Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Big Sister, Little Sister by Leuyen Pham

With spare illustrations that evoke the warm, comforting feeling of revisiting children’s picture books from bygone years, Big Sister, Little Sister enumerates both the jealousies and joys in having an older sister. Loveable in her pigtails and deliciously sassy expressions, Little Sister grumbles over the many differences between herself and her older sister. “The Big Sister gets all the new clothes. I’m the Little Sister. I get all her old clothes.” Despite Big Sister’s opportunities to try things first, wear lipstick, and stay up later, Little Sister finds that there are advantages to being the younger one as well. “The Big Sister tells all the good stories! I’m the Little Sister. I get to listen!” When Little Sister is sick, Big Sister performs bedside puppet shows. Originally planned as a gift from the author to her own older sister, this tale is sure to resonate with sisters everywhere.

JD