Review by Booklist Review
A small boy is certain that he wants the new baby that Mom is expecting to be a boy, and as he looks forward to the exciting new arrival, he helps Mom pick out favorite names ( James, not Sara ). He tells Grandma to knit with blue yarn, not pink, and he fills the crib with trucks and cowboy boots. Tension builds as he makes plans to give the baby away if it turns out to be a girl, and when Mom's friend throws a baby shower, the boy acts out more, making noise to draw attention to himself. At last the baby comes, and even though she's a she, the boy can't help loving her. The large, bright, watercolor-and-ink cartoon-style pictures skillfully convey the boy's feelings as his excitement builds and then his surprise when he realizes that his new sister is who he wanted all along. Fun for a family preparing for a new baby, this warm, reassuring story is about a child's fear of displacement as much as his longing for a sibling just like him.--Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Young Edward doesn't even want to entertain the possibility that his soon-to-arrive sibling could be anything other than a boy named James. "What if James turns out to be Sara?" asks his father. "I'll give her to Aunt Elizabeth," says Edward, not amused. Readers won't have a hard time predicting what happens, but they are unlikely to be persuaded that Edward acclimates himself to reality so quickly ("I can't help it. I bend down and kiss my little baby sister's hand, and I feel all soppy and silly"). The too-neat wrapup, as well as the patronizing attitudes of the story's grownups, are surprising coming from Bunting, who has written about sibling rivalry and shifting family dynamics so astutely before (2001's Twinnies being a shining example). Spiegel's (First Grade Stinks!) sunny watercolors, populated by a round-faced cartoon cast, are undoubtedly meant to reassure, but instead mostly dampen the emotions-good, bad, and comic-that swirl around a family on the verge of a new addition. Ages 2-6. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Edward helps choose the names of his new sibling: Sara if it's a girl, James if it's a boy. While attending his mom's baby shower, her friend asks him if he wants a brother or a sister. He tells the woman that he wants a "James." A wise mom explains, "You might only think you want a brother, but whichever it is, when you see it, you'll know this was the kind you wanted all along." He is clearly not happy with her response. He acts out at the party and later fills up the crib with his toys for James. Finally the big day arrives when his parents bring home the new baby. Pastel watercolors in light hues and pen-and-ink create delightful illustrations that deftly balance white space on each page. The facial expressions and body language, especially Edward's, gently communicate the story's emotions and blend well with the text. In the growing "new sibling" category, this title stands out. It offers a similar message to Kate Feiffer's But I Wanted a Baby Brother (S & S, 2010), but is intended for a younger audience. An excellent choice for storytime or sharing in a one-on-one setting.-Anne Beier, Clifton Public Library, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Edward's father and pregnant mother are trying to prime him for the possibility of a sister; unconvinced, he puts his stereotypically boy items (truck, train, etc.) in the crib in anticipation. There's genuine suspense here, well supported by free-flowing watercolor and pen-and-ink pictures. Edward's spontaneous "Oh my gosh!" and loving look when his new sister smiles up at him couldn't be more right. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Bunting, who's known for her ability to artfully explore troubling issues, touches here on a lighter topic. A new baby is imminent, and Edward knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that he wants and will have a little brother, preferably named James. Edward watches the preparations and is not pleased that all the gifts are in non-decisive yellow or white. As his parents try to persuade him that a sister might be nice, Edward is adamant: "I'll give her to Aunt Elizabeth." Meanwhile, Edward also makes ready, and he fills the crib with toy cars and a baseball mitt. But when the baby comes home, Edward's heart melts and he can't help kissing his baby sister. The watercolor hues are baby-bunting tepid, but the lines are fluid and depict family closeness. Sweet and simple, this joins a handful of sibling-on-the-way booksincluding But I Wanted a Baby Brother, by Kate Feiffer and illustrated by Diane Goode (2010)that traverse the same topic and extend, with great wit, beyond the new baby's arrival. (Picture book. 2-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
