Albert's ABCs: A Sibling Story

by Henry Cole

Overview

Over the course of a day, big brother Albert manages his interactions with his little brother Baxter and the feelings that result, in this relatable romp through the alphabet.

Big brother Albert gets increasingly frustrated with little brother Baxter. Crying! Diaper! Hungry! Irritated! A normal day and a familiar sibling interaction escalate alphabetically until Grandma resolves all the problems, with an X for a kiss goodnight, followed by Yawn, and, of course, ZZZZ.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682636534
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	03/05/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.28(w) x 10.36(h) x 0.34(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Henry Cole has published almost 150 books for children, some of which he has both written and illustrated, including Homer on the Case and The Somewhat True Adventures of Sammy Shine, and some he has illustrated, including bestsellers such as And Tango Makes Three and books by Julie Andrews Edwards and Harvey Fierstein. A former fourth grade science teacher who grew up on a farm, he is a popular presenter who dazzles audiences of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

"The perfect selection to share with a new—and frustrated—big sibling."—Kirkus Reviews
 
"A highly relatable look at the complexity of an entire sibling relationship using only 26 words."—School Library Journal

"A slight concept quickly proves page-turning in the experienced hands of Cole, whose fluid, digitally rendered vignettes are little gems of comedy and character."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2023-12-06
A day in the life of two siblings.

Albert, a young alligator (or perhaps a crocodile), just wants to play in peace, but as most older siblings understand, that’s easier said than done when there’s a baby in the house. Cole employs just one or two words per page, arranged in alphabetical order throughout the book. Our protagonist happily plays with blocks on one page (“Albert”), while on the facing page baby Baxter wails with increasing intensity (“Baxter”). As Baxter—doing what babies do best—noisily takes up space (“Hungry”), Albert’s annoyance compounds (“Irritated”). A messy meal served by Grandma (“Lunch!”) leads to a rest for Baxter (“Nap”) and a much-needed respite for Albert (“Oh…Peace. Quiet”), but again, as most older siblings understand, those moments are short-lived, and before you know it, the baby chaos starts all over again (“Rises / Races // Stumbles. Scrapes / Tantrum!”). Many children will recognize Albert’s all-too-relatable experiences: Cleaning up all the food that Baxter spilled while eating is particularly aggravating. Albert’s expressive face tells the whole story as the day unfolds. The narrative is a familiar one, but it’s done effectively. The pictures are bright and charming, and the choice to make this tale both a sibling story and an alphabet book is clever; youngsters will enjoy following it through to the end.

The perfect selection to share with a new—and frustrated—big sibling. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews