Baby bilby's question by Sally Morgan
![cover image](https://www.readplus.com.au/covers/babybilby.jpg)
Ill. by Adele Jaunn. Little Hare, 2012. ISBN 978 1 92174 85 6.
(Ages 3-5) Recommended. Picture book. Animals. Family. Baby bilby has
just one question of his father, 'How long will you love me?'After that
each double page shows one of his responses, each beginning with the
word, 'until'. Smaller children will simply love to hear Dad's
responses to the baby's question as they turn each page, nestled warmly
in the arms of a parent or sibling. Each response underlines the
fact that love between a father and his young is forever, the days are
beyond counting, it is infinite. Each response will elicit other
comparisons form the audience as they too try to formulate the time of
a father's love.
Each line is alliterative, adding to the fun of reading it aloud, and
eliciting other words from the readers which begin with the same
letter. Each page's illustrations are wonderful, full of colour and
humour as the animal in question is shown doing the fantastical thing
stated in the text. I love the lazy lizard lying back on the rainbow,
legs crossed, arm behind his head, watching the sky above. Adele
Jaunn's illustrations are understated and will hold the readers'
attention as they seek out the small things in the landscape.
The reassurance the father's words bring to the baby will add to the
feeling of contentment the book brings to its readers, the words used
will add to the vocabulary of the younger readers, encouraging them to
add to the words used in the book, while the illustrations will amuse
and delight as well as inform. A charming book for early readers to
listen and read and talk over with their family members.
Fran Knight