Children are likely to chuckle at (and take notes on) these sure-fire tips to terrorize your older sister. Bradley Harris Pinkerton is gifted in the art of annoyance; he hides his toy snake near his sister’s towels and sticks gum over her light switch. While listening to her private phone conversations, he develops his surprise attack. If his pranks cause too much trouble, a simple written apology works wonders—at least until his ambush reaches fruition. The dialogue features humorous repetition, perfect for beginning readers, though Bradley’s impish antics vary in intensity and creativity. With each mischievous plan, his sister’s outrage grows, and she yells his entire name, or something similar, in full force. “BRATLEY HAIRBRAIN STINKERTON!” she shrieks after one of her brother’s capers. Rankin’s cartoon characters reinforce each chapter’s action, adding interesting details; the sister’s favorite color, purple, permeates the shadows and decorations. Dramatic, wide-eyed expressions comically capture these siblings’ emotions in this solid selection. (Early reader. 5-8)
