We Are Brothers, We Are Friends

Becoming a big brother or big sister can be a monumental rite of passage in a child’s life. Many children’s books on the topic of gaining a new sibling tend to follow a somewhat predictable order:

· The older child is the light of his or her parents’ lives, until the new baby arrives.

· The older child becomes jealous, and, while trying hard to be excited about the new addition to the family, has a difficult time understanding what appears to be a betrayal.

· The older child makes plans for removing the competition.

· Eventually a situation arises in which the older child recognizes that there is a role in the new baby’s life that can only be filled by him or her, and an amicable relationship is born.

It’s very easy to empathize with a toddler or preschooler who suddenly finds herself competing for the family’s attention with a newborn in the house. I don’t think there’s necessarily a magical solution for the jealousy that often very naturally arises under the circumstances, but I find it encouraging that this author has chosen to represent the situation in another fashion.

We Are Brothers, We Are Friends by Alexandra Penfold is a refreshingly different sort of book, in that the older boy portrayed is very excited from start to finish about the arrival of his baby brother. He speaks calmly and lovingly to his new sibling, outlining his hopes and dreams for all of the things he can show the baby and the life experiences they will share together, like playing hide-and-seek and learning how to be a dinosaur. "We will have adventures, just the two of us," he says, and later adds, "When you cry, I will hear you first. Don’t worry, baby. I will help!" The well-matched, energetic illustrations by Eda Kaban are evocative of 1960s animation or advertising art, with a colorful palette and simple retro-style toys and furnishings in evidence.

It may seem unrealistic that all children would behave in such a way, but we can always hold out hope that the transitions required in our households when we add a sibling might go as smoothly as this. We Are Brothers, We Are Friends is a sweet book, a nice addition to the list that covers new babies, and a lovely example of an older brother who is willing to "share my best toys, and my mama and my dada, too."

Guest post by Bridget W. 

Hoot and Peep

Having an older or younger sibling can occasionally be a challenge, and children sometimes need to take their own time to recognize and understand the bonds that bind them to other family members. Hoot and Peep, by Lita Judge, is a sweet story of an older brother, Hoot, who proudly feels he has lots to teach his younger sister Peep about living a proper “owly” life. Hoot is more inclined to follow rules and long-standing traditions, and he grows frustrated with Peep, a free spirit who chooses to follow her heart and make full use of her active imagination. As they fly among the rooftops of Paris, each has something to learn from the other.

Children (and adults) often find it difficult to resist an owl, and these owls are cuter than most. The illustrations are very inviting, with beautiful blue backgrounds and large owl eyes to draw the reader in. The youngsters’ moods are captured perfectly throughout, and this translates extremely well in the reading of the book. It’s likely that Peep’s sweet song of “schweepity peep” and “dingity dong” will make you and your children fall in love with her.

Of course big brother comes to understand and appreciate his sister’s unique outlook on the world, but the story’s resolution doesn’t feel forced. This book is a lovely example of how children can find their way to mutual respect and appreciation without compromising their own personalities. Please give this book a look ~ your children will thank you!

Guest post by Bridget W. 

Maple & Willow Together

If you liked Lori Nichols’ book, Maple, you’ll love her latest picture book, Maple & Willow Together. In this one, Maple’s sister, Willow, is now a toddler, and the two of them are inseparable. They read together, draw together, play outside together, sleep together, and even make up their own silly language together. Their relationship almost seems too good to be true until one day they get into a fight and decide that they want to stay away from each other forever. They retreat to their separate rooms, but that gets boring pretty quickly. After an apology, the girls reunite and become inseparable once again. This is a sweet story that shows the ups and downs of sibling love at its best.

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.

Big brothers don't take naps.

So says Nick, the little brother in Louise Borden's newest picture book.  This story highlights the special relationship between brothers James and Nick, and is a stand-out among other sibling books for what it does not contain.  Often, picture books portray a younger sibling as an annoyance to an older one.  Instead of this approach, Borden showcases all of the fun and loving things big brothers do for their little brothers. Nick explains, for example, that "James can read all the words in our books.  "You can be my page turner." he tells me."

The books ends with a new addition to the family, giving Nick the chance to shine as a big brother himself.  Share this book with a second sibling who is about to make the transition from a little one to a big one!

Tattletale Explosion

Little sisters can be a real pain.  Then again, so can big sisters.  I should know, I'm the latter. This picture book of poems is an ode to the complex, hilarious, often irritating, but always mostly loving relationship between two sisters.  The chaotic pencil sketches capture the endless ways in which they annoy each other, but also the many ways they comfort each other. 

One poem, appropriately titled "Snooping," explains that, "One good thing about a little sister / is that if I give her a boost / she can reach / that mysterious box / hidden / on the top shelf. / One bad thing about a little sister / is that she can't keep secrets. / When my secrets / are inside Emma, / they leak out slowly, / like air out of a balloon, / or fast -- / in one enormous Tattletale Explosion." 

Pick this up in preparation for summertime squabbles as a way of reminding siblings about the special (if not always friction-free) bond they share.