Sticky Hermana

Claudia and Monica love being sisters. They do everything together, from playing to making Brazilian pastries. But sometimes together can be too much. Little sister Monica doesn't want to miss out on anything Claudia is doing, and her intrusive habits are feeling . . . sticky: "Following-Claudia-and-amigos-around sticky. Always-invading-games sticky." Finally, Claudia gets the courage to tell Monica that she would like to go to her soccer game alone, but that she'll play with Monica afterward. And, to her surprise, Monica is OK with that because she decides that she'll go to the beach with her cousins instead. This is a great read-aloud about sibling love, conflict resolution, communication, and compromise. The boldly colored illustrations by De Castro are eye-catching and expressive as they depict the big feelings the sisters are experiencing. An author's note explains how this story is based on Siqueira's relationship with her own little sister as they grew up in Brazil. A helpful glossary of the Spanish words concludes. Also available in a Spanish edition, Hermana pegajosa.

Sibling relationships can be tough--even sticky. Claudia loves her little sister, Monica. After all, it's fun to always have someone to play with. But sometimes Monica sticks to her like glue, trailing after Claudia and her friends and inserting herself into their games. When Claudia is invited to a fútbol tournament, Monica begs to come along. Claudia knows her sister will be crushed if she's not included, but she longs for an activity that's just her own. Claudia considers her options--pleading, bribing, even warning her sister about a scary monster. Nothing works. At last, Claudia turns to the hardest strategy of all: honesty. She explains that she simply wants to play with her friends on her own. To her surprise, Monica understands and agrees not to go. The sisters seal their new understanding by chewing some bubble gum, leading to a hilarious and literally sticky situation. Readers who have weathered both loving and exasperating sibling relationships will see themselves in this heartfelt story. The push and pull between the sisters feels authentic even as Siqueira maintains a playful, humorous tone, matched by de Castro's exaggerated cartoon artwork. Spanish vocabulary is seamlessly woven throughout, and Claudia's family members are brown-skinned and cued Latine. A funny and tender celebration of sisterhood, honesty, and finding space while staying close.(Picture book. 5-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.