Siblings [Hardcover]

Nick Kelsh (Author), Anna Quindlen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1998

Almost every life is profoundly touched--and complicated--by a sibling relationship. In intimate childhood portraits of brothers and sisters, Siblings joins Nick Kelsh's exquisite black-and-white photography--free of all sentimentality--to Anna Quindlen's wry and tender essays. Here are forgotten moments, naked emotions and conflicting urges, to be treasured in the rediscovery. Infant toes curl against each other, brothers fight tooth and nail, a toddler views a new baby with horror and later touches it with love. The raw reality of their interactions, transcending the children's own loveliness, is mirrored in nuances wittily pinpointed by the text. Siblings captures and reveals an undying dynamic at its very source--for siblings now grown, and for their parents and grandparents.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-Quindlen writes with her usual expertise on the subject of life with brothers and sisters. Kelsh's photographic vignettes effectively illuminate the essays. "The Baby" is prefaced with a full-page depiction of a tiny, befrilled, thoroughly feminine little girl surrounded by six older brothers, each outfitted in distinctive sports gear. "Super Sisters," "Irish Twins," and the opening "Siblings" are embellished with black-and-white photos that show the dynamics of human relationships within the home. Frustration, dependence, exasperation, and responsibility as experienced by both younger and older siblings in the seesaw of family life are all explored. Perhaps the negative encounters are the more ruefully revealing. Quindlen sums it up in a passionate statement featured in bold type, "Oh how I hated that little boy, and how I loved him, too." In "Super Sisters," she explores a family in which the oldest girl takes over the role of mother. Even middle schoolers can relate to the situations described, reflect upon their long-term effects, and enjoy a wistful and humorous sense of d?j? vu.
Frances Reiher, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The sequel to Naked Babies (1996) considers the longest intimate relationship most people ever know. Quindlen, who was a little off in the text for Naked Babies, grabs and holds with what she says about being brothers and sisters. As the eldest of five, who was pressed into service as what she calls a supersister when her mother died, she speaks with great authority, especially when she concludes that for siblings, "there is no ice to break." Kelsh's pictures are slightly less grabby this time, but then babies' appeal is aided by hardwired biology: part of being human is paying attention to them. These pictures' subjects--all (save two) preadolescent, from toddlers to preteens--are plenty cute, though, and Kelsh doesn't seem to have goosed anything out of them (more likely, they did that to one another). So all together the photos resemble the family snapshot album that a consummate professional might amass. But will Kelsh and Quindlen's next be Big, Hairy Teenagers? Ray Olson

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Studio (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670878820
• ISBN-13: 978-0670878826
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #965,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

NICK KELSH is the author/photographer and brains behind www.howtophotographyourbaby.com.

He grew up in Fargo, North Dakota as the second of five babies of Bud and Joyce Kelsh. Nick learned photography on the Leica his dad brought home from World War II and knew he was going to be a professional photographer when he was fifteen.

First Nick wanted to be a war photographer. Then he wanted to be a fashion photographer. Then he wanted to be a photo illustrator, whatever that is. He finally attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism and worked as a photojournalist for several newspapers around the country finishing with The Philadelphia Inquirer. Now he's one of the country's leading experts on baby photography. This makes no sense.

Nick is the author/photographer of nine books including Naked Babies with Anna Quindlen, How to Photograph Your Baby, How to Photograph Your Life, and The Sense of Wonder by Rachel Carson. He has appeared on Oprah! and The Today Show multiple times. His photographs have appeared on several of the covers of the prestigious Day in the Life series and in dozens of major magazines.

He is currently a partner in the Philadelphia-based graphic design firm Kelsh Wilson Design.

Nick's wife, Anne, is the second of five babies of George and Linda Morgan of Walton, New York. He has three sons, Chaz, Alexander, and Teddy -- the incredible, beautiful, smiling face on the How to Photograph Your Baby DVD disc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone with a sibling will relate to this book!, January 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Siblings (Hardcover)

After reading an excerpt from this book, I purchased six copies, one to send to each of my brothers and my husband's sisters. The photographs are snapshots of life in a family that capture the true essence of sharing your space with a sibling. Alone they create a message that is funny, touching, reminiscent. Combined with Ms. Quindlen's prose, they become a treasure of memories that will have you laughing, crying and nodding your head, "Yes. That is just what it was like!"

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a must read for anyone with siblings, October 30, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Siblings (Hardcover)

This book was able to capture the unique relationship between siblings. Going into detail and siting personal examples; Anna Quindlen was able to make me laugh at my own memories of childhood and the relationship with my sibling. The pictures by Nick Kelsh are able to capture the genuine relationships between siblings in it's most sincere view without having a "staged" look to it. I throughly enjoyed reading this book and really look forward to sharing it with my sister as well as reading it again and again....

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for those with siblings, March 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Siblings (Hardcover)

Though I don't have siblings the way this book describes, I just gave my daughter the gift of a brother. This wonderful book helped me understand how meaningful their relationship will be, and the photos moved me almost to tears in places. It will make a great baby gift for those having second or subsequent children.