  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 01/01/2012 PreS-Gr 2—An unnamed big sister compares her abilities to those of her younger brother. An accomplished six-year-old, she proudly details her many talents, including dancing and speaking some French, which her grandma has been teaching her (French words are sprinkled throughout and the book features a short glossary). Baby Peter, on the other hand, is a typical one-year-old who crawls, makes messes, and puts everything in his mouth. Russo's characteristic bright gouache vignettes convey the siblings' trials and tribulations with cheerful humor. Stylized but expressive, the illustrations depict a wide range of feelings, from the sister's frustration with the baby's antics to quiet pride in helping her little brother at his birthday party to her resolve in waiting for him to grow up. Though the family members are depicted as bears, children with younger siblings will have no trouble identifying with the heroine.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 01/01/2012 Peter is a baby bear and can’t do all the wonderful things his older sister does. He cries all the time, can’t dance ballet, can’t pronounce the French words Grandma likes to teach, and puts just about everything in his mouth. His older sister’s frustration at having a little brother is apparent, but by the end of the story, as the family prepares to celebrate Peter’s first birthday, her attitude softens as she realizes that, one of these days, he will grow up to become a fun playmate. This heartwarming story about an older sibling adjusting to a new baby in the house is accompanied by illustrations (reminiscent of Frank Asch’s Moonbear books) rendered in adorably flat gouache on watercolor paper, with blocks of solid color and ample white space to emphasize the warmth. A glossary of French terms is included at the beginning of this simple, effective book. Pair this with Laura Numeroff’s What Brothers Do Best/What Sisters Do Best (2009). - Copyright 2012 Booklist. Loading...
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