Hello, friends! Our book today is Max & Ruby And Twin Trouble by Rosemary Wells, a gentle tale of what happens when not one, but two new babies are added to the titular siblings’ lives.

Latest in the pair’s series of adventures, Max and Ruby are preparing for the arrival of a new baby in their household. The oldest, Ruby is sure that she is practically an expert, especially after practicing with her Hannah the Howler baby doll. She even knows where babies come from, and tries to explain it to the younger Max, who insists he already knows: babies come from taxis, just like their little cousins did. Ruby attempts to get him to practice with Hannah, and while he watches with interest, he doesn’t quite understand the difference between a pretend baby and the soon-to-be real thing. Then the big day comes, but when mommy and daddy arrive home (in a taxi), there’s not just one new baby – there’s two! Ruby and Max help out however they can to keep the busy household moving along. That is, until one day when the twins simply won’t stop crying, and cannot be consoled. But it’s playful Max who just might have the unorthodox solution…

Sweet. Max and Ruby, despite being giant anthropomorphic rabbits, are refreshingly childlike in their interactions and logic, and this innocence leads to some gentle and relatable comedy. It’s also nice to see the pair genuinely excited for their new sibling(s), even if they’re a little misinformed; while many new baby books only explore the apprehension surrounding the family addition, this one shows excitement, and the helpful things little ones can do during this hectic time. The illustrations fit these themes of innocence and light humor; my only issue is the Hannah the Howler doll, which was just legitimately scary-looking, with her giant, sunken-looking eyes and lifeless open-mouthed grin. However, she serves a humorous point to the plot on two occasions, and so can be forgiven. The length is fine, and JJ enjoyed it, so we’ll call this one Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)