Iris and Walter and Baby Rose (Iris and Walter, 3) - Softcover

ELISSA HADEN GUEST is the award-winning author of the Iris and Walter series. She lives in San Francisco, California.

CHRISTINE DAVENIER is the acclaimed illustrator of the Iris and Walter books, and she received a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year Award for The First Thing My Mama Told Me by Susan Marie Swanson. She lives in Paris.

Grades 2-3--Iris is excited about becoming a big sister, but it's a long time from winter until spring when the baby will arrive. Then, reality sets in when Baby Rose is born, possessing a very healthy set of lungs. All she does is "Cry, cry, cry," Iris complains to her friend Walter. He loans her his earmuffs, which helps make the situation more tolerable. When Iris is just about fed up with all the fuss over and the fussiness of the baby, Grandpa takes her on an outing-just the two of them. Over time, Rose begins to grow and is eventually less vocal. Iris finally decides that she likes being a big sister, and is pretty good at it, too. This book is suitable for those just beyond beginning readers, yet not quite ready for longer chapter books. Each page has approximately two to five sentences of text. Davenier's sketches enhance the story of a loving family with parents who help both of their girls fit in. The illustrations are done in pen and ink, filled in with watercolor washes, primarily in shades of blue and pink. A simple story, pleasantly told.
Roxanne Burg, Thousand Oaks Library, CA
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