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23rd out of 93 books
—
208 voters
One Special Day: A Story for Big Brothers and Sisters
A warm, imaginative, loving picture book that's just right for older siblings of new babies. Full color.
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
March 20th 2012
by Disney-Hyperion
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321)
Jan 30, 2013
Candice
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
children of just about any age who are about to become big brothers or sisters
Shelves:
picture-books
This is a simple but charming book about a little boy who is about to become a big brother. Even very young children can understand what is happening in the story. On the first wordless page we see Spencer and a woman (an aunt, grandmother?) waving goodbye as his parents leave in the car. The following pages describe Spencer in animal terms. Strong as a - turn the page to see a picture of a bear. Tall as a - turn the page to see a picture of a giraffe. And so on. My daughter read it to my 2 1/2...more
Summary: An energetic and imaginative boy becomes a big brother.
Text is short and simple and has a positive big sibling message but isn't preachy.
Endpages are important and valuable to look at. The beginning end pages show all the different things the boy likes to play with on his own: climbing on rocks, pretending he is a superhero, playing with a truck, doing a hand stand. The title page show his mom and dad giving him a hug. Mom is pregnant and has a bag packed. On the first page (wordless)...more
Text is short and simple and has a positive big sibling message but isn't preachy.
Endpages are important and valuable to look at. The beginning end pages show all the different things the boy likes to play with on his own: climbing on rocks, pretending he is a superhero, playing with a truck, doing a hand stand. The title page show his mom and dad giving him a hug. Mom is pregnant and has a bag packed. On the first page (wordless)...more
Fun book for kids just for the "fill-in-the-blank" of metaphors (with all answers being the pictured animals). The ending might not resound with some kids in a storytime setting--though in my current ones they would with a bunch of them! Definitely worth considering in either toddler or preschool. I think they'd enjoy seeing the boy like all the animals, and even like the ending whether or not they have a younger brother or sister.
I did get a little sniffy at the end of the book. It could be th...more
I did get a little sniffy at the end of the book. It could be th...more
Bonus points for a new sibling book that doesn't assume jealousy or tantrums. The illustrations give me a little early-Sendak vibe, love it. I also really enjoyed the endpapers--Spencer playing by himself on the front pages and with his little brother, very age-appropriately and happily, on the back pages. I liked all the animals hanging out with Spencer, waiting till it was their turn. In the end, I felt like I wanted more of a balance between the two parts of the book--the animals kind of went...more
new baby, siblings, brothers, interactive, animals
I really liked this book about a boy who becomes a big brother. Spencer is charmingly compared to a variety of animals, which creates a fun story to read with young boys. "He was tall -- tall as a [illustration of giraffe]." At the end of the story, Spencer waits quietly with all the animals for his parents, who arrive home with a new baby.
A really sweet story, perfect for any preschool aged boy that's about to be a big brother. Recommended for public library collections, though it's a bit youn...more
A really sweet story, perfect for any preschool aged boy that's about to be a big brother. Recommended for public library collections, though it's a bit youn...more
I think that this is a great book that has the potential to win the Caldecott. The reason why I think that this book has the potential to win the Caldecott is because the pictures are very descriptive to the text. The pictures are so elaborate that the book needs no words to say what the picture is of. For example the book will say "funny as a" and then there will be a picture of a monkey. I love the pictures in this book, it is very colorful and I really think this book can win the Caldecott.
What a delightful way to teach the older sibling of a new baby that a gentle touch is required. I watched a 3-year-old interact enthusiastically with this wild animal filled book as she and her grandmother read it together shortly after the birth of her new baby brother. Read my full take at Bookends Blog: http://bookends.booklistonline.com/20...
If your looking for a book to introduce young children to simili this is the book for you. If you are looking for a book for a young child who is about to become a big brother or sister this is also the book for you. I really like the way the similis are introduced through the pictures instead of the words and can imagine the kids having fun shouting out what the pictures are depicting.
The artwork is gorgeous, and the story would be great for sharing one-on-one or in a group. Preschoolers will especially love calling out which animal the boy is like (ie: strong as a bear, free as a bird, etc.) I also loved the endpages where we see the boy and his sister playing as she grows bigger. The artwork made me think a bit of Maurice Sendak's work, and is quite engaging.
Apr 04, 2012
Deborah
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Phoebe
Shelves:
2012-mock-caldecott,
picture-book
Spencer is a wild kid who enjoys exploring and using his imagination. One special day that all changes because he becomes an older brother. The focus of the story is on the fun Spencer has, while only a few pages are devoted to the new baby in the family. But this doesn't detract from the message because the pictures are so sweet.
Ages 3-5.
Ages 3-5.
This is a quick fun way to approach the arrival of a new sibling. Despite the rambuctious beginning and the rebus nature of the story, it winds down both visually and verbally by the end. It encourages the young reader or listener to practice quiet and gentle, as much as the larger than life qualities of a young child.
There are some picture books that get everything right. This is one of them. The theme of becoming an older brother or sister has been done before, but this book has so much extra charm in the artwork, and the text is understated and powerful at the same time.
I love little Spencer's energy and imagination, and I also love how he welcomes his little sibling into the world (it's not clear whether the baby is male or female).
The endpapers are a treat in themselves.
Definitely a Caldecott contender.
I love little Spencer's energy and imagination, and I also love how he welcomes his little sibling into the world (it's not clear whether the baby is male or female).
The endpapers are a treat in themselves.
Definitely a Caldecott contender.
Simply told, beautifully illustrated. Spencer is funny as a monkey, strong as a bear, tall as a giraffe, wild as a tiger until mom and dad come home with a new baby. Then he's gentle "because, for the first time ever - Spencer was a brother." Left me with a little lump in my throat....
I didn't read the small-print part of the title so I didn't know where the story was going, but it made no difference. Spencer is a hilarious boy, full of life and mischief. The story is interactive in that important words are not written down but are the focus of the illustration on that page. This works wonderfully. The illustrations are just as full of energy as little Spencer is, until 'one special day'. When Spencer's parents bring home a little baby and he is a brother for the first time....more
Predicting - have students guess what will happen on be writting on the next page. "He was as tall..." next page "...as a giraff." Then turn page
Reaclling/Comprehension - why was the car leaving? To take mom to the hospital.
Why did mom go to the hospital? To have baby
Reaclling/Comprehension - why was the car leaving? To take mom to the hospital.
Why did mom go to the hospital? To have baby
This is a really sweet book with gorgeous pictures. It is one of the few books about becoming a new big brother or sister that is purely positive....so it would be a perfect read aloud for a child in anticipation of a new baby in the family.
My friend who is pregnant with her second child, and has a 2 1/2 year old son who looks like the Spencer in this book (he said "that's me!"), thinks this is one of the best "older sibling" books she's found. I'm inclined to agree with her.
Spencer is a young boy who possesses several animal characteristics. He is strong as a bear, fast as a horse, tall as a giraffe, and loud as an elephant. However, when his parents bring home a new baby, Spencer shows how he can be gentle and quiet as a big brother should be. reviewer 13
Recommended for storytime and as a read-aloud for new siblings, young listeners will enjoy the guessing game narrative. Parents and guardians will enjoy the message of calm and the suggestion of taking on the new "older sibling" role.
Simple, lovely and with a positive feel. This might be my new "go-to" I'm going to be a big brother/sister book. If I were alone, I would've probably cried a little, but since I was in public, I had to be my usual tough self. :)
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I really like the artwork in this book. I also like that is has fill in the blank moments (though they are subtle). This is a perfect book for a child that is getting a new baby in the house. Very sweet and simple.
Great! Worked really well as a readaloud, as the pacing allowed for a lot of interacation with the kids. So many of my Bunny Hop regulars have little siblings now, I thought they might enjoy this-- and they did.
I loved this book. A tender introduction for a new big brother or sister, that lets them know that the new baby IS coming but there are a million reasons why they are special, too.
Dec 11, 2012
June
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
children expecting a new sibling & everyone
One of my favorites of the year. Spencer is lots of things; "He was strong - (turn page) strong as a (picture)..." "Until one special day..."
I think it would work well in story time.
I think it would work well in story time.
Once I got past the sappy title, I loved it. This is an excellent way to celebrate the arrival of a new baby while also celebrating the child(ren) parents may already have.
A lovely, lovely book for anyone with multiple children or grandchildren - especially boys. Soft and sweet illustrations and a great message. It's good to have a big brother!
This book is so just-right to give to a little guy who's about to become or just became a big brother. Not artificially sweet, not preachy, just right.
This is a wonderful book. It's playful, full of imagination, interactive for your child, and perfect for a child becoming a big brother/sister.
Spencer is a boy full of energy and noise - until he is a big brother and he is gentle and quiet. Also great for similie examples.
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