We Are Brothers, We Are Friends

by Alexandra Penfold, Eda Kaban (Illustrator)

Being a big brother is a BIG job.
There’s lots to show your little brother . . .
Trains . . .
Planes . . .
How to be a dinosaur.

There are games to play and adventures to be had. And if trouble comes, it’s big brother to the rescue because there’s no better friend than a brother.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Storytime, Friendship, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2017

Reviews

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brotherly love...

[Casandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book melted my heart! A big brother explains to his baby brother the about the wonderful adventures they will have together.
Baby
Brothers

[Nel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this with Mr 2 year old (who has a 4 month old brother) and we both love it.
Lovely message with really nice illustrations and a few of his favourite things to keep him interested (trains, planes and dinosaurs)

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aw, this was so precious and adorable.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrations 5+ stars. Text is OK. Cute gift for newly minted big brothers.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Are Brothers, We Are Friends is a children's picture book written by Alexandra Penfold and illustrated by Eda Kaban. It is a book of a big brother and his relationship with his baby brother told in the perspective of the big brother.

Penfold's text is rather straightforward and adorable. It's a story about brothers and told from the older brother's perspective to his baby brother, whom he shares a room with. It's like a brotherly love story and a promise to his baby brother. Kaban's illustrations are phenomenal! It is done in a two-page spread, which Kaban brought the siblings and their imagination to life, which was both sweet and adorable in equal measures.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It's a big brother's love story and promise to his little brother. He promises that he would share everything with him – his best toys and even his parents. He would teach his brother the things he knows and show him everything he has seen. He would be there to protect him. It is a quaint and adorable about a big brother to his baby brother.

All in all, We Are Brothers, We Are Friends is a wonderful children's book about brotherly love that is depicted phenomenally.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very colorful simple story of a big brother's love for his younger brother. Big brother tells his little brother that, “I have lots to show you . . . like trains and planes and how to be a dinosaur." He continues by telling his little brother that if he cries he will hear him first and help. In the evening the brothers are in bed together as the older boy reads to his little brother. He tells his little brother that just the two of them will have lots of adventures together.

Cons: None

Pros: I’m not sure if older children will like this book, but it feels ideal for the little ones. The illustrations are bright and there are so few words that it’s bound to hold their attention.

[Kelly Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are Brothers, We are Friends is a great story that resonated with me. This book talks about the relationship between a brother and his younger sibling (in this case a little brother). It talks about the many gifts each other can give one another from being there when one cries to teaching the other how to sing and laugh. While it is the older brother teaching the younger brother most of the stuff, each has a lot to teach the other. If you have a new baby coming this might be a great book to share with an older sibling to show them how much they can help that younger one coming into the family.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet book for big brothers. My son, Caleb, is going to have a baby brother this fall, but doesn't quite grasp the concept yet. I read him this book to help him understand a bit better. In this story, the older brother shows his baby brother the adventures they will share together and the ways they will be friends. The story is short and the pictures are animated and bright. Very cute story.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my new favorite "baby brother" book :) :) :) the illustrations are SO CUTE. And I like the positive approach this takes towards having a brother, where most siblings books are simply about jealous emotions (not that those books don't have their place, it's just nice seeing the flipside!).

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This depiction of brotherhood is positive and supportive - if not a little too safe/conventional. I do like the mantra "We are brothers, We are Friends" - it something imagine parents making brothers say to each after they fight... "NOW Make up and say your mantra..."

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute story about a big brother who is letting his little brother know that no matter what, they will always look out for one another and hw will always know when his little brother needs something.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big brother tells his baby brother all the things he'll show and teach him, and all the things he promises to share with him.

This is adorable in both sentiment and illustrations. A great read for siblings, especially boys who are new big brothers.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An older brother tells a baby brother about how he will teach him, and play with him, and love him. Such a sweet sentiment! I love to see siblings like this in books. This is a great one to anticipate a new baby in a positive way.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story and pictures are sweet

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple language with bright 1960-esque illustrations. A great story for big brothers, especially new big brothers.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then we need to read a book in which siblings are sweet to each other and love each other just to make sure it really exists.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so wonderful! I love the beautiful bond between siblings shown in this book. <3

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for my three year old now that he's the big brother.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, positive sibling book.

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg I'm dying this book is so adorable

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

So sweet. It melted my heart to see the love between the brothers and all the fun they share.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute very young-level appropriate book about what big siblings can do with and teach new baby siblings.

[Jason]

Pretty run of the mill. Not for a guy who's looking for something unique and unexpected. Ask someone else.

[Paige M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good choice for a kid becoming a big brother.

[Ms. Jeane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore this book, I would have adored it far more if it stayed the EXACT same but changed the sex of the older sibling. I can see my daughter doing all these exact same things, but for some reason we are stereotyping them into a male gender role.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a sweet and imaginative story with lovely illustrations.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I love this book! I can't think of a better, more kind, more loving big brother. I so love books that have great role models for loving family relationships.

** Talking Points: Talk about your relationship with each of your siblings. How has your relationship changed over time? How have you tried to be a good brother or a good sister?

** Essential Oil Pairing Tip: I'd diffuse Frankincense Essential Oil. It's such a protective, supportive oil . . . like the older brother is to his younger brother in this book

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended for fans of "Digger Man" by Andrea Zimmerman. A positive look at a big brother relationship.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice big brother book. It does a great job of showing how a big brother will look out for his little brother. It is heroic, gentle, and very sweet.