The New Small Person by Lauren Child - ESSENTIAL

Child, Lauren The New Small Person, PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2014. $17.99. 

Elmore has spent most of his life as an only child. It works perfectly for him because he is able to watch all of the shows he wants on his TV, arrange all his toys exactly the way he wants them, and eat his favorite color of jelly beans. His parents think he is the most adorable, clever, and funny person that they have ever seen. And who doesn’t love that?! Suddenly everything changes when a new small person arrives. Everyone wants to hold, watch, and talk to this new small person and Elmore definitely doesn’t feel like the most adorable, clever, funny one anymore. Elmore really has to get used to having a new sibling around that eventually wants to be just like him and turns out to not be so bad after all. 

I loved this. I think we can all totally relate to suddenly not being the star of the show and needing to get used to a big change. The writing is spot on and perfectly delivers the story from a child’s point of view. The pictures are perfect and the ending fills you will nice, fluffy, soft thoughts. And who doesn’t love that?! 

EL (K-3), EL- ESSENTIAL. Reviewed by: Shay, School Librarian.