The book has only seven words -- all of which rhyme -- but tells a full story of a family joyfully welcoming a new member, says Carol Baicker-McKee of Mt. Lebanon, who illustrated the baby book "Cheep! Cheep!"

	Tony Tye, Post-Gazette Carol Baicker-McKee illustrated the book "Cheep! Cheep!," one of 10 books to be featured at Best Books for Babies Saturday at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in the SouthSide Works. Click photo for larger image. Related article More recommended baby books

It's one of 10 books being promoted by Beginning with Books Center for Early Literacy at its eighth annual Best Books for Babies event Saturday at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, SouthSide Works. The East Liberty organization is dedicated to improving children's reading skills.

"Cheep! Cheep!" (Bloomsbury, $9.95) was written by former Brentwood resident Julie Stiegemeyer, who now lives in Fort Wayne, Ind. Dr. Baicker-McKee, who has a Ph.D. in clinical child psychology, has also authored the "FussBuster" parenting books.

The story is about three chicks whose sleep is disturbed by the hatching of a new friend -- Cheep!

Tess Riesmeyer, the Beginning with Books associate director of early literary education, said "Cheep! Cheep!" was a favorite because it encourages interaction between the reader and listener, in addition to being a fun read.

"I tried to incorporate humor and surprises, along with bright colors and a variety of facial expressions," Dr. Baicker-McKee said about her illustrations that show chicks crafted from terrycloth and then photographed against colorful backgrounds. "I tried to capture the sense of warmth and love in Julie's text, because ultimately that's the most important message for babies to get from a book."

Although the publisher usually selects an illustrator after the author submits a book, Dr. Baicker-McKee, who knew Ms. Stiegemeyer from a local writers' critique group, had ideas for illustrations when the author brought her story to a meeting. They also have the same literary agent who sold the text paired with the illustrations.

Bloomsbury is releasing the duo's second Cheep book, "Merry Christmas, Cheeps!," this fall. A Dutch publisher also has translated the first book "Piep Piep, Hoerra."

In the eight years that Beginning with Books has recommended top baby books, the stories have become more age-appropriate, Ms. Riesmeyer said. Before, publishers tried to label books written for older babies or toddlers as baby books. Beginning with Books worked to encourage publishers to create quality books meant just for infants, she said.

"Baby books now are of higher quality in terms of content, creativity and appropriateness," she said, adding that the number of books fulfilling the criteria of age appropriateness and interactive illustrations are growing gradually.

As a child development expert, Dr. Baicker-McKee believes reading to babies makes them smarter and happier as well as strengthens their bond with their parents.

"Kids who have been read to from a young age have bigger vocabularies, more general knowledge, an easier time learning to read and are more likely to read outside of school for pleasure or information," she said.

"But even more importantly, they have closer relationships with their caregivers. And because they have the words to express their feelings and needs, they're calmer, more resilient in the face of difficulties."

The free book event at Joseph-Beth, which runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, features outdoor activities for the youngsters by the Citiparks Roving Art Cart, as well as storytelling, signings of "Cheep! Cheep!" by Dr. Baicker-McKee and tips on reading to children by the Beginning with Books staff inside the store.