It's Not Fair! (Hardcover)

by Anita Harper (Author), Mary McQuillan (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Books that address sibling rivalry are already abundantly available, but It's Not Fair! manages to offer a fresh perspective on the theme. The heroine of this story is a young kangaroo, who is acutely sensitive to the injustices her parents perpetrate when they treat her new brother differently from her. "If he makes a mess, it's all right," she complains. "If I make a mess, I get into trouble. That's not fair!" When he grows up a little, however, little brother gets his comeuppance, to his sister's infinite satisfaction. "When I go to playgroup, my brother wants to go too," she says gleefully, "but he can't. He doesn't think that's fair at all." The point is well taken, and Hellard's watercolors are expressive and evocative. For a change, this book addresses the woes of the generally much-maligned younger sibling as well as those of the dethroned senior.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3 Older sister resents the attention that her newborn brother receives. He is fed and carried and excused for his screams and mishaps. She feels jealous, hurt, confused, and angry. When younger brother gets a little bigger, and realizes that older sister can walk in the rain, go to playgroup, stay up late, and go to parties, he feels jealous, hurt, confused, and angry. The universal theme of sibling rivalry, coupled with funny kangaroo characters, will easily capture children's interest. They will secretly taunt, "It's not fair!" and applaud the kangaroo characters' protests. The simple storyline provides amusement and catharsis for children who have experienced their own versions of sibling rivalry. It is complemented with full-page, softly colored, cartoon-like watercolors that capture the characters' emotions and match the light, humorous mood of the story. Comparable to Blume's The Pain and the Great One (Bradbury, 1984), this title will hold the same appeal for a younger audience. Janice L. Amicone, Downington Area School District, Uwchland, Pa.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (August 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823420949
• ISBN-13: 978-0823420940
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,351,528 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Growing up isn't always easy..., October 3, 2007

By	Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

In this book, a little girl complains that her baby brother gets away with sorts of misbehavior that she's told she can't do, because she's a big girl. She can't make messes or yell without being corrected, but the baby is allowed to... On the other hand, she realizes, she gets to do all sorts of things the baby can't - stay up late, go to school, etc. Eventually she decides it's okay that she's not a baby anymore, and she looks forward to her brother growing up, too. These issues have been explored in many books before, but this one is pretty nice, with a fairly skillful story arc. The artwork, with the little girl as an orange, cartoonish kitty-cat, is appealing as well. (ReadThatAgain)