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About the Author |
| Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen is the author of We'll Paint the Octopus Red (Woodbine House, 1998)and the award-winning Elizabeti's Doll picture book series, among others. She has a Master of Fine Arts in writing and currently lives with her husband and two daughters in La Center, Washington.
Visit the author's website!
Charlotte Fremaux has been drawing ever since she could hold a pencil. With a background in art history and studio art, she has worked as a fine artist, graphic designer, and illustrator, and finds illustrating for children the best of all. She lives with her husband and teenage son in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C. |
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In this sequel to the popular storybook We'll Paint the Octopus Red, Isaac is almost three years old and Emma is in elementary school. Emma misses the adoring baby brother Isaac used to be. Now that he's older, he's a pain.
Emma used to be able to make Isaac laugh. He used to let her hold him without squirming. But no more. Now Isaac spits out his food and knocks down her blocks when Emma tries to play with him. Sometimes his behavior is downright embarrassing. Emma thinks Isaac would be more fun if he'd hurry up and learn some of the sign language she and her mom are trying to teach him. His slower pace is maddening at times!
The Best Worst Brother is an endearing and realistic look at how a relationship evolves between a typically developing older sister and her younger brother with a developmental disability. It also shows how sign language can help a child that acquires speech more slowly. As Emma is pleased to discover, Isaac can learn to sign, he just learns when he's ready.
Kids and families who loved Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen's earlier book with the same characters will want this one too. For those who recognize aspects of their own family in the story, it will be comforting to read about this "warts and all" sibling relationship. Charlotte Fremaux's realistic illustrations are deft and colorful, appealing to a slightly older audience than the previous book's. Text and illustrations mesh beautifully, making The Best Worst Brother a delightful tale to read at home or share at school.
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