From Publishers Weekly
Shirley the hippo thinks it's about time to send her new brother, Stanley, back where he came from ("The trouble with Shirley's new baby brother was that everything Stanley did was wonderful"). She's had enough of his attention-grabbing spitting, drooling, babbling and smelly diapers. But gradually Shirley undergoes a change of heart, thanks to a clever new babysitter, Ms. Mump. Announcing, to Shirley's delight, that "I like my tea with two lumps of sugar and no babies," Ms. Mump mirrors Shirley's resentment by disparaging babies in general ("Babies are notorious for getting into trouble"), while at the same time maneuvering Shirley into defending her brother. The resourceful woman also nurtures Shirley's sense of competency and importance by asking her to take over such chores as feeding, burping and diapering her infant sibling. Gregory (A Valentine for Norman Noggs) gets the arch tone just right, and it grows warmer as Shirley's affection deepens. The author also understands how a word like "notorious" (used judiciously, several times) can be like a feather tickler to readers' burgeoning vocabulary. Similarly, Degen's (Jamberry) artwork subtly follows the heroine's transformation: his thick black line allows for understated facial expressions as well as dramatic body language. The mixture of patterns and textures draws in readers, while the saturated colors provide the immediacy and punch of the unfolding changes in Shirley. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-Everything about Shirley's infant brother is wonderful. As her father changes Stanley's diapers, he comments that the baby is wonderful. Her mother thinks his tiny nose is wonderful. Even her neighbor thinks Stanley is wonderful and tickles him under his chin. Shirley is the only person who does not think Stanley is wonderful. After all, he can't walk or talk, and he drools most of the time. Fed up, she finally asks her parents, "Don't you think it's about time to take this baby back?" Shirley's mother just replies that Stanley is wonderful. Then one day, a baby-sitter who pretends not to like babies plays with Shirley and shows her how to change Stanley's diaper, feed him, and burp him. By the time her parents return, the child thinks her brother is wonderful. Beautifully illustrated in primary colors, the pictures of this hippopotamus family will delight readers. The unique textures were created by applying gouache over hand-cut stencils, plastic and wire meshes, masking tape, and punched-out patterns. Children with siblings will relate to this young hippo, whose expressions are priceless.
Kristin de Lacoste, South Regional Public Library, Pembroke Pines, FLCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
