Shady Baby

by Gabrielle Union, Tara Nicole Whitaker (Illustrator), Dwyane Wade

Overview

*AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*

*A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER*

Shady Baby keeps it real in this picture book collaboration by New York Times bestselling duo actress and producer Gabrielle Union and NBA superstar and businessman Dwyane Wade.

Based on their famous baby girl, Kaavia James:

After a long morning of being fabulous, Shady Baby heads to the park for a relaxing play session. But what does she find?! Some not-so-nice kids picking on others.

Shady flashes them a look—her famous side eye—and teaches them that it’s better to play nice. But when her feelings are hurt, will anyone stand (or crawl) by her side?

Find out in this upbeat picture book that teaches kids to speak their minds and stand up for what they believe in. Perfect for fans of The Boss Baby and Feminist Baby! 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063054035
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/18/2021
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Gabrielle Union is an actress, executive producer, activist, best-selling author and most recently, a Time100 cover honoree. Union formed her production shingle “I’ll Have Another” in 2018 with the goal of telling stories that center marginalized communities with their specific point of views in an authentic manner. In August of 2020, she relaunched her haircare brand “Flawless by Gabrielle Union” for women with textured hair. The new and improved collection includes an array of options, affordably priced between $4 - $10, that empowers consumers to customize a regimen specific to their texture and style preferences. Prior to relaunching Flawless, Union learned of the disparities in the food space and joined Bitsy's as a cofounder with the goal of making healthy, allergen- friendly, school-safe snacks that are accessible and affordable for all families regardless of their socioeconomic or geographical status. Her first book, We’re Going To Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated and True, was released in 2017 and instantly became a New York Times best seller. Union serves as a leader and advocate for inclusion in the entertainment industry. She is also a champion of breast health and combating sexual violence.

Tara Nicole Whitaker’s education in art began early, from classes at Pratt in her youth to more formal training at RISD and California Institute of the Arts. She has designed for Dreamworks, Nickelodeon, Fox Animation, PBS, CBS, Cartoon Network, and Disney. 

Dwyane Wade is a three-time NBA champion, businessman, TV analyst, producer, activist, and philanthropist. He played in the NBA from 2003 to 2019, primarily for the Miami Heat. Wade is the New York Times bestselling author of A Father First and co-author of Shady Baby. He is the father of five children: Zaire, Zaya, Xavier, Kaavia James, and his nephew Dahveon.

Editorial Reviews

"Laid out in rollicking rhyme, the text sets a pace as energetic as its protagonist, keeping the pages turning and the rhythm bouncing for storytime read-alouds and independent readers alike. Serving looks and a little bit of shade with every reread." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

06/18/2021

PreS-Gr 1—Meet Shady Baby, an expressive baby who wears her emotions out in the open. She's a trendsetter, beat maker, and athlete, but most importantly, she's someone who speaks up when she sees bad things happening. Doing the right thing isn't always easy, but she finds a way to do it in her Shady Baby way. She sets an example for her friends and shows them the importance of playing fair and standing up for each other. This gorgeously illustrated picture book introduces the world to Shady Baby, who is inspired by the authors' daughter. The title character helps model essential interpersonal communication practices for the picture book's audience. Her choice to share even when she doesn't want to reminds children that they should always be kind. The book's vibrant color palette portrays a variety of skin tones, giving kids a refreshing and necessary example of representation. VERDICT This is not only a fun, lesson-filled journey about standing up for yourself and your friends, making it a valuable addition to picture book collections.—Myiesha Speight, formerly at Towson Univ., Baltimore

School Library Journal

2021-04-14
Inspired by the authors’ own daughter, Shady Baby brings a vivacious style and presence to every part of her day and to all the people she cares about.

“Shady might be tiny / but she’s a mighty big deal!” Her day starts by coordinating fashion, then she drops beats at the pool and plays a quick pickup game with her stuffed animals, all followed by a trip to the park. When trouble brews among other kids at the park, who argue over swings and fall short on sharing, Shady steps up. “Shady stands real tall / flashing her famous side-eye. / Then she says to [the kids] / ‘You should give kindness a try.’ ” And they do, even helping Shady in kind when someone steals her toy. It’s all in a day’s work of being fabulous, and before bed, Shady relaxes and settles in for her favorite family snuggles. Laid out in rollicking rhyme, the text sets a pace as energetic as its protagonist, keeping the pages turning and the rhythm bouncing for storytime read-alouds and independent readers alike. Toddler enthusiasm and artful side-eye come to life in Whitaker’s bright, open spreads and saturated color palette, bringing vibrancy to Shady’s many boss moves. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Serving looks and a little bit of shade with every reread. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews