SAM'S NEW SISTER
written and illustrated by Michelle Olson
A button learns that being a big brother is a big deal in Olson’s picture book.
Sam is used to being the littlest button in the craft box. Sometimes that’s a pain, but it also means Sam gets a lot of attention for being the smallest. When a new, smaller button—Maggie—is adopted, Sam is frustrated: Maggie copies him, tries to do things that are too advanced for her, and steals his favorite toy. Sam has no choice—he has to run away. But when Maggie follows him and almost gets swallowed up by the vacuum cleaner, Sam swings to the rescue (“Sam realized his sister needed a responsible button to look after her”). New mission established, Sam learns that there are benefits to no longer being the smallest button in the box. Olson’s clever combination of photographed elements and digital drawings and focus on younger characters will strongly appeal to her readers. She never packs too many words into the page, and her sentences are simple, letting her art do the heavy lifting of telling the story (Sam’s epic rescue, depicted on a wordless two-page spread, feels both heroic and giggle-worthy). Sam’s emotions about being a big sibling are familiar ones, and his journey from jealous grouch to role model resonates. Maggie is never villainized; she’s just young, giving Sam the chance to grow up gracefully.
A cleverly told tale on a familiar theme.