 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Julius, Baby of the World
- By Kevin Henkes
- Genre: Family Life
Common Sense Media says
Kids with siblings will enjoy Lilly's escapades.
Parents say
Kids say
What 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.
What's the story?
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?
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' 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.
What families can talk about
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?
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Kid, 8 years old
October 28, 2010
AGE
love the book julius
i love the part when lily and Julius were pretending they were twins
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| Author: | Kevin Henkes |
| Illustrator: | Kevin Henkes |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Family Life |
| Publisher: | William Morrow |
| Publication date: | January 1, 1990 |
| Number of pages: | 28 |
| Paperback price: | $5.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 2 - 4 |
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