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MY BIG BROTHER

Name: MY BIG BROTHER
Author: Valorie Fisher
ISBN: 0-689-84327-5

by Valorie Fisher & photographed by Valorie Fisher ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2002

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Written from the point of view of a baby brother, and ostensibly intended for the younger sibling, this paean to older brothers will comfort first-borns who may have trouble adjusting to a new baby, showing them just how much they mean to their newest family members. Featuring large, bright photos of big brother from a baby’s perspective, the simple text describes all the wonderful things big brothers can do—play, feed the baby, create “the best” music on a whistle and drum—plus some of the less-than-wonderful things the long-suffering big brother puts up with—baby “feeding” him back and “singing” along. The photos present the baby’s-eye view perfectly; big brother is larger-than-life, and objects behind him (such as the family dog, in a hilarious shot of big brother wearing a fake dog nose) are appropriately out of focus. When big brother feeds baby, the spoon is clearly in focus while big brother is not. This original, playful, realistic, and reassuring take on newly acquired big brotherhood is a welcome addition to the genre, and is suitable for an especially wide age range, as parents can share it with both baby and big brother. A follow-up for big sisters would be a fine idea. (Picture book. 2-7)

Pub Date: July 1, 2002

ISBN: 0-689-84327-5

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Atheneum

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2002

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
LOOK AND COOK BREAKFAST
by Valorie Fisher ; photographed by Valorie Fisher

- BOOK REVIEW
NOW YOU KNOW WHAT YOU EAT
by Valorie Fisher ; illustrated by Valorie Fisher

- BOOK REVIEW
NOW YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS
by Valorie Fisher ; illustrated by Valorie Fisher

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CARPENTER'S HELPER

by Sybil Rosen ; illustrated by Camille Garoche ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 16, 2021

Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.

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A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.

Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)

Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: March 16, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random

Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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HOW TO CATCH A MAMASAURUS

From the How To Catch… series

by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2024

A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.

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Another creature is on the loose.

The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.