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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Summary
Summary
Over the course of a day, big brother Albert manages his interactions with his little brother Baxter and the feelings that result, in this relatable romp through the alphabet.
Big brother Albert gets increasingly frustrated with little brother Baxter. Crying! Diaper! Hungry! Irritated! A normal day and a familiar sibling interaction escalate alphabetically until Grandma resolves all the problems, with an X for a kiss goodnight, followed by Yawn, and, of course, ZZZZ.
Author Notes
Henry Cole has published almost 150 books for children, some of which he has both written and illustrated, including Homer on the Case and The Somewhat True Adventures of Sammy Shine , and some he has illustrated, including bestsellers such as And Tango Makes Three and books by Julie Andrews Edwards and Harvey Fierstein. A former fourth grade science teacher who grew up on a farm, he is a popular presenter who dazzles audiences of all ages.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--A book that is more about wordplay than teaching the alphabet, and a sibling story within the stricture of an ABC book. Older alligator brother Albert (A) is not enjoying his day with toddler brother Baxter (B). Baxter wakes up crying (C) needing a diaper (D) change, which is an easy (E) fix (F) by Grandma (G). Next, Albert is irritated (I) by Baxter, who is hungry (H) and jumpy (J), until Grandma brings him into the kitchen (K) where he makes a mess. Clever word choices are matched by charming anthropomorphic cartoon alligators. Their expressions, and especially Albert's eyebrows, make clear all that they are feeling. The illustrations are a perfect extension of the text, with no additional words needed. While not difficult to determine, there are no visual cues for the actual ABCs. VERDICT A highly relatable look at the complexity of an entire sibling relationship using only 26 words; there's always room for one more ABC book, so purchase as needed.--Catherine Callegari
Publisher's Weekly Review
In simple words and phrases that stand in for the Roman alphabet's 26 letters, Cole (Carina Felina) runs readers through a crocodilian duo's ups and downs. It all kicks off on the verso with A, older kid "Albert," playing with building blocks. On the recto, B, apparent younger sibling "Baxter," turns red-faced "Crying" in a crib. Albert's big googly eyes, alert snout, and tense green physique express a rich and wholly relatable psychology: Could the cause be "Diaper?" Yes, and it's an "Easy Fix" for caregiver "Grandma," who arrives with supplies in tow. Albert becomes increasingly "Irritated" during "Lunch," sinking into the respite of Baxter's "Nap"--"Oh... Peace. Quiet," When the baby later "Stumbles" into Albert's block tower, though, the older croc rises to the occasion, expressing genuine concern, and joining Grandma in proffering a smoochy, all-better "X." Emotional equilibrium restored, the sibs share a little floor time before Baxter returns to the crib to "Zzzzz," and Albert regards the snoozer with a mixture of affection and relief. A slight concept quickly proves page-turning in the experienced hands of Cole, whose fluid, digitally rendered vignettes are little gems of comedy and character. Ages 2--5. (Mar.)
Kirkus Review
A day in the life of two siblings. Albert, a young alligator (or perhaps a crocodile), just wants to play in peace, but as most older siblings understand, that's easier said than done when there's a baby in the house. Cole employs just one or two words per page, arranged in alphabetical order throughout the book. Our protagonist happily plays with blocks on one page ("Albert"), while on the facing page baby Baxter wails with increasing intensity ("Baxter"). As Baxter--doing what babies do best--noisily takes up space ("Hungry"), Albert's annoyance compounds ("Irritated"). A messy meal served by Grandma ("Lunch!") leads to a rest for Baxter ("Nap") and a much-needed respite for Albert ("Oh…Peace. Quiet"), but again, as most older siblings understand, those moments are short-lived, and before you know it, the baby chaos starts all over again ("Rises / Races // Stumbles. Scrapes / Tantrum!"). Many children will recognize Albert's all-too-relatable experiences: Cleaning up all the food that Baxter spilled while eating is particularly aggravating. Albert's expressive face tells the whole story as the day unfolds. The narrative is a familiar one, but it's done effectively. The pictures are bright and charming, and the choice to make this tale both a sibling story and an alphabet book is clever; youngsters will enjoy following it through to the end. The perfect selection to share with a new--and frustrated--big sibling. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
