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'Brooklyn Baby' Book Features Kale Jelly and a Foodie Trip to Smorgasburg

By Janet Upadhye | August 20, 2014 1:36pm
 Brooklyn Baby is a children's book about the day in the life of a baby living in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Baby
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DUMBO — K is for kale.

"Brooklyn Baby," a recently released children's book, depicts a day in the life of kids growing up in Brooklyn, complete with a visit to DUMBO's Smorgasburg where a bearded man sells pickled beets, carrots and cucumbers and "Marmalade Mama" serves free samples of kale jelly.

"Brooklyn babies are foodies," the book states.

They then head to Jane's Carousel where they ride colorful horses with a view of the Manhattan Bridge in the background and later visit Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the Brooklyn Museum.

The Jane's Carousel illustration features a bearded man in a plaid shirt with black rimmed glasses.

Lisa McKeon, a literary specialist at a public school in Westchester who has two kids of her own — Luca, 20 months, and Lola, 4 months — decided to create the book to provide local kids with a story that they can relate to.

"It is so helpful for kids to be able to listen to stories and have illustrations that depict their everyday lives," she said.

"Brooklyn Baby" was illustrated by Violet Lemay, who has also made drawings for Elle, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times and uses a signature style of colorful shapes, wide-eyed children and scenes full of details that are engaging for kids.

"I often go back through the book with my son to find the small, amazing details in the illustrations," McKeon said. "The book isn't boring for parents either."

The official release date for "Brooklyn Baby" is in October but the 22-page board book is available now for $8.05 on Amazon.

The book is designed for children ages 1-3.