Goode Diane - Ninja Baby

For my Naomi D. Z.
For Peter D. G. Text copyright 2015 by David Zeltser.
Illustrations copyright 2015 by Diane Goode.
Performance copyright 2015 by Chronicle Books LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Zeltser, David, author.
Ninja baby / by David Zeltser ; illustrated by Diane Goode.
pages cm
Summary: Nina has always been quick, sneaky, and very independent, a Ninja babybut then her parents bring home a Kung Fu Master, and Nina has to reconsider her strategy.

ISBN 978-1-4521-3542-7 (Hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4521-4162-6 (epub 2)
ISBN 978-1-4521-4163-6 (mobi)
ISBN 978-1-4521-4164-0 (epub 3)
ISBN 978-1-4521-4165-7 (epib) 1. ToddlersJuvenile fiction. 2. Brothers and sistersJuvenile fiction.
[1. ToddlersFiction. 2.

Brothers and sistersFiction. 3. NinjaFiction. 4. Humorous stories.]
I. II. Title. Title.

PZ7.Z3985Ni 2015
[E]dc23 2014021775 Design by Amelia Mack and Kelsey Premo Jones.
Typeset in Metallophile Sp8.
The illustrations in this book were rendered in pen, ink, and watercolor. Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street, San Francisco, California 94107
Chronicle Bookswe see things differently.
Become part of our community at www.chroniclekids.com. When Nina was born, the doctor gently thumped her bottom to make sure she was breathing. Nina karate chopped her right back. Congratulations, said the doctor, backing away. Whenever Mom tried to feed her, Nina had already launched a sneak attack. Whenever Mom tried to feed her, Nina had already launched a sneak attack.

At bedtime, she climbed her crib walls like smoke and vanished. And changing time was hand-to-hand combat. Nina did not like to be helped. She wanted to do everything by herself. And she was good at it she obliterated her applesauce, she concealed herself at bath time, and she was training herself in advanced infiltration. Things were going perfectly until... The Master could disarm his captors with a single look. The Master could disarm his captors with a single look.

He could force any opponent to carry him. The Master never did anything by himself. Yet he won round after round after round. Suddenly, Nina realized that for the very first time, she was... by herself. She flipped out. She went in search of the Master. Whats your secret? she asked him. Whats your secret? she asked him.

He just looked at her.
It was like listening to the wind in the bamboo.
Interesting, said Nina. The Master stuck out his tongue and gurgled. Now, Nina is mastering baby-style Kung Fu. And the Master is learning the Way of the Ninja. Their parents will never know what hit them. In addition to writing, DAVID ZELTSER also performs improv comedy, has a degree in physics from Harvard, and nearly became a wildlife vet. In addition to writing, DAVID ZELTSER also performs improv comedy, has a degree in physics from Harvard, and nearly became a wildlife vet.

He has banded dozens of species of birds, rounded up giraffes with a pickup truck, and helped to care for a baby rhino named Emmitt. But by far his wildest experience was the arrival of his daughter Naomi (a.k.a. Ninja Baby). This is his first picture book. David lives in Santa Cruz, California. Check out all his books at www.davidzeltser.com .

DIANE GOODE has illustrated more than 55 beloved and critically acclaimed picture books, including the New York Times bestseller Founding Mothers and the Caldecott Honor Book