My Brother Is an Avocado

by Tracy Darnton, Yasmeen Ismail (Illustrator)

Overview

A big sister anticipates the birth of a new sibling in this warm and funny stage-by-stage picture book tour of all the sizes of a growing baby, from teeny-tiny poppy seed to giant watermelon.

It’s hard to wait for an exciting new baby to join the family, especially when it’s still growing inside Mom’s tummy. But when her dad tells her the size of the baby at each stage, one little girl imagines all the fun she can have with her baby brother as a teeny-tiny poppy seed, then a grape, then a lemon… But she’s not quite sure how she feels about having an avocado for a brother. Or an onion. Or—gulp—a watermelon!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665942096
Publisher:	Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date:	10/17/2023
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	26 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Tracy Darnton is a critically acclaimed YA author and picture book writer. She was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for her debut novel The Truth About Lies and wrote the picture book My Brother Is an Avocado. Tracy studied law at the University of Cambridge and has worked as a solicitor and lecturer. She graduated with distinction from the Bath Spa University writing for young people master’s program. Tracy won the Stripes YA Short Story Prize, run in partnership with The Bookseller’s YA Book Prize, which led to publication in the young adult anthology I’ll Be Home for Christmas. Her young adult thrillers include The Rules and Ready or Not. Tracy lives near Bath in the southwest of England with her family. You can follow Tracy on Instagram and Twitter @TracyDarnton.

Irish-born, Bristol-based Yasmeen Ismail is an award-winning author, illustrator, and animator. Her first picture book, Time for Bed, Fred, won the V&A Best Illustrated Book Award and The New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award. It was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, longlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, and nominated for the National Cartoonists Society Silver Reuben Award. Yasmeen has been nominated for her other works as well and has been selected by the Society of Illustrators to have her work shown in the Original Art Exhibition in New York four years in a row.

Editorial Reviews

2023-07-26
A family eagerly awaits the arrival of their newest member.

At first, Dad tells the young narrator that the still-unborn little one is a poppy seed. Adult readers will realize he’s referring to the baby’s size, but the soon-to-be-big-sibling takes it literally and smiles at the prospect of carrying the baby around everywhere—unless he gets blown away in the wind. Next, the little brother is a bean. But what kind? Jumping or jelly? Later, he’s a Brussels sprout, so not everyone will like him (and he may get blamed for funny smells). Then, he’s a lemon, probably with a big smile and lots of dimples. Soon he’s an avocado—a nerve-racking prospect, since “he could be really hard or soft and mushy.” When the time comes, the new baby isn’t as Dad described (in more ways than one). This charming tale brings a cute metaphor for pregnancy gestation to adorable life. Readers see the protagonist interacting with various food items, each of which sports a little face, while, in the background, Mom’s tummy grows bigger. The older sibling’s enthusiasm is infectious, and the anticipation builds with each food item. Toward the end, Ismail depicts all the foods lined up for a handy, quick reference. The cartoon-style watercolor-and-ink illustrations are earnest, with just the right hint of impish glee. Mom and the narrator have dark brown skin and hair, while Dad is lighter-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Too fun! (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews