Baby is supposed to be sleeping. But while Mama and Papa engage in a variety of chores, Baby dances the polka, the cha-cha, the boogie-woogie and more with various stuffed animals in this hilarious lift-the-flap book. Karen Beaumont’s spirited rhyming text has a lilting, musical cadence that is irresistible. Jennifer Plecas’s illustrations, in ink, acrylics, watercolor, and gouache, are pleasing without being sweet—there’s just enough edge to make Baby, Mama, and Papa intriguing. Each time Baby gets out of bed, the story builds to a moment of revelation that pays off with great satisfaction (with the conclusion of a predictable rhyme) and delight (the sight of Baby swinging with one stuffed animal after another) with the lift of a flap. Highly Commended, 2005 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Birth-3 years)