ME TOO!

The title is the clarion cry of Grace’s little sister in this wry look at sibling adulation. Grace is mortified and annoyed by her younger sister Lucy’s insatiable desire to be just like her adored big sis. From morning bus stop antics to after-school pick-ups, Grace cannot avoid her diminutive doppelgänger. Grace stalwartly refuses to accept her parent’s explanations that copying is the sincerest form of flattery until Grace’s own infatuation with her beloved swim coach is brought under scrutiny. Harper neatly captures all of Grace’s pre-adolescent angst as Lucy relentlessly trails her. Keenly observed, this will appeal to both sides of the great birth order divide; older sibs will commiserate with Grace, while the younger set will feel vindicated at Grace’s ultimate enlightenment. Harper’s watercolor-and-ink illustrations are a perfect fit, emphasizing the lighter side of the scenarios and providing comic relief even as they address the often frustrating reality of life with siblings. With its compassionate ending, this is a must for any multi-child home. (Picture book. 4-8)