Fall in love at first blunder with a wisely foolish kindergarten teacher who makes the first day of school an experience to remember

Mr. Muddle botches absolutely everything he tries to do. His friend George is determined to figure out how to help him. Can he discover the secret of how to unmuddle Mr. Muddle?

Katie’s neighbor Mrs. Muddle declares more holidays than anyone else, and she celebrates them in style. In March, she makes peanut-butter-and-birdseed cookies for the birds to enjoy on First Robin Day. The next month, she and Katie dance in the rain during First Shower of April. As the year goes on, Mrs. Muddle creates a unique holiday for each month, and all of Katie’s friends get in on the fun. Then Katie comes up with a special holiday of her own, and Mrs. Muddle Day is the biggest celebration her neighborhood has ever seen! The particular joys of each season are brought to life in lively, entertaining watercolor-and-ink illustrations by Thomas F. Yezerski.

Imagine your own funny stories and create crazy characters as you flip through the split pages and muddle things up!

In a perfect gift for new and expectant parents (and siblings), a gentle story pays tribute to the wonder and emotion of a family’s first quiet days with a newborn. The house is hushed. The lights are low. We’re basking in a newborn glow. Inside the cozy house, a baby has arrived! The world is eager to meet the newcomer, but there will be time enough for that later. Right now, the family is on its babymoon: cocooning, connecting, learning, and muddling through each new concern. While the term “babymoon” is often used to refer to a parents’ getaway before the birth of a child, it was originally coined by midwives to describe days like these: at home with a newborn, with the world held at bay and the wonder of a new family constellation unfolding. Paired with warm and winsome illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal, Hayley Barrett’s lyrical ode to these tender first days will resonate with new families everywhere.