Maryland Baby

Your toddler's favorite book about Maryland--built for tiny hands, big smiles, and the magic of hometown pride.

Whether you're welcoming a new baby to the Old Line State or gifting a piece of Maryland from afar, Maryland Baby brings beloved landmarks and local flavor to life through bold, spirited illustrations and toddler-friendly storytelling. Designed for children ages 0 to 4, this board book invites little ones to explore their home through colorful visuals, simple phrasing, and playful pacing.

From Phoenix Shot Tower to the National Aquarium to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, every page captures the essence of Maryland in a way that engages young readers and creates moments of connection with caregivers. Toddlers will reach for this book again and again--flipping pages, pointing at scenes, and eagerly searching for hidden shapes, animals, and surprises as they ask to read it one more time.

More than a local tour, Maryland Baby is a joyful introduction to early learning and hometown pride. Bonus activity ideas in the back provide additional ways to extend reading time, making it both fun and developmentally enriching. Whether for baby showers, birthdays, or visiting family, Maryland Baby is a charming keepsake for every Maryland-loving family.

LUCY SEMPLE is an illustrator based in Nottinghamshire, having graduated with a degree from Loughborough University in graphic communication and illustration.

She always dreamed of one day slotting into a creative career; as a child she would either be using the family video camera to direct a rendition of a Roald Dahl poem or have her head firmly buried in a book. Specializing in children's illustration, she now enjoys channeling that creative energy into drawing bright, bold, and often furry characters.

When she isn't bringing her scribbled creations to life, Lucy enjoys drinking considerable amounts of tea, baking, and cuddling up to watch a film with her partner, daughter, and their grumpy tomcat Nim.

Shirley Vernick is the award-winning author of five novels and almost 20 board books for children. A graduate of Cornell University and an alumna of the Radcliffe Writing Seminars, she is committed to creating books that inspire curiosity and a love of learning.