Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Salem Main Library | JP Bro | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
For any child with a no-good baby in their house, Broach offers up a completely unique solution to the new sibling problem. Full color.
Author Notes
Elise Broach is the author of the acclaimed novel Shakespeare's Secret, as well as several picture books. Her newest book is entitled, Masterpiece. She lives in Easton, Connecticut, with her family.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-After his baby sister has been at his house for several months, John decides that it is time for her to go. He is tired of sharing and being quiet during naps. His mother agrees, and they begin packing the tot's suitcase. As they work, John thinks of ways in which his sibling's no-good behavior can be good: for example, she is noisy, but that is useful at the library because she is louder than he is. Eventually, they decide that she is good for "quite a lot," and should only go to Grandma's for the day. The story is touching, funny, and honest. While most titles on this topic focus on the first few days after a newborn's arrival, this one looks at the continuing adjustment of older siblings and gently reminds parents to find special time together without the newcomer. The stereotypical portrayal of the librarian is the one disappointment in an otherwise rollicking tale. Sitting behind a desk, sporting a frizzy bun and half-moon glasses, she scowls at the baby's noisy enjoyment of the library. Still, the watercolor illustrations capture the text's warm, lighthearted tone and keep the visual focus on John and his sister. The boy's frustration at his sibling's actions comes across clearly, as do his mixed emotions when he thinks she may stay at Grandma's forever. A quality title that will resonate with older brothers and sisters everywhere.-Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Ever since his baby sister arrived more than six months ago, John has been a patient older brother. But enough is enough. ?It is time for her to go,? he announces?and surprisingly, his mother agrees. As they pack up baby?s things, however, John begins to realize that maybe having a baby sister has its advantages. For one thing, she makes him look good: ?She is good for making noise at the library, because she?s always louder than I am,? he says, remembering a time when his sister showed a full-throated disrespect for decorum. As the list of things the no-good baby is good for grows, John realizes that maybe he just needs a daylong break from her antics (courtesy of Grandma)?and some quality time alone with Mom. Broach?s (Wet Dog!, reviewed below) text, largely a dialogue between mother and son, emits the brisk, plainspoken ring of authenticity; the repetition of John?s pet phrase, ?that no-good baby is good for nothing,? should satisfy older siblings? unrelenting resentment about their own new arrivals. Carter?s (Slithery Jake) watercolors, occupying a realm between realism and cartooning, wisely keep the focus on the comically tense interplay between John and his adoring, pesky sister. John?s mother, although a constant presence, is only fully revealed on the final page. Author and illustrator cover familiar ground with brisk assurance and lots of warmhearted humor. Ages 3-up. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Horn Book Review
When John announces that his disruptive little sister has to go, their mother starts packing the baby's suitcase. To the reader's surprise, she does indeed give away the baby--to Grandma for the day. In a deft touch, Carter's comical watercolors don't feature the mother's face until the last spread: she has recognized John's unspoken need for some Mom time. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
PreS. Both angry and affectionate, the simple words and vibrant watercolor illustrations in this picture book tell an honest story about sibling rivalry. John wants to get rid of his bothersome baby sister, and to his surprise, his mother agrees that if No-Good baby is so much trouble, it's time for her to go. On every double-page spread, Baby makes mess and mischief, making John look good by comparison: she squeezes the cat's tail, so the cat likes John more, and she yells in the library, making John's noise seem less. The action-packed pictures show the love between the brother and his pesky sister. At the same time, the art never denies the resentment of the intruder. In the end, Baby goes to loving Grandma, and John has his mother all to himself--but for just one day. There's only one question: Why can't we get rid of that old-fashioned stereotype of the librarian as prissy authority? --Hazel Rochman Copyright 2005 Booklist