Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
It's tough being a younger sister, especially when your older sibling-by "one year, six months, and three days"-is an irrepressible chatterbox like Greta. Quiet and careful, Gracie takes it in stride, "most of the time." Greta pushes Gracie through a rigorous lineup of Christmas preparations, Greta-splaining everything from what Santa is really like to how to ice skate the right way, but it's during the hush of Christmas Eve that Gracie has a magical encounter all her own. Ismail (I'm a Girl!) uses brightly colored speech bubbles and hand lettering to amplify the personalities of these rabbit sisters; Greta's diatribes dominate the pages the same way that she dominates, well, everything. In digital compositions with the airiness of watercolor paintings, Ismail creates an exuberant portrait of Christmastime bustle that demonstrates all too clearly how holiday excitement can intensify an already-spirited relationship between sisters. Ages 3-7. Agent: Vicki Willden-Lebrecht. Bright Literary. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-The dynamic of the titular bunny sisters is as follows. Greta is one year, six months, and three days older than her younger sibling. She is also taller, more talkative (the pink speech balloons that fill the page outsize and outnumber Gracie's yellow ones), and more than willing to share the things she thinks she knows. Christmas preparations become moments for Greta's overbearing big sister behavior to shine through: she'll put the star on top of the tree because Gracie is too little, a ribbon bought at the store will be purchased by Greta because Gracie is too quiet to be heard over the bustle, and Greta will ice skate alone because Gracie is too slow. Yet on Christmas Eve, Gracie finds that slow, quiet, and little do have their rewards, especially when Santa comes to visit. Gray Greta, yellow Gracie, and the rest of the digitally created illustrations seem like watercolor, and their soft quality captures the sisters' relationship-sweet and affectionate even when the tables have turned. VERDICT Many children will find this tale entertaining and familiar.-Joanna Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2016. 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 Kirkus Book Review
Two rabbit sisters prepare for Christmas together, but only one sister gets to meet Santa on Christmas Eve.Big sister Greta makes all the decisions, does all the talking, and gets all the attention, while little sister Gracie is cautious and deliberate, quiet and polite. Ismails hilarious story is cleverly told with just a few lines of narrative text per page, stating the basic developments of the plot in an understated way while the deeper subtext unfolds through speech balloons set in a typeface that looks like a childs printing. Garrulous Greta has plenty to say in her domineering way, while little Gracie asks innocent questions and tries to state her own preferences. When a store clerk asks Gracie what she thinks Santa is like, Greta butts in with a long, page-filling answer, followed by Gracies succinct, He is magic. On Christmas Eve, Gracie gets up by herself and bravely goes through the dark house to the living room. She shares cookies and conversation with Santa Claus himself (a white human), and on Christmas morning, Greta learns that quiet little sisters sometimes come out on top. Vibrant, loose watercolor illustrations integrate seamlessly with the text, with multiple pastel speech balloons expertly worked into the art in creative ways. This one has it all: original characters, an exciting plot, dazzling illustrations, and the triumph of an underdog (or underbunny). More Greta and Gracie, please. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
