Wondered over by parents who speculate on what he will be when he grows up, young Maurice surprises and delights his family when they discover he has a special gift that promises an exciting future. When Maurice Duncan Marcela is born, everyone in his family is eager to see what he will become. Secretly, they each believe and hope he will follow in their own footsteps. Papa sees Maurice as a baker, like him. Mama notes his watchful eyes and is convinced her son will be a writer, like her. Uncle Eddie is sure Maurice, with his tapping toes, will join him as a taxi driver. As the baby grows older, each of his relatives takes him into their worlds outside the apartment. And sure enough, he does love the smells and textures of the bakery, the activity of his mother's office, and the swirling streets from the window of his uncle's taxi. But the best feeling of all, every time, is listening to the sounds of the city. And one day, while Maurice is taking a bath, all those sounds take shape in a song that rises from his throat in a rich, clear voice that overflows into the kitchen where his family stops what they're doing and listens. And finally they know: Maurice has something all his own, too. Rebecca Bond crafts a lovely, gentle story about the joys and surprises of finding out who you are. Maurice and his family, in the "hot, bustling city" with its many fantastic details, will reach out to readers, inviting a lingering visit and offering plenty to think about. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter PreSchool-Grade 3-A well-structured story with family, love, and pride as its key ingredients. From the day that little Maurice is brought home from the hospital, members of his family see a bit of themselves in the child's features and predict that he will follow in their footsteps. "'Look! He has my large hands!' exclaimed Papa. 'He'll be a baker, just like me.'" As the boy grows, the relatives take him to work and show him what they do. Whether he is in his uncle's taxi, his mother's office, or his grandmother's greenhouse, the child sings along with the sounds around him. His family doesn't seem to notice his love of music, though, until the night they overhear him singing in the tub. His voice is so beautiful that they are thrilled and cheer, "The first singer in the Marcela family!-Bravo, Maurice!" Stylized, flat acrylic illustrations add a note of fun and fantasy to the story. Buildings seem to bend toward the characters, street scenes are filled to overflowing, and many of the interior scenes and walls and tables are filled with humorous details. It's difficult to tell how old Maurice is and he's portrayed as sitting in the front seat of his uncle's cab, knees pulled up to his chin, looking way too small to even be seated in the front. Despite the strong text and amusing illustrations, this is an unusual subject for a picture book that might have trouble finding its audience. Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Ages 4-8. When newborn Maurice Marcela arrives home to an apartment crowded with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents gathered to celebrate his arrival, it is clear that he will be growing up in a supportive environment. As he grows, he learns about the professions of his relatives: Uncle Eddie the cab driver, Papa the baker, Mama the writer, Grandma the gardener. He wants to be like all of them, and by the end of this tale, he is--at the same time establishing himself as an individual. Maurice's family is loving and wise, and his relatives enthusiastically applaud the decision he makes: "Bravo, Maurice!" Younger listeners may find the text a bit long, but they'll be rewarded by a wonderful sense of warmth and security and illustration jam-packed with details that make Maurice's big-city neighborhood and joyful busy life great fun. Tim Arnold Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved "...brimming with cozy details..." -- Publishers Weekly, 9/18/00 "Rebecca Bond grew up in the Northeast Kingdom region of Vermont. She graduated from Brown University and also studied illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. This is her second book for children."