Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Varied poetic forms--including a limerick, a roundel, and a villanelle--offer up a child's first-person descriptions of adjusting to a new sibling. Long Bostrom kicks off the collection with a haiku about the initial announcement of a fetus in utero (" 'Surprise!' Mama says./ 'We are having a baby!'/ Nobody asked me"). Subsequent lines from the frank child narrator trace their baby brother's arrival, and emotions that ensue and evolve as the older sibling becomes accustomed to being one of two: "The baby's a strange little dude--/ his habits are truly quite rude." Everyday domestic scenarios (a diaper change, a meal, bath time) feature throughout, while two poems ("Dear God" and "Jesus Was a Baby Too") introduce a religious component to the book. Samuel's unlined renderings, which portray a biracial-cued family whose children are depicted with brown skin, have a luminous softness that suits the text's combination of playfulness and loving kindness. Back matter defines poem types used. Ages 3--7. (May)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--Sixteen short poems relate how a little girl gradually comes to accept and love her baby brother. When the newborn arrives, her hopes for a new playmate are dashed, and she misses being the sole focus of her parents' attention. In "Dear God," she seeks comfort in prayer, confiding: "Who knew that it could be such work/ To live with baby boys!" Cartoony, digital illustrations in warm hues detail her biracial family's cheerful domestic chaos. Her new baby blues are leavened by humor, as shown in "Diaper Volcano" and "Suppertime," where the facial expressions of her dog and stuffed animals mirror her reactions. She soon adjusts to her new role as big sister, proudly showing her baby brother to friends and listing the reasons why she loves him. The short poems feature simple wordplay, though forced rhymes and uneven cadences limit their read-aloud potential. Back matter includes a list of the various types of poems in the book, along with brief explanations of each type. Though predictable, this book gently validates the emotions children experience when a new sibling arrives and offers assurance that all will be well. VERDICT With appealing digital illustrations and a reassuring message, this may be a good option for larger public libraries seeking new books on this ever-popular topic, as well as for Christian caregivers and preschools.--Marilyn Taniguchi
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
