Baby Dunks-a-Lot

A tiny tot exhibits slam-dunk prowess in this lean basketball narrative by Tatum and Apple. Taught to shoot hoops in his own backyard, diaper-clad Baby Dunks-a-Lot, portrayed with brown skin, catches the attention of the Ballers, a basketball team in need of dunking talent. As the little one joins up, Gordon's digital illustrations show the young player misinterpreting basketball lingo ("pick-and-roll" results in nose-picking and floor-rolling), belting "Baby Shark" on the bus, and trying to keep his pacifier in his mouth. As he takes the court in the championship game despite his parents' late-breaking concern ("We don't think a baby is ready to be a professional basketball player"), his loved ones rally behind him, celebrating his achievements. It's a sportsball send-up poised to remind readers of young collaborators' ample strengths. Secondary characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)

NBA All-Star Tatum and co-author Apple follow a talented baby unmatched in his dunking ability--as long as he can pause for naptime. Baby Dunks-a-Lot's origin story is a simple one: Punk kids refuse to let him play basketball, but his loving family teaches him to shoot hoops. And what else would you call a dunking baby who develops a devoted following? The attention leads rather quickly to Baby D signing with the Ballers, alongside a supportive player who appears to be co-author Tatum. Baby D charms his teammates and the league as surely as he'll charm readers; he helps bring the Ballers all the way to the championship game with his savvy pint-sized play. But lost pacifiers, missed bedtimes, and mid-game teething take a toll on the star baby player, and eventually his family expresses doubts about the appropriateness of pro sports for a baby. The championship is on the line, however, and a baby's got to do what a baby's got to do. Goofy digital illustrations of Baby D picking his nose and rolling around the court--"I think he [misunderstands] the pick-and-roll"--are paired with comic book--like speech bubbles, making for a delightful read. Sports fans will enjoy fun references ("There's no biting in basketball!") and cameos from famous ballers such as Steph Curry and LeBron James. Baby Dunks-a-Lot and his family are Black. Silly and sporty in equal measure. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.