Babies, whether in snowy dens, warm lagoons, cozy nests, or living rooms, are carried and cuddled, nurtured and nuzzled. This bilingual book is a celebration of the bond between parent and child across the animal kingdom. Stunning images and elegant verse will capture the curiosity of even the youngest readers, while the bilingual text makes this sweet storybook accessible to speakers of both English and Spanish. This lyrical, bilingual book explores the many aspects of childcare in the animal kingdom. Stunning paintings by Mike Speiser, an environmental activist and artist, illustrate tender moments between mother and child. Discussion guides, English and Spanish animal vocabulary, and information about child nutrition in the back of the book extend readers' knowledge of the 18 animals introduced in the pictures. These questions encourage children to explore more about these animals and introduce early STEM concepts like habitats by asking the reader to compare their neighborhood to the jungle, ocean, or arctic. America has the second-largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, and familiarity with both English and Spanish helps children succeed in adulthood. Studies have shown that exposure to multiple languages before age 5 expands a child's cognitive reserve, leading to increased language acquisition and capacity for memory. In addition, poetry encourages an enlarged vocabulary. Carried and Cuddled encompasses all of these linguistic elements, while also introducing STEM and parenting concepts. An extensive Teacher's Guide, available for free download, enhances the book's content, increasing learning opportunities. A beautifully and realistically illustrated book that briefly introduces how animals care for their young. Young children will enjoy seeing care-taking by familiar animals and learning about new ones. A good choice for first graders to meet NGSS performance expectation 1-LS1-2 to read to ‘determine patterns in behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive.’ The book places humans squarely in the Animalia kingdom, rather than setting us apart from all others, inviting comparisons between species. -- Peggy Ashbrook, early childhood science educator and author of Science Learning in the Early Years Captivating images, beautiful but simple poetry and a great information resource for teachers make Cuddled and Carried a must-have in any home and school classroom library. My 5 and 6 year olds were captivated by the message and beautiful images. I strongly recommend this book! -- José Avilés, Head of School, Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School, Wilmington, Delaware Cuddled and Carried is one of those books children will ask to be read over and over. The illustrations make you want to cuddle and carry the book itself. The amazing lifelike illustrations show nurturing relationships of a variety of animals and their babies [who] share the meaning of love. Simple sentences promote a child self-reading from the artwork, even if they don’t know the words. Cuddled and Carried is a fun and educational resource. Highly recommended! -- Five Star Review What a gentle book! It nurtures a child’s empathy for others and opens their eyes to the world of nature. Very sweet and educational. -- Harvey Karp, MD, FAAP, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block Simply written with breathtaking illustrations of parents and babies in the animal kingdom…This book was thoroughly enjoyed by our younger children. Even the older children picked it up and read it on their own. It is a heartwarming book for sure and is a great way to help children (and yes, even parents at times!) learn and realize the importance of having a loving and nurturing parent/child relationship…The bilingual part of the book is so wonderfully put together. -- Andrea Yanke Carried and Cuddled • Cargados y Mimados was a collaborative effort by the editors at Platypus Media. As a company, we strive to find new ways for kids to understand the world around them. Mike Speiser's artwork has been featured on the covers of Wild Animal Baby magazine and on fundraising products for science organizations. His paintings have been displayed at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. He is involved with efforts to protect the natural world for future generations. He lives next to the Black Hills of South Dakota.