HOW TO RAISE MOM AND DAD

An older sister gives her younger brother parenting advice in Lerman’s resonant, jesting story. “They mean well, but sometimes they need a hand,” she offers—all mock earnest, which flies right over the brother’s head at first, although soon he understands the devil in these good deeds. Among these are getting them up early (a flashlight to a pried-open eye will do), sloshing the tub water onto the floor to help clean the bathroom, slipping his vegetables onto their plates for the parents’ health, making sure they really mean “yes,” though they say “no.” As she marches through the day, the sister comes out with some pretty good quips—“We could also ask them again about the puppy”—which will ring with the familiarity of church bells in readers’ ears (pleasingly so, despite their commonplace nature). The book’s comedy has an easy flow, and the four principals are all fine examples of the bug-eyed, pumpkin-head school, with clear line work and nostalgic colors. Clarke illustrates each recommended course of conduct as a set piece, nicely strung together as pearls of sisterly wisdom. (Picture book. 5-8)