Bunny in the middle

PreS-Gr 1--The dandy duo who gave us Pigs Love Potatoes and Baking Day at Grandma's adds a jewel to their literary crown in this chronicle of the challenges and (mostly) positives of being a middle child. Anthropomorphic bunnies on double-page spreads share a lot and fuss a little. Our narrator is the sole girl; she gets homework help from big brother then pushes a tree swing for the littlest sibling. The author deftly describes precise situations that require compromise--the strength of many "middles," and concludes with a reminder that "…the best part of middle is you are loved all around." Denise employs Photoshop, Procreate and pencil for scenes brimming with affection. He ably draws rolled eyes over hand-me-downs, cautious side-glances assuring a sibling's safety, and tranquility with being alone in a meadow. VERDICT This creative team parents three girls and here shares insights honoring the child who's sometimes overlooked.--Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

Birth order mattersor does it?Ostensibly written to reassure middle children, this sweet picture book acknowledges the special place each sibling occupies in a family. Middle kids are lucky to have someone bigger to help themand someone smaller who needs them. They know how to assert themselves when their opinions are important; how to relent when a battle isn't worth it; and how to negotiate conflicts to make all siblings equally happy. Sometimes middles lead; sometimes they follow; and sometimes they forge their own paths. When you're in the middle, "you're not too small for the big stuff" (going to school) "and not too big for the small stuff" (playing with a dollhouse). Life's not always rosy, though; think hand-me-downs and shared bedrooms. But here's the thing: "The best part of middle is / you are loved all around." What's better than that? The child-appealing, expressive illustrations, rendered in pencil and computer enhanced, are delightful, depicting three plump, brown, floppy-eared, large-eyed bunnies cozily engaged in familiar activities (baking, playing, hiking, reading, snuggling). Kids will savor adorable details, such as children's artwork on a bedroom wall and winsome animal students lined up for school in a tree. The second-person address avoids explicitly gendering the characters, and their activities are nicely varied. When portrayed on scooters, the bunnies wear helmets. Charming and comforting. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.