Customer Reviews

Shirley's Wonderful Baby

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Shirley's new baby brother is indeed wonderful - depending on who
is asked. Shirley's internal dialogue contrasts sharply with all the adulation heaped on the baby by the surrounding adults.
Her dialogues run heavily to prunes that drool - until a wise baby-sitter arrives.

While charmed by Shirley's tap-dancing, she seemingly doesn't find Stanley of much interest. She prefers to settle down with a "thick book" and leaves Stanley's care to his big sister.

Older siblings will love this book for accurately depicting new
babies - baby hippos, that is. Parents will love it for its
subtle humor. All will find the resolution completely satisfying. This book, with Degen's funny illustrations that
both children and adults can peruse with pleasure, is destined to be read to shreds.

The first half of this book is a prolonged, super-negative anti-baby tirade. Sure, we as adults can see the reality behind Shirley's jealous rants, but can most small children, who are theoretically the target audience here? I think this book indulges in dark, negative emotions, and the resolution is dramatically weak, so the message is unlikely to get through to the kids who need it. I would NOT recommend this book as a tool to work through sibling rivalries.

Little hippo Shirley gets exactly what any child having difficulty adjusting to the arrival of a new sibling needs when Ms. Mump the babysitter arrives. Everyone thinks Shirley's baby brother Stanley is simply "wonderful." Shirley doesn't understand as she questions "[w]hat's so wonderful about a baby with legs like a turkey," "who looks like a prune," drools and spits a lot, and can't even talk. She's elated when Ms. Mump arrives declaring she doesn't like babies and spends the entire afternoon playing with Shirley. Ms. Mump doesn't even want to take care of Stanley when he wakes up and needs attention. She just tells Shirley how to do it. Shirley changes his diaper, feeds, comforts, and entertains him. In the process, she bonds with him. Ms. Mump's broad smile of satisfaction in the end suggests this was her plan all along - to trick Shirley into falling in love with Stanley. This heartwarming tale is told with charming, cartoonish hippos that dress and act like humans in settings that are an interesting mix of gouche over collage and finished with pen and ink. Recommended for all children aged 3 to 8 and highly recommended those with younger siblings.