The Baby-Changing Station

Contributors

By Rhett Miller

Illustrated by Dan Santat

On Sale
Aug 2, 2022
Page Count
48 pages
ISBN-13
9780316459327

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rhett Miller teams up again with Caldecott Medalist and bestselling artist Dan Santat in a laugh-out-loud rhyming story about an older sibling who gets an opportunity to trade his younger brother for cool stuff when he finds a magical baby changing station.

Before Joe rolled in / I was the ten-year-old King / of all I surveyed / Now that he’s here / It’s perfectly clear / That I / am in the way.
 
James is NOT a fan of his new little brother, Joe. His parents adore Joe and don’t have time for James anymore. What is an older sibling supposed to do?!

When James stumbles upon a baby-changing station that can exchange younger siblings for much more exciting things, he is faced with endless options. Should he choose the night-vision googles, a cool chemistry set, a guitar, or keep his baby brother? James is put through the ultimate test until he realizes that being a big brother is not so bad after all.

With sly humor, playful rhymes, and dynamic art, The Baby-Changing Station celebrates the timeless theme of older-younger sibling rivalry with a humorous magical twist perfect for readers of all ages. 

  • "A triumph of imagination...Miller and Santat deliver a super-fun, original and solidly constructed story with an adorable and climactic conclusion."
    The New York Times
  • "But each tempting choice makes James ponder a future without his brother as a comrade or co-conspirator (“More often than not,/ Siblings who rock/ Make the best bands, says my father”), leading him to realize that “though he’s my nemesis/ I see a world in which/ He and I someday are friends.” The idea of a kid taking on his parents’ duties may not sit well with all readers, but Santat’s (The Blur) generously scaled, operatically expressive pencil and watercolor art and Miller’s(No More Poems!) age-appropriate weltschmerz propel the story forward, making for a contemporarily poo-laden twist on a Faustian bargain."
    Kirkus Reviews
  • "Miller's rhyme scheme and Santat's imaginative illustrations make The Baby-Changing Station an entertaining and surprisingly touching read."
    Entertainment Weekly

Formats and Prices

Price

$17.99

Price

$22.99 CAD

Format

Hardcover

Format:

Hardcover $17.99 $22.99 CAD

Rhett Miller

About the Author

Rhett Miller is a singer-songwriter known for fronting the popular rock band Old 97’s. Between projects with the Old 97’s Miller has released six solo albums, most recently 2018’s The Messenger. In addition to his songwriting, Miller has branched out to write fiction and nonfiction. He has authored short stories, essays and articles that have been featured in Rolling Stone, Bookforum, Sports Illustrated, McSweeney’s, The Atlantic and Salon. When not on tour, Miller resides in New Paltz, New York with his wife and two children.

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Dan Santat

About the Illustrator

Dan Santat is the Caldecott Medal-winning and New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, Are We There Yet?, and After the Fall as well as the illustrator of many other picture books, including Crankenstein by Samantha Berger. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and various pets.

Learn more about this illustrator