What's Next?

As night falls, a baby badger wakes up and begins to explore, first in his underground home and then farther afield with his loving father in the night-time forrest above. His repeated question—”What’s next?”—propels the story and the little badger forward to new experiences, while opening an opportunity for readers to talk about the importance of appreciation versus repeated requests for more, more, more. As his curiosity gets the better of him and he sallies forth to explore the day-time alone, Baby Badger becomes acquainted with the delights of a world bathed with sunshine before realizing that he’s all alone and far too tired . . . just in time to be rescued by his dad. This simple story is carried by the illustrations, which create a world of interest in the dark-time and underground scenes rare in children’s books; the lost treasure, dinosaur bones, bulbs and other riches hidden beneath the surface add a sense of wonder and beauty to the badger’s world that gives little readers an opportunity to feel a thrill of discovery that mirrors that of Baby Badger. The contrast between night and day in the illustrations is poignant, and while colors of the day-time are vibrant and fun, the nighttime shines with a level of detail that belies the pure gray color scheme.