HOW TO BE A BABY--BY ME, THE BIG SISTER

A precocious big sister enumerates the discommodious nature of babyhood in this sassy tale. With unreserved glee, big sister dishes on the many pitfalls her younger sibling must endure. Included in her diatribe are hilarious asides that extol—naturally—her own superior position as the independent oldest. While Lloyd-Jones begins her story on a comical note, she deftly conveys the angry/wistful tumult of emotions children often feel when confronted with the arrival of a new addition. The acerbic tone of the older sibling may at times seem a bit much, but her wry musings are on target: Of the drawbacks of an infant carrier, she states “When you’re a baby, / you don’t carry a backpack. / You go in one.” Midway through her baby rant, the older sister’s monologue begins to convey softer, more poignant reflections, and the tale concludes on a fond note. Heap’s acrylic-and-crayon illustrations feature pastel hues. Her comic-book–style sketches artfully capture the spunk of the older sister, while her use of the scrapbook–like lists, further detailing a baby’s shortcomings, “written” by the sister, add both humor and interest. A perfect antidote to the new-baby blues for siblings. (Picture book. 4-8)