WANTED: The Cutest Baby in the World

WANTED: The Cutest Baby in the World (Penguin Random House ) Davina Bell & Sarah Zweck PB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781760765323

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Davina Bell is an award-winning children’s author widely known for her best-selling picture books. Her wit, humour and heart-pulling messages shine in her words.  Her stories combine playful language with themes of belonging, emotional growth, creativity and everyday adventures. She collaborates with talented illustrators to bring her rich, expressive stories to life.

Sarah Zweck is a Melbourne-based picture book artist/illustrator who originally trained in fashion design in the UK. After becoming a parent, she embarked on a career in picture books. Play is at the forefront of her work; she creates expressive characters that evoke humour and heart. She loves working with mixed media, using materials that allow her to experiment with mark-making, colour, and texture.

A bedtime knock brings a detective hot on the trail of a master criminal — a true agent of chaos known only as the Cutest Baby in the World. Mum and Dad swear he’s not there. While they chat with the detective and learn parenting insights, the baby silently wreaks havoc right under everyone’s nose.

Davina Bell’s masterful storytelling creates not only a unique story, but one that waltzes perfectly with the visuals, which speak for the baby. We all know babies can’t talk — but their actions certainly do. The concept of a granny-style detective hunting for the Cutest Baby in the World, told through an interview-style narrative full of engaging dialogue, delivers plenty of laughs—especially for adults reading the book aloud to their children. ‘Count yourself lucky,’ said the detective, ‘because if The Cutest baby in the World gets a hold of you, he will make you do dastardly deeds.’

The voice is strong and highly engaging, offering a fresh and original spin on parenthood. It’s different and thoroughly entertaining. The dialogue mirrors natural conversation, so when read aloud, it flows effortlessly. Throughout the story, there are moments that make you pause, smile, and sigh: “That’s so true.” The ending has a perfect sweetener. Just like a box of chocolates, you never really know what to expect, but this picture book is yummy and makes you feel good inside.

Sarah Zweck’s illustrations are joyful and bright — the kind that make your heart sing. The facial expressions and body language are lifelike and humorous. The characterisation is strong: the baby is irresistibly adorable, the parents perfectly captured with the look and feel of new parenthood, and, hilariously, the detective has a nana-like presence that oozes with parenting wisdom. This brings so much energy to the story.

Everyday home life is lovingly depicted, with a well-balanced layout that mixes single- and double-page spreads. The family cat and dog quietly feature alongside the baby, adding richness and an extra layer of fun. The baby’s antics are laugh-out-loud funny and true-to-life, and the varied colour palette is happy, vibrant, and engaging.

WANTED: The Cutest Baby in the World is a picture book that has appeal to both adults and children. It’s great for 4-6-year-olds as it focuses on listening and engagement with the illustrations. It will be popular with children, parents, libraries and schools. It really would make a wonderful gift for anyone embarking upon the wondrous world of parenting.