Annie Rose Is My Little Sister

Alfie

by Shirley Hughes

Siblings everywhere will identify with this charmingly realistic story of Shirley Hughes’s Alfie and his trying but lovable little sister.

Annie Rose and Alfie have lots of games they like to play together, like being scary monsters or running their own store. But there are some things Annie Rose is too little to do, and even some things Alfie would rather do without her. Still, if Annie Rose is ever sad or cranky, her big brother is the only person who can make her feel better. This is Shirley Hughes at her best - warm and wonderfully observed illustrations and a touching text convey the special bond between siblings.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, British Literature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Shirley Hughes is the illustrator of more than two hundred children’s books and has won many prestigious awards, including the Kate Greenaway Medal twice. She is the author-illustrator of DON'T WANT TO GO! and OLLY AND ME 1 2 3. She died at her home in London on the 25th of February, 2022.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story about a brothers love for his younger sister - very touching.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so wonderful in its insightful simplicity! It's all about the little things that Annie Rose's brother notices about her and their relationship and it's just darling! (I love the part where Annie Rose plays "store" with leaves and shells and things outside--so true of childhood!) The illustrations are great, too--the kids are so cute you just want to hug them.

[Rebekah Leland · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Alfie and Annie Rose books are some of my favorites. Sweet illustrations (they almost look like studies) and sweet stories about a little boy and his toddler sister. In is one we see Alfie's sister through his eyes.
My kids are especially captured by the beautiful illustrations of the ocean.

[Gervy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Shirley Hughes. This is a very sweet story and the illustrations are delightful.

[Krisz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute book! We found it in Oxford as a bookswap item, and it didn't look very promising, but I was like, OK, we read it once and then we hide it. But then...
The story is about a little girl and his big brother - and I happen to have a little girl with an older brother, who was fond of the particulars of the story, where everything rang so true - like the boy playing with trains and the little girl joining in and the boy taking the trains away so that he can play alone...
So we decided to keep the book and leave an other one in the bookswap in return.
Whoever hid it in the bush next to the canal, THANKS!

[Andrew Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alongside 'Dogger', Shirley Hughes' series of 'Alfie' picture books are probably among her most famous work and 'Annie Rose is My Little Sister', published in 2003, is surprisingly one of the most recent in the collection. As Alfie describes his relationship with his little sister and the good and no-so-good times of their home life together, there are so many chords that will strike with many young readers' own lives, and those of their siblings: playing with each other's toys, bedtimes, trips to the seaside, playing with nature, going shopping and circles of friends. Hughes' distinctive style of colourful illustration throughout brings the story to life, and the more you look, the greater the detail there is to be discovered. Hughes subtly considers how older and younger children - and people - depend on each other so much for contrasting things: no matter our age, none of us can be an island. There is plenty of opportunity for discussion of friend and sibling relationships in the EYFS classroom - how can we be a good friend, brother or sister? At the same time however, perhaps the book throws up inclusivity challenges for some readers that Hughes may not intend: when she started the series in 1981, society and literature rarely acknowledged children of various races, financial backgrounds, differently-formed families or disabilities, and thus for children with one parent, two parents of the same gender, many siblings with wider age divides, or children whose families cannot afford holidays or roomfuls of toys, Alfie's simple pleasures may seem a little alien or even distressing. For families who have experienced sibling bereavement, the memories Hughes may evoke, especially about children being siblings 'forever...even until we're grown up' may be challenging. However, this is not Hughes' intention and provided teachers know their children and those children's backgrounds well, such eventualities could be effectively managed.

[Yazmeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie Rose Is My Little Sister is a book about two siblings who have a great time together. The older brother loves hanging out and doing things with his little sister. However, sometimes there are things the older brother wants to do that his little sister is too little for. Sometimes he also would like to do some things on his own. Even though he wants these things he is still a loving brother and when she is throwing a fit and crying he is the only one that can make her feel better.

The overall theme is how important family is. It's important that you still treat your siblings with respect and be nice to them and have a connection with them. Siblings can be your best friends.

When I read this book I felt happy that the brother was willing to hang out with his sister and actually enjoys it. He treats her with respect and is always friendly to her. Often times you see siblings who aren't very friendly most times and only do things to annoy each other.

I would definitely recommend this book because it is a great example of how siblings should be towards each other. This book can be easily relatable if you have siblings and I believe it is nice to see an example of how families should interact most of the time.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shirley Hughes captures childhood perfectly in word and illustration. Even my 13 year old boy hung around while I read this aloud to my 6-year old. Endearing story of a brother’s love for his little sister.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for a new sibling! It doesn’t preach love, it illustrates it in both the fun and fights had by brother and sister.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I love the work of Shirley Hughes! So sympathetic and insightful to the feelings of children, and her illustrations are beautiful and evocative. Highly recommend this and all her books.

[Laura Fowler-Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and comforting

[Aurora Primrose Farr · Rating 5 out of 5]

My eldest is a big sister and she loved this book. 💜

[Carly Hales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our whole family loves everything by Shirley Hughes but this one is our favorite. Everything precious and wholesome about a big brother and his baby sister. The pictures are absolutely wonderful!!

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from the library for my three-year-old, whose favorite book is All about Alfie. She loved this one just as much. I really like the way the author portrays a positive relationship between big and little siblings and demonstrates gentleness toward little sisters.

[Emkoshka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel I'm doing things a bit backwards, reading this before all the Alfie books, but it still works on its own. It's a sweet and nostalgic exploration of childhood play between a brother and sister. I love the poignancy of the end: that Alfie and Annie Rose will go on being little sister and big brother forever even until they're grown up.

[Tommyb]

Fiction,Children's fiction

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy sweet picture book about loving siblings with good illustrations.

[The Children · Rating 4 out of 5]

great story about getting along w/ your sibling--very sweet

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in the U.K. in 2002. (First U.S. edition in 2003.)