Let me preface this review by specifying that I am an only child… but this book made me wish I had a big sister!
Nelly Buchet, herself a middle sister, takes on the voice of a small child to tell this adorable story in very few words. Big Sister and Little Sister keep having to change their plans due to weather—first heat so intense that Little Sister’s ice cream melted, then a downpour—long lines, library closures, and more. What a terrible day! Or is it? Somehow, Big Sister manages to find fun in unexpected places and turn a not-so-perfect adventure into lifelong memories.
The star of the show, however, is the art by Rachel Katstaller. Her watercolour illustrations use bright colours in different tones to match the weather and the protagonists’ emotions. All the small details in each scene, for example a cat and a girl sticking their tongues out at our main characters as their car splashes by, add so much life to the story. This is especially true in scenes with many background characters going about their business in a busy city!
While the author chooses her words carefully, allowing each one to signify a lot, the illustrator creates spreads showing there is way more to the story. This book is the perfect gift for a family with two daughters, though of course any combination of siblings (or only children, like me!) will enjoy Big Sister, Long Coat.
Published by NorthSouth Books. Get your copy from Simon & Schuster, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble today.
