Customer Reviews

Big Sister And Little Sister (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

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This is perhaps one of the greatest picture books ever written, and is much, much more than a tool for assuaging sibling rivalry in two girl families. With a perfect ear for read-aloud prose, and a finely balanced sense of the perspective of a child, Zolotow invites the youngest listeners to savor the pleasures of literature.

We are introduced to big sister at the outset, who always takes care of little sister. But the heart of the story lies in little sister's small act of rebellion on a day when she grows tired of big sister always telling her what to do. Although the story is nominally about a little sister learning from her older sister such that "the two of them can take care of each other", it is the heart of the story that moves this tale out of the usual wretched and formulaic child's self-help lesson and into the realm of true literature. For not only does little sister run away from big sister, but when big sister comes calling for her in the meadow, little sister doesn't respond at all. Not only that, but we get a full two pages of little sister's quiet, existential reflections on the nature of being alone and in pondering what she has just done. This is the true heart of the story. How can a reader/listener not respond to the willfulness of little sister's unkindness, and yet fully understand the joys of being alone and feeling the grass under your knees while bumblebees buzz overhead? It is in identifying with these conflicting and ambiguous feelings that the young reader feels, perhaps for the first time, a frisson of bittersweet pleasure that will hook them on the joys of reading good books for life.

Of course little sister finally relents after she sees big sister break down and cry, but thankfully Zolotow doesn't give an adult resolution to the story. The answer to big sister's reproach, "Why did you run away?" is immaterial, and lemonade is the order of the day.

About 25 years ago, this was a book that my mother would read to my older sister and me who are a year apart in age. I can remember being reduced to tears at the mere thought of being separated from my big sister. Now, my big sister has three daughters of her own, and I am on a quest to pass along this book which meant so much in the eyes of a little sister so many years ago. This is truly a timeless book for sisters!

I remember checking this book out of the library when I was 6, and thinking that this story must have been written for me and my little sister. We even looked like the girls in the book! I rediscovered this book recently, and found that the story rings true with me today, just as much as it did in 1977. I think anyone who has a sister could relate to this beautiful story.

I own a hardcover edition of this book that was given to me over 30 years ago and inscribed on the inside by my kindergarten teacher. At the time, I was struggling with the little sister blues. Today, I read the very same book to my son's kindergarten class, and watched sixteen angelic faces react with a mixture of empathy, sorrow, and finally relief to the heartwarming story. The ensuing discussion was all about how they each love their siblings. I went online to see if I could get one of these for the class, since I won't part with my own. A great tale to tell as the kids go home for holidays and vacation!

My daughters often squabbled and sometimes forgot how much they loved each other. I would sit them down and read this book aloud to them both, and it melted away their rivalry. You will love it.

I work at a library and I picked out this book to take to a workshop as an example of a good readaloud. I liked it so much, I brought it home to read to my little sister (who is 17!) and it inspired nightly readaloud sessions (we really like Charlotte Z, although not all of her illustrators are as good as the guy who did this book)

This is such a realistic story, and sweet as well.

We have two sisters. The older one, like older sisters everywhere, is very protective of her younger sister. She doesn't jump rope, or go to school, or sew a button without making sure her sister is safe. And her sister lets her, until one day she's tired of having cookies and lemonade managed for her, and tired of being told how to do things and when.

So she leaves. She leaves her house, and her block, and goes right to an empty field where she lies down and thinks about things for a while.

And when her worried big sister comes out the door, the little one stays still and doesn't answer, and doesn't answer, until her older sister sits right down and cries.

At this point the little sister does just the right thing, which she's learned from her older sister. And as they go home, we're told that they now protected each other, and I cry.

It's just a very sweet story, one I really recommend for any sister.

I purchased this book on Amazon without reading it because I had a hunch that it was good. I bought it for my sister who is going through a difficult time (she's the big sister and I'm the little sister). I gave it to her on Christmas morning and she cried when I read it to her. It's just a wonderful message about how sisters can take care of one another. The big sister always took care of the little sister, but when the big sister needed to be taken care of, the little sister realized that she could be there for the big sister, too. I just love this story and highly recommend it to those big and little sisters out there!

This book is one of the best picture books ever written. It has probably defused more sibling rivalries than any other book. My daughters were three years apart, and this book explained, in patient and sweet terms, why they needed each other. And how, after Mom and Dad were gone, and friends and boyfriends had left, they could always count on each other.

The message has never left them, and twenty years later, I credit this sweet and simple story.

After reading this, I knew we had to own it.

Big sister is always helping little sister, and without realizing it, teaching her what it means to be a sister. One day little sister decides she needs some time away, so she goes off to find a quiet spot. When big sister comes looking and can't find her sister, she breaks down crying and little sister comes out to comfort her.

Charlotte Zolotow's simple story is a beautiful reminder of what it means to be a sister. I also highly recommend "Big Brother."