Little sisters

A little girl dreams of what it would be like to have siblings. The narrator imagines first having one sister to "build giant towers and play hide-and-seek with," then more sisters to "huddle, cuddle, and snuggle together," and finally, a house full of "tons of little sisters." In the end, she declares that she's happy as an only child: "At least I have my mommy all to myself!" The story's charm is amplified by its harmonious blend of text and illustration. Miura's simple, playful art brings the child's imaginary sisters to life, nicely capturing her creativity. The little sisters are "just like me, only smaller": all wear black dresses, and their black hair is cut in the same pageboy style. The siblings share the pink-cheeked narrator's pale skin, but their cheeks are pinkish-orange. The narrative, with its gentle and rhythmic repetition, echoes the child's growing excitement and eventual contentment. With its universal themes of imagination, family love, and acceptance, Miura's appealing picture book carries the message of appreciating what one has while leaving room for dreams and flights of fancy. Weileen WangMarch/April 2024 p.72 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

What would life be like with a younger sibling? A young girl imagines life with a little sister, who "would be just like me, only smaller." As the girl's imagination grows, a little sister appears, and the two build towers, play hide-and-seek, jump on the sofa, and share a sweet treat. Magically, more little sisters appear, like the brooms in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," until a multitude of them are snuggling together and a whole line of little sisters are wiggling away. But then they all disappear, and the child is alone. Nevertheless, she finds happiness in her family just the way it is. Translated from French, Miura's delightful prose is simple yet earnest, leaving ample space for well-crafted, spare illustrations. Miura wields white space to give the girl room for her imagination to expand. Little by little, the sisters conquer that space until they fill the page--literally and metaphorically--as they wildly splash paint all over a blank canvas. The perspective stays distant until Miura zooms in on the protagonist's joyful expression as she dreams of having droves of playmates. Young readers anticipating, even hoping for, siblings will delight in all the ways these sisters play with and enjoy each other. All the siblings have skin the white of the page, pink cheeks, and short dark hair. Start with imagination, add a sprinkle of mischief, and stir for pure joy! (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.