But I Wanted a Baby Brother!

But I Wanted a Baby Brother!

Oliver is thrilled that his mother is expecting a baby and convinced that his new sibling will be the brother of his dreams. Imagine his shock and disappointment when a little sister shows up instead! Oliver is determined to do what it takes to find a boy baby—even if that means trading in his sister— but when his hilarious efforts are unsuccessful, he comes to realize that no one can take the place of his family’s lovable new addition…even if she’s a girl. Kindergarten-Grade 3—This clever cautionary tale is nothing short of spectacular. Oliver Keaton is sure he is about to get a baby brother. Much to his chagrin, baby Julie arrives, on Groundhog's Day—a good metaphor that sets the tone for the story. He attempts to trade his well-behaved baby sister for a brother. He discovers that his friends' baby brothers cry all day long, or are up all night, and scraps that option, but Oliver continues his quest to find the perfect one. In one funny scene, he notices a sign at the zoo that says, "Change Babies Here," and figures this would be the perfect place to exchange his sibling; crying babies go in, and happy babies come out. He goes inside, and the odor has him running for cover. Observant Oliver becomes quite insightful and discriminating as he compares and contrasts Julie's positive qualities to those of other babies, and a strong, protective bond develops. Then Mom and Dad announce that they are expecting again and Oliver imagines the fun "guy" activities he will someday share with his new unborn brother. How will he feel if it's another sister? The watercolor illustrations include cartoon characters with a lot of expression and an adorable Julie always dressed in pink. Some pages use ellipses, which will keep readers guessing and turning pages to get to the next plot point. The ending of this tale is heartwarming and satisfying. This wise and humorous selection is a winner for storytime or sharing one-on-one.— Anne Beier, Hendrick Hudson Free Library, Montrose, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. All-boy Oliver Keaton, baseball mitt in hand, is sure that he is getting the baby brother he has always wanted. Of course, he doesn't. When his parents proudly show him his baby sister, bedecked in pink blankets, he is miserable. He offers to trade with friends who have baby brothers, and he completely misunderstands the sign in the zoo that reads, “Change babies here,” expecting he can go in with a girl and leave with a boy (the diapered and bare-bottomed babies are sure to elicit guffaws). He checks in the classified ads “just in case someone was selling a used baby boy.” Both text and breezy cartoon illustrations are laced with humor, making this an excellent choice for reading aloud. Capturing Oliver's inner dialogue and the conflicting thoughts children have as they adjust to a new sibling and offering a twist ending, Feiffer's book is a cut above many of its kind. Although it's doubtful any new-sibling book will quite measure up to Kevin Henkes' Julius, the Baby of the World (1990), this one comes close. Grades K-3. --Patricia Austin Kate Feiffer is a writer, a filmmaker, and a mother. She is the author of the picture books No Go Sleep! ; President Pennybaker ; But I Wanted a Baby Brother! ; The Wild, Wild Inside ; Which Puppy? ; My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life ; and Double Pink ; and of the middle-grade novels Signed by Zelda and The Problem with the Puddles. She lives with her family on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Visit her at KateFeiffer.com. Diane Goode has written seven and illustrated over sixty beloved and critically acclaimed picture books, including the New York Times bestsellers Founding Mothers and Ladies of Liberty by Cokie Roberts. She illustrated several books by Cynthia Rylant including When I Was Young in the Mountains , a Caldecott Honor Book. She is also the illustrator of President Pennybaker and My Mom is Trying to Ruin My Life , both by Kate Feiffer. She lives in Watchung, New Jersey, with her husband, David, and their dog, Briggs. You can read about her at DianeGoode.com.