Barney by Mark S. Bernthal (1996, Hardcover, Illustrated)

ISBN 0307987906 - As a Little Golden Book collector, I had to have this one. As a parent of a first generation Barney fan, whose kid is now an adult, I don't look forward to Barney anything. I feel Barney-ed out.

Baby Bop has a special yellow blankey and a reluctance to share it with anyone. Whenever anyone asks her to share it, she happily offers to share other things in place of the blankey - but she maintains a hold on her most special possession. Until, that is, Snuggles the cat falls into the pool and needs to be dried off so that she doesn't catch a cold; then Baby Bop offers the blankey even before she's asked.

As I said, I'm not a Barney fan, but my review has nothing to do with that. Here are the problems I have with the book: "blankey". I don't, and never did, use baby-talk and find it annoying. My kid spoke clearly, early, and I've always believed in the studies that show that children who are spoke to in a normal tone of voice, using adult-speak (as opposed to baby-talk) learn to talk earlier. I also dislike the fact that the book promotes the untrue notion that being wet will cause someone, even if it is a cat, to catch a cold. Colds are caused by germs, not old wives' tales. That all aside, I think Sharing is Caring really does deserve 4 stars. The messages in here - you can share some things but don't have to share everything and sharing with someone in need, when you DO want to, is especially nice - are great for any child, particularly children about to welcome a new baby into the family. Barney fans will, of course, love the book.

- AnnaLovesBooks