A little boy has a special, warm and loving relationship with his big brother. Together they have small rituals that encourage, teach, and inspire him. When his brother decides to join the army as a means to further his education, the family is both proud and apprehensive. Now the little boy must be big brother to a younger sibling, and he carefully follows in the footsteps of his idol. The whole family misses their beloved brother and son, but none so much as the boy who keeps his big brother's car shiny for him. Cohen's simple, direct language captures all the love and longing in the hearts of this family. Himler's quiet, softly drawn illustrations create visual images to perfectly match and enhance the text. Yes it's all very sentimental, but it portrays the emotions felt by so many families when faced with separation. A little gem. (Picture book. 6-10)
