Julius, Baby of the World - Kevin Henkes
Kids with siblings will enjoy Lilly's escapades.
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Book details
- Author:Kevin Henkes
- # of pages: 28
- Publisher:William Morrow (HarperCollins)
- Original Publication Date: 01/01/1990
- Genre: Fiction - Family Life
- Paperback: $5.99
- Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: Baby-Preschool
- Read Aloud: 4+
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that if they aren't ready to talk with kids about how babies grow inside the womb, they might want to wait on this one. But the story and writing hit just the right note.
Families can talk about siblings. Why is Lilly so unkind to Julius? How do her parents feel? By the end of the book, do you think she dislikes Julius, or does he love him too? Do you think they will always get along well?
Families can talk about siblings. Why is Lilly so unkind to Julius? How do her parents feel? By the end of the book, do you think she dislikes Julius, or does he love him too? Do you think they will always get along well?
Message
Social Behavior:
Consumerism:
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Violence
Sex
Parents not ready to talk with children about how babies grow inside the mother's womb may want to wait on this title.
Language
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Amy Brotman
What her parents consider "the baby of the world" is an irritation to spirited little mouse Lilly in this funny, sympathetic tale. Children will giggle at Lilly's creative attempts to deal with Julius, and they'll enjoy the humorous art. Expressions on the characters' faces skillfully convey Lilly and her parents' feelings.
Is it any good?
Whenever her parents say, "Julius is the baby of the world!" Lilly replies, "Disgusting." Children will feel reassured by the parents' constant love for both Lilly and Julius and reassured that they are not the only ones who have felt jealous toward a sibling.
Lilly is always recognizable in her red cowboy boots with a big white star on each side and a gold paper crown signifying that she is the queen. Watercolor-and-ink illustrations capture Lilly's exasperation and frustration, and the parents' gentle love.
Illustrations are enclosed in a frame surrounded by the white paper, and floating dialogue boxes in some illustrations extend the story. On one page, Lilly's parents lean over Julius's crib and recite the numbers and the alphabet in a dialogue box within the illustration. The second illustration on the page shows Lilly, alone with Julius, reciting, "3, 8, 1, 5, 9, 6 ..." and "A, J, K, Z, B, S, C, H ...," actions sure to bring a giggle from the readers.
Another look at the feelings of older siblings is presented in The New Baby at Your House, by Joanna Cole.
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