You and Me

by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Susan Reagan (Illustrator)

Overview

For older siblings, the introduction of a baby into the family can be a mixed blessing. There is someone new for everyone to dote on, but all of a sudden, everything special about the baby can make older children feel competitive. In this warmly illustrated board book, a poem perfectly encapsulates the balancing act of giving attention to both older and younger siblings, encouraging families to carve out ample "you and me" time for everyone!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781568463216
Publisher:	The Creative Company
Publication date:	08/21/2018
Pages:	14
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

A lifelong reader who has long been fascinated with the intricacies of childhood, Rebecca Kai Dotlich grew up in the Midwest. She studied creative writing, art history, and anthropology at Indiana University before raising her family and eventually becoming an award-winning children's poet and picture book author. She still lives in the Midwest with her husband.

Susan Reagan earned her degree from the Columbus College of Art and Design. With previous experience in greeting cards, surface designs, and picture books, she explored a new style for You and Me. A lifelong Ohio resident, she lives in Cleveland with her husband and two dogs.

Editorial Reviews

2018-09-30

A preschool-age child adjusts to life with a new baby in this emotionally satisfying board book.

Cooing comments about the new baby on the left-hand page are paired with somewhat disparaging observations from an older child in italics on the right. The older child matter-of-factly points to actual skills and accomplishments. So what if the baby has soft skin? The older sibling can count to nine! Dotlich's poem was originally published in Climb into My Lap: First Poems to Read Together, edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Kathryn Brown (1998). It's just the right length for a board book, but the storyline is more suitable for a picture-book reader. The older sibling is beyond board-book age, as indicated by the line, "Yesterday I lost two teeth." Young children will also miss the visual humor in Reagan's realistic watercolors. When the child proudly asserts, "I can tie all by myself," those shoes are on the wrong feet. A family read-aloud with both the older sibling and new baby is an ideal setting for this story. The illustrations capture the mood of the poem but may throw readers when they notice that the woman reading with the protagonist in the final picture does not look like the grandmother portrayed five pages earlier. Maybe it's mom?

The importance of giving positive attention to the child who may be feeling overshadowed by a new baby cannot be overstressed, and it's nice to have the reminder delivered in such a lovely, sensitive package and featuring a loving, brown-skinned family. (Board book. 6 mos.-5)

Kirkus Reviews