can
Candlewick, 2012 (2012)
Hardcover, Softcover
* *   Reviewed by Bob Walch

Mr. and Mrs. Deer have wished for a baby for a very long time. Imagine their delight when, one day, they find a bundle on the doorstep with the following note attached:

'I am a dear little baby. Please love me and read me lots and lots of stories.'

Even though the baby looks a little peculiar and even though the baby is inclined to roar a lot, the Deer family embraces the new arrival. Unfortunately, the baby doesn't like cheese, toast, cabbage, cucumbers or even cauliflower. He just keeps roaring and nothing seems to satisfy him.

At this point Mr. and Mrs. Deer begin asking friends if they know what to do. And, oddly enough, something peculiar starts to happen. Whenever the Deers leave the baby in the room alone with a friend, they find the adult gone when they come back. How peculiar!

Eventually Granny Bear is consulted to see if she can figure out why the baby keeps roaring. 'I know exactly what to do. This baby need burping,' she says.

With that, she begins to pat the baby on the back and, sure enough, a humongous 'BURP!' is the result. But, what a surprise! Along with the burp, the baby coughed up all the family's missing friends. Oh dear!

'That's not a dear little baby! That is a LITTLE MONSTER!' cried Granny Bear. With that surprising revelation, the baby took to his heels and ran into the forest. Mr. and Mrs. Deer then decided perhaps adopting a kitten would be a good idea!

This bizarre but funny picture book will tickle the fancy of any youngster who enjoys weird stories. Granted, it is strange, but it is probably exactly what quite a few children will find terribly amusing. Imagine a baby eating people? How deliciously silly!

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