Sister Day

by Jyoti Rajan Gopal, Fanny Liem (Illustrator)

Overview

Dawn breaks
new day
hearts light
sisters play.

In this lyrical and spare picture book with beautiful illustrations from Fanny Liem, author Jyoti Rajan Gopal tells the story of two sisters who are excited to go on a backyard adventure. But when their make-believe meets with disaster, the sisters take some time apart. They learn to forgive each other’s mistakes, and soon the sisters are combining their ideas to make the most beautiful backyard kingdom of all. Because now they know:

Sister spirit
sister strong
sister heart
sister strong.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780374393748
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	07/16/2024
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	47 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jyoti Rajan Gopal is a Desi writer, Kindergarten teacher, and author of several picture books including Sister Day. Growing up, she lived in Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, India and China. She now lives in New York with her family.

Fanny Liem is an illustrator born and raised in Indonesia. When she is not drawing, you can find her watching movies and/or listening to country music.

Editorial Reviews

"Gopal captures the entire arc of a “sister day” right down to the snug nighttime rituals. The text pops and the digital illustrations use texture and color to keep up with the girls’ energy as they ­cycle through childhood’s myriad ­emotions... A celebration of sisterhood, of play, and problem-solving, all at once. A perfect purchase." —School Library Journal

"The colorful, cheery illustrations are full of playful moments that show the children using their imaginations...An ode to sisterly love and creative play." —Kirkus

From the Publisher

06/01/2024

PreS-Gr 2—"Dawn breaks/ new day/ hearts light/ sisters play." It's that simple, that sweet, and that complicated when two loving sisters, presenting as South Asian but in a household that could be Anywhere, U.S.A., race through their home and out the door after the smaller sister finds a fairy doll. She is next seen carrying sticks over to the older sister who is creating a "fairy glen" under a backyard tree. The younger girl trips, creating a muddy mess of the construction site: "mud squish/ sisters glare/ smash kick/ hearts flare." Flare is right! But just as quickly the sisterly bonds reknit themselves as the girls create a fairy mud hut in the shape of a mushroom and peace is restored; a white winged horse appears out of nowhere to join the fairy doll. The book might have ended on this upbeat note, but Gopal (My Paati's Saris) captures the entire arc of a "sister day" right down to the snug nighttime rituals. The text pops and the digital illustrations use texture and color to keep up with the girls' energy as they cycle through childhood's myriad emotions. VERDICT A celebration of sisterhood, of play, and problem-solving, all at once. A perfect purchase.—Ginnie Abbott

School Library Journal

2024-04-20
Two sisters embark on a backyard adventure.

A young girl wakes up her sister by grabbing her quilt off the bed. A chase ensues, and the two girls turn the quilt into a swing. Later, while they play hide-and-seek, one of them finds a fairy doll in the closet. The siblings head to the backyard, where they start constructing a fairy glen out of sticks and flowers. One of the girls accidentally knocks over a bucket of water, destroying their hard work. A heated argument follows: “Anger bursts / words slice / tears build / NOT NICE!” After a good cry, they both apologize and turn their attention to the muddy slush, turning it into a mushroom home for their doll. They run, jump, and play for the rest of the day before finally falling asleep, content. While the children’s argument is resolved a bit too quickly, the mercurial dynamics of the sibling bond and the girls’ personalities shine through in the staccato text. The colorful, cheery illustrations are full of playful moments that show the children using their imaginations. The girls and their mother are depicted in warm shades of brown, and the textiles and aesthetics of their home cue them as South Asian.

An ode to sisterly love and creative play. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews