Waiting for Baby Joe - Hardcover

PreSchool-Grade 2-- Baby Joe has been born prematurely, and now big sister Missy must wait for him to come home, for him to be big enough to show off to her friends, and for her own life to return to some semblance of normalcy. Collins does a fine job of conveying both the little girl's experience and the added strain on her parents. It all takes its toll on Missy, and one day she hides under the piano so that her family will worry about her, too. Reassured that they do, she adapts to the pressure, and as Joe's condition improves, so does her relationship with her mother. The baby eventually comes home, but the waiting is not over; an apnea episode causes further concern. The writing is simple and clear, appropriate for a young child while conveying the underlying emotions well. Black-and-white photos add much to the gentle tone of the book. The apnea and monitor section suffers from minor inaccuracies, but are not sufficient to detract from the overall effectiveness of the book. --Denise L. Moll, Lone Pine Elementary School, West Bloomfield, MI
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.