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YOU'RE GETTING A BABY SISTER!

Nicely explores little ones' excited anticipation and justified reservations about the newest additions to their families.

There's a lot to celebrate (and dread) when a baby sister arrives.

The book opens with upbeat anticipation, but quickly enough the mood shifts as two children stare out at the audience with solemn expressions. “But before you start cheering, / there are a few things you should know.” In a realistically tender and humorous review, these seasoned older siblings explain that babies cause quite a stink. Little sisters force the formerly only (now older) youngsters to share both physical possessions and parents' time. Rhymes dryly capture the lows. “She might pull your hair. / She'll do things that seem mean.” A knowing voice encourages readers to take on the role of teacher and protector for their new sisters. Thin, vulnerable lines focus on expression and interaction against white backgrounds. A spot for photos and notes encourages record-keeping. You're Getting a Baby Brother delivers the same cautious congratulations and refreshing insight. (There's nothing, alas, for those old-fashioned families who want to preserve the mystery of their baby’s sex.)

Nicely explores little ones' excited anticipation and justified reservations about the newest additions to their families. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-1-4424-2050-2

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: June 12, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012

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I AM A BIG BROTHER

A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an...

A little boy exults in his new role as big brother.

Rhyming text describes the arrival of a new baby and all of the big brother’s rewarding new duties. He gets to help with feedings, diaper changes, playtime, bathtime, and naptime. Though the rhyming couplets can sometimes feel a bit forced and awkward, the sentiment is sweet, as the focus here never veers from the excitement and love a little boy feels for his tiny new sibling. The charming, uncluttered illustrations convincingly depict the growing bond between this fair-skinned, rosy-cheeked, smiling pair of boys. In the final pages, the parents, heretofore kept mostly out of view, are pictured holding the children. The accompanying text reads: “Mommy, Daddy, baby, me. / We love each other—a family!” In companion volume I Am a Big Sister, the little boy is replaced with a little girl with bows in her hair. Some of the colors and patterns in the illustrations are slightly altered, but it is essentially the same title.

A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an older sibling can do to help. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-545-68886-4

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015

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PEPPA'S GIANT PUMPKIN

From the Peppa Pig series

This TV rerun in board-book form has nothing new to offer.

Peppa hopes to join her classmates in a Halloween pumpkin competition in this adaptation of a story from the popular British television program Peppa Pig.

With the help of Granny and Grandpa Pig, Peppa turns her giant pumpkin, which is the size of a compact car, into a jack-o’-lantern. The trio is flummoxed when it comes time to transport the pumpkin to the competition, so they call on Miss Rabbit and her helicopter to airlift the pumpkin to the festivities as Peppa and her grandparents ride inside. Peppa arrives just in time for the contest and wins the prize for best flying pumpkin. The scenes look as if they are pulled directly from the television show, right down to the rectangular framing of some of the scenes. While the story is literally nothing new, the text is serviceable, describing the action in two to three sentences per page. The pumpkin-shaped book and orange foil cover will likely attract youngsters, whether they are Peppa fans or not.

This TV rerun in board-book form has nothing new to offer. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: July 30, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-338-33922-2

Page Count: 10

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019

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