Review: Sibling rivalry explored...and resolved!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 25, 2013
Maria Alony, born in Moscow to Jewish parents, lived in Moscow and Siberia before emigrating to Israel with her family to study Hebrew literature and in the field of literature and the Hebrew language, has written a very fine book for children in beautiful rhyming verse that will give them reassurance and some very sage advice on how to deal with siblings. Beautifully Illustrated by Emily Zieroth, (this version is a translation from the original Devora M. Liss), this is one of those children's books that will come in handy whenever incidents of sibling rivalry arise in a household.Two brothers - one older and one just a baby - attempt to play together, but the baby brother doesn't understand games, is not able to walk or say `mom' or `dad' or even draw a straight line! He just cries when he is hungry or sleepy or angry or being afraid of the dark and makes a mess while eating and the parents immediately rush to his side to meet his needs, leaving the older brother feeling neglected. To make matters worse, mom comes home with gifts for her boys - a ball for the older brother and a large blue teddy bear for the baby, a gift the baby loves. Disappointed and feeling forgotten the older brother snatches the bear from the baby without mom or dad noticing and while at first the baby brother cries, soon he is sitting and staring at his big brother. The wisdom comes from the teddy bear's `thoughts' - that a good big brother should never treat a little brother that way, so big brother shares the teddy bear with the baby brother and together they play with the new toy: with the new shared game the big brother is no longer sad but happy and glad.Alony's writing is charming in delivery, makes a fine point, and provides children with a very easy way to accept differences in siblings and to understand parents' reactions. This is a beautiful little book that will provide a reminder story whenever sibling rivalry rises. Grady Harp, September 13