Sisters & Brothers by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (April 14, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0618375961
ISBN-13: 978-0618375967


My friend Jay was just telling me how his daughter Amelia loves going to the zoo and seeing all of the animals. Amelia also loves books, and I think I've found a book that she'll love.

Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World presents all kinds of information and fun facts about animal siblings. For example, did you know that nine-banded armadillos are ALWAYS born as identical quadruplets? Well, did ya? I bet you didn't know that there are no male New Mexico whiptail lizards or that cheetah brothers hunt together throughout their lives while the sisters separate from their families when they're two years old to start their own. Pretty cool, huh?

The book features 19 different species of animals from elephants and beavers to European shrews and giant anteaters. Splendid cut-and-torn paper collage illustrations compliment each paragraph of intriguing information, and a fun caption accompanies each illustration. I especially love the caption by the black widow spider's egg sac: "I'm having my family for dinner..." Eeeeek!

It's a challenge to write engaging nonfiction for young children, and Jenkins and Page have definitely risen to the challenge and created a book that children of all ages will enjoy. Even very young children who may not understand the text will be fascinated by the illustrations. I highly recommend this for any child who loves animals.

Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World won't be available until April 14, but it's definitely one to keep on your radar.

This is not the first collaboration of the talented husband and wife team, Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Their other books include:

• What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? (Caldecott Honor Book)
• Move!
• I See a Kookaburra!: Discovering Animal Habitats Around the World
  
• Animals in Flight