LITTLE SISTERS

What would life be like with a younger sibling?

A young girl imagines life with a little sister, who “would be just like me, only smaller.” As the girl’s imagination grows, a little sister appears, and the two build towers, play hide-and-seek, jump on the sofa, and share a sweet treat. Magically, more little sisters appear, like the brooms in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” until a multitude of them are snuggling together and a whole line of little sisters are wiggling away. But then they all disappear, and the child is alone. Nevertheless, she finds happiness in her family just the way it is. Translated from French, Miura’s delightful prose is simple yet earnest, leaving ample space for well-crafted, spare illustrations. Miura wields white space to give the girl room for her imagination to expand. Little by little, the sisters conquer that space until they fill the page—literally and metaphorically—as they wildly splash paint all over a blank canvas. The perspective stays distant until Miura zooms in on the protagonist’s joyful expression as she dreams of having droves of playmates. Young readers anticipating, even hoping for, siblings will delight in all the ways these sisters play with and enjoy each other. All the siblings have skin the white of the page, pink cheeks, and short dark hair.

Start with imagination, add a sprinkle of mischief, and stir for pure joy!