{"id":30931,"date":"2019-01-20T20:39:10","date_gmt":"2019-01-21T00:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=30931"},"modified":"2019-01-20T20:39:10","modified_gmt":"2019-01-21T00:39:10","slug":"review-of-next-to-you-by-lori-haskins-houran-and-sydney-hanson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=30931","title":{"rendered":"Review of Next to You, by Lori Haskins Houran and Sydney Hanson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Next to You<\/p>\n

A Book of Adorableness<\/em><\/p>\n

by Lori Haskins Houran
\npictures by Sydney Hanson<\/p>\n

Albert Whitman & Company, Chicago, 2016. 32 pages.<\/p>\n

I was recently asked what would make a good baby shower gift, if you didn\u2019t want to buy a pink fluffy outfit. Naturally, being a librarian, I suggested a book.<\/p>\n

Next time I\u2019m on the spot like that, I will think of this book. Yes, it\u2019s designed to be a gift book and has a place for an inscription at the front. It\u2019s designed to be read by a parent or doting relative to a small child.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m resistant to such blatant design lures. But even I have to admit \u2013 this book is utterly adorable!<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how it begins:<\/p>\n

Next to you,
\nthe softest puppy in the world
\nis only kind of<\/em> cute.<\/p>\n

Two kittens with a ball of yarn?<\/p>\n

A line of fuzzy yellow ducklings?<\/p>\n

A squirrel eating a doughnut
\nwith his tiny hands?<\/p>\n

Adorable, sure.
\nBut next to you?
\nMeh. Just OK.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Naturally, there are big-eyed, sweet pictures to accompany this catalog of cute creatures. At the end, after saying all these critters are nothing next to you, the reader emphasizes that where they like<\/em> to be is next to you, and we\u2019ve got a cozy picture of all the adorable animals cuddled up next to each other.<\/p>\n

Grandmas, do you have the cutest grandchild ever? This book will be a lovely welcoming gift to read to them over and over again.<\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/next_to_you.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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