The Lees do the write thing. (celebrity children's books).

Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee Illustrated by Kadir Nelson Simon & Schuster, November 2002 $16.95, ISBN 0-689-83233-8

Life with a toddler is full of love, laughs and memorable times. It is also full of a surprising set of challenges. At age two, a child enters a phase in her development that turns the once easy-to-please youngster into an assertive, disagreeable and unreasonable individual. In the picture book Please, Baby, Please, filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya, recollect some of the "terrible twos" antics that they witnessed while raising their own children--Jackson and Satchel.

The Lees take readers through a day in the life of a two-year-old girl. The baby, energetic and curious, has a penchant for doing exactly the opposite of what her parents want her to do. Kids ages two to five will enjoy following the baby through the pages as she empties her cereal bowl over her head, refuses to share her ball, draws on the walls and much more. All the while, baby's loving parents gently correct her behavior in a positive manner by using the "please, baby" refrain, which is familiar to fans of Spike Lee movies.

The Lees' sense of humor about bringing up baby will delight parents and children alike. The book also helps parents become more conscious of the language they use when disciplining their children.

Writer and television producer Tonya Lewis Lee and her filmmaker husband, Spike Lee recall some of the experiences that came with parenting untiring toddlers to write their first picture book, Please, Baby, Please.--L.J.

BIBR: What made you decide to write Please, Baby, Please?

TLL: When our second child, Jackson, was two, I looked to see what was going on in the children's market. I didn't see enough books out there that reflected my children, the color of their skin, and who they really were. Spike and I really wanted to contribute something that would not only reflect our children, but lots of children of color.

BIBR: Did you approach publishers about your idea?

TLL: There was a book packager, Jan White, that I had spoken to about doing a children's book. He found Simon & Schuster, who was interested in working with us on a project.

BIBR: How did you and Spike go about collaborating on the book?

TLL: The general concept was mine. The way we worked together was that I wrote a first draft, then passed it on to Spike. Basically, we ,vent to our own respective corners and did our work, then showed it to the other one until we got it right. It took us about two weeks to complete the manuscript.

BIBR: What was Spike able to bring to the table flint you might not have?

TLL: The please, baby, please refrain [laughs], which is from the movie She's Gotta Have It.

BIBR: Your book is for both kids and parents. What do you hope children will learn from the book?

TLL: I hope they see themselves and know that parents sort of stop children from hurting themselves, their siblings or the household. I hope they see that their parents really love them, and that they are there trying to guide them at every moment.

BIBR: Why does the book emphasize the use of affirmative language when supervising or guiding children?

TLL: When my kids were two, especially my son, I could say "no" and "don't" all day. I really wanted to say something positive or speak to them in an affirmative way, so I didn't feel like I was negating him.

Using positive language makes children feel better about themselves. It's a way of correcting them and guiding them in a positive way. And in the end, when you speak to children in affirmative language, your children will mimic affirmative language back to you and to the rest of the world. I think that's really important.

BIBR: How did you decide on illustrator Kadir Nelson?

TLL: Spike discovered Kadir's work in Sports Illustrated, where he had done a series on the Negro Leagues. I discovered his work on the Negro Leagues in a poster store, and I bought one for our son. When Simon & Schuster suggested Kadir as the illustrator for the book, Spike and I were like, "Yeah, definitely, definitely."

Collaborating with Kadir was great because he just got it. He's a wonderful spirit, really fun, and easy to work with.

BIBR: What do you especially love about his style?

TLL: In particular, with our book, the baby is so expressive and so alive. And the colors are so vibrant that you really get a sense of a living, breathing thing. As in his other work, it's just his fluidity; his subjects just come to life.

BIBR: What did you find challenging about working on the book?

TLL: Initially, it was Spike and I working together. Although, once we did, everything really kind of flowed and came together. Spike is an amazing artist, but at the same time I'm his wife, and I'll definitely tell him when I don't like something, then it can get tense.

BIBR: Why do y(m think more celebrities are penning children's books?

TLL: I think a lot of people are having kids. And when you do, you're constantly looking for things to educate and entertain your children, especially in the ethnic market. It's so unfortunate what's missing for kids of color.

BIBR: Any negatives that celebrity authors can bring?

TLL: It depends on the book, the author and the intent. The negative is that [non-celebrities] who are trying to do children's books get pushed to the side, which is unfortunate. The upside is that people are interested in writing for children, and that's positive.

--Interviewed by Lynda Jones.