Brandon and the Baby

by Brian Pinkney, Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)

Overview

Caldecott Honor–winning artist and Coretta Scott King Award winner Brian Pinkney explores sibling rivalry with humor, love, and emotional depth in this action-packed story about Brandon and his new baby brother. Perfect for readers of Julius, the Baby of the World, by Kevin Henkes, as well as families welcoming a new sibling.

Brandon loves his special blanket, but he isn’t too sure about his new baby brother. When it’s time for supper, a bath, and bed, the baby steals all the attention. Brandon is not happy. In fact, he’s very, very angry. Luckily, Brandon’s blanket (or is it Brandon?) has a few ideas to make everything better.

From Caldecott Honor–winning artist and Coretta Scott King Award winner Brian Pinkney, this exuberant, emotionally true, and insightful picture book celebrates a young child’s imagination, being a big brother, and welcoming a new family member. With an expressive, pitch-perfect text and bold, energetic illustrations, Brandon and the Baby is a standout choice for families, classroom sharing, and for social and emotional learning.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063159846
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/18/2024
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Brian Pinkney has illustrated numerous books for children, including two Caldecott Honor books, The Faithful Friend, by Robert D. San Souci, and Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra, by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Mr. Pinkney's own books include Hey Otter! Hey Beaver!; Time for Kenny; Max Found Two Sticks; JoJo's Flying Side Kick; and The Adventures of Sparrowboy, winner of the 1997 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Brian Pinkney has received the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration and three Coretta Scott King Honor Awards. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

Brian Pinkney has illustrated numerous books for children, including two Caldecott Honor books, The Faithful Friend, by Robert D. San Souci, and Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra, by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Mr. Pinkney's own books include Hey Otter! Hey Beaver!; Time for Kenny; Max Found Two Sticks; JoJo's Flying Side Kick; and The Adventures of Sparrowboy, winner of the 1997 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Brian Pinkney has received the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration and three Coretta Scott King Honor Awards. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

Editorial Reviews

Pinkney carries on his family’s legacy for thoughtful children’s literature and gorgeous art in this heartwarming story about Brandon, a new older brother adjusting to the new baby in the house. . . . The pastel palette and free-spirited art style showcase Brandon’s creativity and the lack of restrictions on his imagination. Perfect for young readers who are adapting to little siblings and the loss of attention, helping them understand that their parents still love them just as much as before.” — Booklist

“A young Black boy, negotiates his new status as big sibling after a baby brother arrives on the scene. . . . Children with younger siblings will identify with how hard it is to go from being the center of attention to feeling overlooked. . . . A welcome refresh of a familiar family dynamic, with the best possible outcome.” — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2024-04-20
A young Black boy negotiates his new status as big sibling after a baby brother arrives on the scene.

From the get-go, listeners learn that “Brandon loved his blanket,” but “he wasn’t so sure about the baby.” Pinkney sets up a pattern whereby the protagonist starts to regress during times of transition: He doesn’t want to sit in his big-boy chair at dinnertime, take a bath in the tub, or sleep in his own bed. When his parents, busy with the baby, don’t respond to his frustrated declarations, he begins to throw a temper tantrum. Each time, “Brandon’s blanket had a better idea.” With three alliterative, onomatopoetic sounds, the plaid wonder transforms into a creature (toucan, sea lion, owl) that distracts and delights Brandon. Soon he and the blanket are a team, entertaining the happy infant. The acrylic, watercolor, and India ink compositions—swirling with the artist’s signature, energetic lines—eventually depict the foursome as a unit. Ultimately, when the baby cries, it’s Brandon who has the situation covered. Children with younger siblings will identify with how hard it is to go from being the center of attention to feeling overlooked. The varied facial expressions throughout the narrative offer opportunities for discussing those emotions.

A welcome refresh of a familiar family dynamic, with the best possible outcome. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews