THE BIG SISTER
By
A standard situation explicated with unusual insight. The third-person text describes the older sister's privileged status from the younger's point of view: ""She was Mommy's big girl. . .always right. . .got the biggest scabs, the most mosquito bites. . .and knew that little kids are really stupid."" With sympathy and humor, Torudd's vividly expressive, cartoon-style illustrations detail the exploits of the elder and the escalating frustration and retaliation of the younger. At the end, as the little sister gets a bedtime story and a kiss while the older one struggles with homework, it's evident that this story has another side--and that even the little Sister can turn affectionate when she's needed. A winning import from Sweden.