Oh, Sal
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Oh, Sal, by Kevin Henkes, is a wonderfully kind, thoughtful chapter book that delves deep into the emotions of a kid who feels her whole life changing when her baby sister is born. From Sal's perspective, everything started going wrong when her new, still-unnamed sister is born, and Sal's mixed-up feelings make her miserable and mad at everyone. Her family is great about communicating and helps her be empathetic, giving Sal time to work through her own emotions but making sure she feels supported.
What's the Story?
Everyone is excited when the new baby is born in OH, SAL, but soon Sal discovers that the baby takes up much more of the family's time and she feels pushed aside. To make matters worse, she's lost her favorite pair of underwear and is devastated. Even though everyone in the house has looked for the underwear, it's nowhere to be found, and knowing it's gone puts Sal in a terrible mood. She even takes things out on her visiting Uncle Jake -- until she realizes that he might know how she feels.
Is It Any Good?
Compassion is woven into every page as Sal's family tries to both help her navigate the new situation and give her time to process it on her own. Oh, Sal is a rare gem that gets into the emotions of a new sibling with both depth and simplicity, helping young readers put themselves in Sal's place and to understand how the rest of the family feels. There are lots of great conversation starters here, especially around finding lost things and how to talk about feelings we don't always understand.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about a time when they've felt unnoticed like Sal does with the new baby around in Oh, Sal. How did you feel? Were you able to talk to anyone about it? Has that feeling gone away?
How can you help someone who feels like they don't fit in?
What other books about brothers and sisters have you read? Which are your favorites?
Book Details
- Author: Kevin Henkes
- Genre: Emotions
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Communication, Compassion, Empathy
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Greenwillow Books
- Publication date: September 27, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 144
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: October 28, 2022
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Factual, funny info book for big kids is full of warmth.
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The Year of the Baby: Anna Wang, Book 2
Sweet tale of adopted sibling and her loving older sister.
For kids who love books about a new sibling and family stories
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