Dilly's Big Sister Diary [Library Binding]

Susan Lewis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998 | Age Level: 7 and up

When her brother Matthew is born Dilly's parents give her a diary to record her feelings about him, and over the course of two months Dilly begins to change her mind about being a big sister.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4?A unique story that is certain to engage its audience from beginning to end. When eight-year-old Dilly's brother is born, her parents give her a diary to chronicle her feelings and experiences. Dismayed at first, the child prefers to think of Matthew as a science experiment ("Experiment #1: Rub baby's palm with finger. RESULT: Baby will grab finger!"). As the weeks go by, however, Dilly witnesses small steps in her brother's growth, realizing that being a big sister is not as bad as she had imagined. By story's end, she has accepted her brother in his own right. Young children, particularly those with newborn siblings, will identify with Dilly; her observations on life resonate with humor and truth. While visually overwhelming (photos, childlike artwork and doodles, and type in different fonts and colors cover the pages), the diarylike style in a child's handwriting is complemented by strong, humorous writing and an authenticity that will leave readers wondering if Dilly is indeed a real person. Teachers in particular will find this title useful for encouraging students to write about their own experiences.?Jennifer Oyama, Los Angeles Public Library, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Millbrook Press (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761304142
• ISBN-13: 978-0761304142
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,922,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Neat Concept - Fun Reading!, January 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dillys Big Sister Diary (Hardcover)

My 8 year old daughter couldn't put this down. She hid it so that I couldn't return it to the library. Although the "baby" in our house is now 4 years old, my daughter could still relate to Dilly's feelings. This book is a fun way to explore babies and the feelings a sibling may experience when one lands on your doorstep. The drawings and "notations" were witty and my daughter thought the diary concept was cool. This book would be appropriate for a higher age level than recommended. My daughter plans to give it as a gift to a nine year old friend who is expecting a new baby in her household.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter's favorite book - a lot of fun!, December 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dilly's Big Sister Diary (Library Binding)

I bought this book from Amazon sight unseen because my 4 year old is now a big sister. I was very pleasantly surprised with the clever design, humor, and fun colorful illustrations drawn by 'Dilly'. It is really aimed at older children (maybe 7-11), especially the humor which is right on for that age. It is great for younger kids too if you don't mind your 4 year picking up expressions like 'gross me out' and 'punky' (which are now common expressions in our house). My daughter is an early reader and this book motivates her to read independently or at least pore over the pictures a lot. I look forward to the sequel re. Dilly's camping experiences.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for big sisters and parents alike!, June 27, 2000

By 

Lisa McElroy (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dilly's Big Sister Diary (Library Binding)

I love this book! It is so clever -- it is designed like a notebook, and the idea is that Dilly's mom gave it to her when the baby was born so that she could have a place to write her feelings about being a big sister. This book is not sappy; rather, it's realistic. At the beginning, Dilly doesn't like the new baby, but by the time he's a year old, she loves him! The drawings (a la Dilly) are hilarious -- this is the kind of book that has jokes for the parents and for the kids.

My daughter will definitely enjoy this book when she's a big sister someday! Even better, I'll love reading it with her.