A CELEBRATION OF BROTHERS

With the simultaneously publishing A Celebration of Sisters, companion books about companionable siblings.

Delivering just what its title promises, Evans’ rhyming text and Landazábal’s accompanying illustrations present readers with an idealized vision of brotherly love. There is no story for readers to latch onto; words and pictures simply affirm the importance of sibling bonds. Pleasingly, there is an acknowledgement of children without brothers in their families in one line: “You might find your brothers in the friends you make.” On the other hand, the well-intentioned refrain, “Stepbrothers or half brothers, we love them, one and all,” may not sit well with those who reject the latter term as problematic even with assurances of love. In other ways the book as a whole is fairly inclusive, with illustrations depicting diverse siblings enjoying one another’s company. Importantly, though this book is about brothers, its art rightly depicts the fact that some of its title characters are siblings to kids who do not present male. Likewise, the companion title shows girls with siblings of different genders, and both books resist gender stereotypes in their depictions.

Sweet additions to the picture-book family.