Billy and Belle [Hardcover]

Sarah Garland (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 23 and up

In quasi-comic-book format complete with dialogue in balloons, Billy and Belle is a gently humorous story featuring a modern mixed-race family on an important day. Little Billy and Belle can't wait for Mom to have her baby: Belle already knows how to give a newborn a bottle, and Billy's set to share his pet hamster with a new brother or sister. When Mom goes to the hospital, the kids go off to school for Pet Day (hamster and pet spider in tow) and a little unlooked-for excitement, as all the pets get loose. The family's love and community's support are charmingly portrayed in Sarah Garland's colorful artwork.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Part of this story's charm lies in its portrayal of a new baby fitting so naturally into the normal hustle and bustle of family life. Billy and Belle can be enjoyed on many levels, from the truly funny antics of Pet Day to the positive portrayal of an interracial family."

About the Author

Sarah Garland is a much-loved author/illustrator who has published more than 40 books. The daughter of a publisher and illustrator, she trained as a typographer at the London College of Printing. Her previous titles for Frances Lincoln are Margaret Mahy's Dashing Dog and her own children's gardening story, Eddie's Garden.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 23 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books (May 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1845070372
• ISBN-13: 978-1845070373
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 7.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,788,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Prevention Of Sibling Rivalry Among Children, December 10, 2003

By 

Marina S. Sherrill (Champaign, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Billy and Belle (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

I went to the library to charge out some books and happened to come across this book. I pre-read it and liked what I was about to read. I charged it out and read it. I liked it and I thought it was a great story. Billy and Belle prevents sibling rivalry because the main characters are prepared for the arrival of their new sibling. Belle knows the right way to give a newborn a bottle and Billy is eager to share his pet hamster with the baby. I did notice that Billy and Belle's family is bi-racial and it shows up more in Belle than in Billy, because Belle's complexion is lighter than Billy's. What's more exciting is that Belle gets to go to school with Billy and the hamster as well because of Pet Day. Belle was very excited about going to school but she was not pleased with the procedure of getting dressed or having her hair combed. Belle did not feel comfortable about going into Billy's class without a pet so Billy told her to get the spider on the floor right by her foot. The teacher put the pets out for some fresh air so the children can remember how many legs their pets had. Belle did not know any better when she let the pets escape because she forgot how many legs her spider had so what can you expect from a small child, she went outside and looked in the boxes of the other children's pets and let them out because she thought her spider would have been in one of those boxes or jars that spider crawled on her as she looked for it and it crawled on her sweater where she could at last see it. She brought her spider back into the classroom and counted how many legs her spider had and drew it. The children did get their pets back and took turns to show their drawings of their pets and tell about them in their own words. School was out and Billy and Belle got the news that they have a new brother named Adam. Billy and Belle were very exicted to see him. That night Billy and Belle saw their new brother for the very first time and Billy's hamster woke up. I think Sarah Garland should write a sequel or an addition to this event where Billy and Belle can watch their baby brother grow and develop.