Siblings Books

I ordered this for my daughters. We like to listen to audio books while we travel. Normally, my husband and I have the girls use headphones so we don't have to listen. I am so glad that we did listen to this one. My entire family really enjoyed it and we have listened to it more than once in the car. It is one of the few that you can enjoy more than once.

In an old house in England there's a door two twins discover which is locked and secret - prompting their curiosity. They seem designated to find the key - and when they do, they discover a road through time that leads to high adventure. Michael Page's expert narration of Ulysses & Moore: The Door To Time brings the action and tension to life in a vivid reading the entire family will enjoy. This is a solid, involving listening experience.

I got this book when I was ten and I think I read this book two or three times a year. It's a gorgeous story with amazing characters and writing. I love the 'Ted and Wanda' storyline and 'Dr. Pepper.' Old Pepper is a great character. There isnt a single word of this book that I dont adore. I recommend it to both kids and adults. Everyone can get something out of this book. Out of all the books I've ever read in my entire life (and boy are there a lot of them) it definitely makes the top 10 list.

When I was in 5th grade, my cronies and I discovered this book in our school library and quickly found the 'kissing scene.' The book became instantly popular to all the girls in our class after word got out. Aside from that, I have read this book many times since then and found it to be very well written, and worthy of its award as Notable Book. I have been making a list of favourite books I read as a little girl, and this is one of the first on the list. And Since I was a complete tomboy at age 10, this book isn't just for sissies...it has humour, and a few suspenseful scenes (one resulting in physical injury...what more can you ask for?)

Featuring a skillfully written text in the form of a kind of prose poetry by Deb Vanasse, which is perfectly framed by the full color artwork of Jeremiah Trammell, Under Alaska's Midnight Sun is a picturebook about a young girl living in Alaska who looks forward to the longest day of the year - the solstice. During this time the sun never sets on Alaska, people and animals are reluctant to sleep, and the midnight sun shines brightly. The playfully exuberant illustrations are the perfect complement to this read-aloud storybook that will introduce young readers to how different day and night can be at far northern latitudes.

This story brings me back to childhood and brings back forgotten memories of how fun it was to stay up late with my family as a child. In this story you follow a little girl and her little brother on a journey through a world of majestic sceneries and wildlife which is brought to life by Trammell's beautiful paintings.
I beleive that a succesful children's book needs to inspire a childs imagination and keep them interested and involved from cover to cover, this book does all of these and has my highest recomendation for children of all ages and adults alike.

If one more person tells 12-year-old Gabe Livingston that he needs to learn to "float above" his feelings or to "rise above" his anger, he'll lose it! Especially since all he ever wants to do is dive below the rest of the world...way below, like into a deep sea canyon. Gabe longs to be a marine explorer, like his hero, Jacques Cousteau.

Not only is the world below the surface beautiful and full of interesting life, it's nowhere near as chaotic and confusing as people. If the kids at school wouldn't make him so mad, if his mother wouldn't push him to go outside and play games he can't stand, everything would be fine. But, Gabe's constantly forced to deal with people and situations he wants nothing to do with, and he has to find a way to survive somewhere besides Underwater.

This character-driven novel has a strong voice in its main character. Gabe is a typical boy with typical problems, but they'll resonate deeply with young readers.

Like most kids this age, Gabe finds it difficult to control his emotions and anger. Things that make sense to him don't even seem to be on the radars of the people around him, and vice versa. He has frequent blow ups and feels frustrated and confused when he has to deal with the consequences. Especially when other kids seem to have everything go their way. Again, something to which nearly everyone can relate.

Watching Gabe Livingston learn to navigate the real world along with his beloved deep sea diving video game is priceless. Levy's character building and story telling skills are exceptional from page one. They make a quiet book speak volumes.

Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince

My mom and I read this book and it's really good. I liked the main character in the story named Gabe. He doesn't really like sports and he sometimes has a hard time getting along with kids at school. In the book, Gabes learns he has his own special talents and doesn't have to do what everybody else does. And that's a good thing.

This was a gift to my then newborn son. For the first 2 years he did not have much interest in the book, but now that he is 2 it is one of his favorites. We read this book 3 or more times a night sometimes! He loves the picures (there are many picture "frames" on each page that correspond with the verse) and the verses are soft and delightful. It is a wonderful book about siblings, love, and childhood. Highly recomended!

When big sister Beth and her little sister Jill visit their Aunt Laura and Uncle Ted's farm, they share a day of small delights tied together by the comforts of idyllic family life. There's no real conflict, no allusion to "society"--it's pure and simple escapist fare for the small fry, lovingly written and illustrated. The security of this overnight stay is evident even in the narrative structure. There are four rhyming lines on each two-page spread; the first and last line are the same:

Porch steps and railings, front door and back.
Beth calls, "Come on! It's time to unpack!"

Uncle Ted says, "I think Jill needs a snack."
Porch steps and railings, front door and back.

Soft, hand-drawn arches, resembling a theatre proscenium or a stained glass window, frame each illustration, and beneath each of these large pictures, there are comic strip-like panels that show other complementary action and detail. For example, under the picture of Aunt Laura making cookies, there are small pictures of the girls putting away their clothes, playing with the dog, and sitting by the "porch steps and railings."

The story picks up speed (especially to audiences unfamiliar with farm life) as the two children move outdoors. They explore a huge barn (cleverly shown in a cut-away to reveal the tall haylofts), discover hidden and lost objects, play in the river, and watch "swallows, swooping to dine" over a meadow grazed by sheep. Jill "sees a hummingbird next to the hose," and the small pictures reveal a frog, a suggestion of a tiny hummingbird (you can barely see it), and the details of a flower.

The rhythm of farm life continues with a yummy looking "supper":

Chicken and biscuits, strawberry pie.
Uncle Ted heaps the plates higher than high.
Beth starts to yawn, Jill is closing one eye.
Chicken and biscuits, strawberry pie.

All is right on the farm, eventually Jill is a little scared by the "tall shadows, dark coners, noises at night" and "wishes Mama and Daddy were there." Quick-thinking Beth, sensing her sister's discomfort, suggests "My bed's too big--why don't we share?"

"Tall sister, small sister, a new day is breaking
with fun, adventure, and memory-making"

Lindbergh's (the daughter of Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh--though the flyleaf informs us only that she was "born into a family of adventurous travelers") lilting rhymes coupled with the pastel colors and soft shadings of Halperin's pencil and watercolor pictures make this a wonderful book for toddlers, farm-lovers, and perhaps little ones a bit afraid of travelling or staying overnight. For all, it's as reassuring as a rocker and as memory-making as the Fourth of July.

When my three sons were young, we got this book. The art is very entertaining, funny and cute. The story perfectly describes the antics of two active, young brothers, "we act creepy a lot." My sons loved it so much that when they grew up and moved out of the house, I had to get them each their own copy. They then signed each other's copy of the book. It turned out to be a touching momento of their childhood -- and a symbol of how much they care for each other. Now, the book is my little granddaughter's favorite, too. Although she's only two, she points to the pictures and says her uncles' names. At work, I give this book to friends and co-workers who are having a second son. They've all loved it, too!

We read this book to our boys, 5 and 2 years old. They loved it and it described perfectly what brothers do together, the love they share even when they are not talking to each other. It's a keeper and one all parents will enjoy reading to their boys before bedtime.

As a retired special needs teacher, I worked with many families with children with disabilities and was able to observe how siblings interacted. "What About Me?" hits the nail right on the head. Siegel describes several patterns siblings may fall into, including the 'parentified child,' the 'overachieving child,' the 'acting-out child,' and the 'withdrawn child,' among others. She points out characteristics parents can watch for, and ways to help children in each classification to better cope with the stresses of growing up with a sibling with a disability. Adult siblings will gain insights into their 'growing-up years' from reading this book, too.

At my local bookstore, this book literally fell off the shelf at my feet and I knelt down and picked it up. I knew instantly that I had to buy it. I cried when I read it because it reminded me of what it was like being a younger sister of a disabled sibling. Although it brought back a lot of memories and misplaced guilt that I have tried to overcome, the book gives good explanations as to some of the outcomes of growing up in this type of family and the dysfunctions that can occur. I would highly recommend this book and thank the authors for their contribution.

Can't get enough of this adorable brother and sister and their dog Fred. Stella and Sam have become 'my own' Sam's and my favorite book friends to spend time with. This series should be in every household. The creativity of Marie-Louise Gay is remarkable.

Sam is Stella's younger brother and in this book shows a bit of his independance as he goes around the house doing projects and having a very full day indeed.

We think this series of books by Canadian children's book writer Marie-Louise Gay are a wonderful series for parents looking for books about siblings. Most books about having a younger brother or sister portrays the event as negative or stressful for the older child. In this series, Sam and Stella have wonderful adventures together, quiet moments in nature and sweet moments in life around the house.

My son loves the Sam character for his curiosity and timid nature, and he does not have any sisters or siblings, but the books are so fun, we love them for any child or child at heart. Highly recommended.

What Parents Need To Know About Sibling Abuse by Professor Vernon R. Wiehe (College of Social Work, University of Kentucky) offers a solid, practical approach to dealing with sibling conflict and violence, brought to life with quotes directly from survivors of sibling abuse, written especially for parents and lay readers who have to confront the ugly dilemma of abuse among siblings, from slapping, punching, and name-calling to severe bodily harm and/or sexual abuse. Presenting clear, simple ways to better understand what abuse is, and how to distinguish it from age-appropriate behavior, as well as how to intervene and deal with difficult situations, What Parents Need To Know About Sibling Abuse is highly recommended for all parents with more than one child.

This book talks about a seldom-discussed issue in present-day America, that of physical and emotional abuse by a member of the family, usually an older brother or sister. There is a strong tendency to keep internal family issues behind closed doors. It's also very easy to dismiss as sibling rivalry, not abuse, or boys will be boys.

Abuse can take many different forms, from name-calling to hitting, all the way to rape. The victims are left with feelings of shame, low self-esteem into adulthood and worthlessness. They are threatened by the perpetrator with grievous bodily harm or the breakup of the family if they tell.

There are a number of causes of sibling abuse. The usual cause is violence in the media that children see every day. Another major reason for sibling abuse is the model presented by the parents. Do they constantly belittle or try to injure each other? In such a household, how can abuse not be transferred from the parents to the children? How can a child, having been abused by an older sibling, not turn around and do it to a younger sibling?

Parental reaction is most important. When confronted with an accusation of abuse, one reaction is to say that the victim must have deserved it. If the accusation is one of sexual abuse, the victim must have enjoyed it. Other parental reactions include ignoring the abuse, responding inconsistently or inappropriately, indifference or even joining in the abuse. No wonder victims frequently don't talk about their abuse for many years.

The best thing parents can do is listen to their children. Only a small percentage of abuse allegations turn out to be false. The author also advocates the SAFE method (Stop the abuse; Assess the situation, both facts and feelings; Find out what will keep the abuse from happening again; Evaluate the solution and alter it if necessary).

Perhaps one of the causes of the epidemic of violence in America is discussed in this book. Read it if you're a parent who thinks that abuse is happening in your home. Read it if you think you're an abuse survivor, then give this book to your parents. Everyone else should also read this book.

This book is so sweet, yet so funny. My son and I had to read it several times in a row. When my husband got home, my son read the book to him too! Lynne Jonell has become one of our favorite authors for children's books. Learn what it means to be "borked" and you may even add "bork" to your vocabulary; I did!

"Something was wrong with Mommy. She burned the toast. She banged the pots and pans. And she forgot to kiss Daddy good-bye..." Little Robbie and his brother Christopher are worried. Why is Mommy mad? Is it something they did wrong? They can't think of anything they've done to put Mommy in such a bad mood. Maybe she's mad at Daddy. Robbie wants a story and a snuggle and a smile, "but Mommy did not look very soft. Mommy looked prickly. All over" This starts to make Robbie feel cranky, too. Eventually, he finds a way to get Mommy's attention, and out of this prickly situation comes a simple and heartwarming solution to a bad mood..... Lynne Jonell's easy to read text really captures the discomfort little ones feel when they don't understand an adult's sudden mood change. Petra Mathers' childlike illustrations, with their marvelous facial expressions, complement the story with engaging stick-figure artwork, in colorful crayon. Perfect for preschoolers, When Mommy Was Mad should open interesting discussions about bad moods, emotions, and the feelings we all have from time to time and how to cope.