Another Brother

Anyone who grew up with younger siblings can certainly empathize with Davy, the sheep in Matthew Cordell’s heartwarming book, Another Brother. Davy was the center of attention--his parents’ entire world--until his brother, Petey, was born. After that, it was all downhill for Davy.

Poor Davy couldn’t do anything to get attention from his parents. And if that wasn’t baa-baad enough, his parents "added insult to injury" by continuing to give him brother, after brother, after brother, until Davy had TWELVE little brothers copying his every move! His parents told him that the copycat behavior was just a phase and that his brothers were only doing it because they looked up to him, but Davy was ready for it to stop…until it actually did.

Davy, who had been so sick and tired of his brothers stealing his every move, ended up feeling like the “black sheep” (pun intended!) of the family when his brothers started leaving him alone and doing things on their own. The story ends with a little voice from outside his bathroom repeating the song that lonely little Davy was singing to himself. Surprised, Davy opened the bathroom door to find none other than a little sister! “And Gertie copied Davy’s every move.”

If you have more than one child, I’m sure you’ve seen a version of this play out in your own home. It’s completely normal for younger children to imitate older siblings, parents, and friends. Imitating, after all, is how they learn. So, next time your oldest child complains that she’s constantly being copied, be sure to remind her, as Davy’s parents did, that it is just a phase, and she might be surprisingly disappointed when it comes to an end. You can even try making a game out of it. I mean, who doesn’t love Simon Says?! And while you’re at it, come by the library to check out Another Brother. If nothing else, it’ll certainly make her chuckle.