Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #311950 in Books
• Published on: 1995-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
For children who are facing the arrival of a new sibling, Julius, the Baby of the World makes for great biblio-therapy. At first, big sister Lilly thought it might be fun to have a new baby in the family. But when her parents repeatedly coo "Julius is the baby of world", Lilly's mouse hackles begin to rise. Soon the jealousy is too much for her, and she embarks on a rejection campaign that is hysterically funny, but also comforting for siblings who probably feel just as much resentment but would never go to Lilly's extremes. Kevin Henkes, creator of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse refuses to shy away from the truly powerful and sometimes dark feelings of children. Through bright watercolours and handwritten, cartoon-style dialogue, Henkes relishes Lilly's wickedness. For example, she delights in insulting her oblivious baby brother: "If you were a food, you'd be a raisin," she whispers into his crib. "If you were a number you'd be zero." When she paints an elaborate family portrait, she leaves Julius out. When she throws a tea party, guess which baby doesn't get an invitation? But when a visiting cousin starts insulting baby Julius, we discover that the flip side of Lilly's intense jealousy is an even more powerful and lasting loyalty. ALA Notable Book, ALA Booklist Children's Editors' Choice, Horn Book Fanfare Honour List, Parent's Choice Honour for Literature. (Baby to Preschool) --Gail Hudson

Review
"A reassuring, funny book for all young children who suffer from new-sibling syndrome."-- "School Library Journal" (starred review)

Synopsis
Lilly is convinced that the arrival of her new baby brother is the worst thing that has happened in their house, until Cousin Garland comes to visit.

Customer Reviews

Slightly odd
Nicely written and illustrated - just not sure if it works as a concept for helping an older child deal with a new sibling. Could be that I'm too softly-softly. But the friend who recommended it to me loves it and thinks it's brilliant.

Great book!
This is a great book for young children and will strike a chord with those who are adjusting to the arrival of a new baby and perhaps feeling resentful of the newcomer. I regard this as an "essential" book for the bookshelf of any child in the 3-7 age group. I used to read it to my class when I was teaching and made sure I got it for my young grandchildren too.