Minnie and Her Baby Brother - Hardcover

PreSchool-This successful and satisfying lift-the-flap book breathes fresh life into a familiar subject. Three-year-old Minnie draws comparisons between herself and her baby brother. She uses a toilet, he wears diapers; she has lots of teeth, he has none. She also explores the basics of their relationship. When he's sad, she tries to cheer him up. Sometimes he spoils her game, but she still loves him, as the final page declares. The first-person narrative is immediate and direct. The illustrations are clean, colorful, and dynamic. In its flat, smooth, and yet expressive application of acrylics, Walsh's style is reminiscent of Marisabina Russo's work. The use of flaps is well integrated with the telling of the story. First readers hear what the girl can do, and then they raise a sturdy flap to discover the baby's traits-pointing out how he is different and how they interact. The clever design adds interesting details, such as when an easel is opened to reveal Minnie's painting on the other side. Charming in its simplicity, this title is a pleasure to share aloud.
Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

PreS. Bright acrylic paintings illustrate this cheerful lift-the-flap title narrated by a loving older sister. In just a few words per page, three-year-old Minnie talks about the differences between herself and her baby brother. Flaps on each sturdy page reveal the contrasts: "I have lots of shiny white teeth," says Minnie, whose face appears on a panel that folds down to reveal the toothless baby; "My baby brother doesn't have any." "I eat with a fork and spoon," reads the next page, on which the picture of Minnie's dinner lifts to show a bowl and bottle: "My brother only drinks milk and eats yucky baby food." The printed endpapers may challenge librarians as there's no place to put a card or pocket, but this charming book, sized perfectly for little hands, will delight big-sibling preschoolers, who will instantly recognize Minnie's annoyance when her brother ruins her games and her pride in showing off all that she can do, including loving her brother. Gillian Engberg
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