{"id":28089,"date":"2015-08-11T21:12:47","date_gmt":"2015-08-12T01:12:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=28089"},"modified":"2015-08-11T21:12:47","modified_gmt":"2015-08-12T01:12:47","slug":"review-of-edgars-second-word-by-audrey-vernick-and-priscilla-burris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=28089","title":{"rendered":"Review of Edgar’s Second Word, by Audrey Vernick and Priscilla Burris"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"edgars_second_word_large\"<\/a>Edgar\u2019s Second Word<\/em><\/p>\n

by Audrey Vernick
\nillustrated by Priscilla Burris<\/p>\n

Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Boston, 2014. 32 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

This book is simply too sweet not to review it.<\/p>\n

Big sister Hazel has long been dreaming of reading to her new baby brother. She reads to her stuffed bunny, Rodrigo, but it wasn\u2019t the same. When Edgar finally comes along, she\u2019s excited.<\/p>\n

But Edgar wasn\u2019t much different from Rodrigo.
\nOr a pillow.
\nOr a watermelon.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Then Hazel thinks Edgar\u2019s first word will make the difference. Now he mostly points and grunts, \u201clike a pointing, grunting watermelon.\u201d<\/p>\n

But when Edgar speaks his first word, let\u2019s just say it\u2019s the most common first word of any baby.<\/p>\n

And he practices it often.<\/p>\n

My favorite picture in the book is from when Hazel\u2019s mom takes them for a change of scene to the library, and Hazel asks Edgar to choose some books.<\/p>\n

Edgar\u2019s \u201cNO!\u201d was so loud that people stared. Some covered their ears. A librarian fainted.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But the book finishes up with such a lovely cozy scene, the pastel pictures matching the warm cozy tone of the words:<\/p>\n

The day\u2019s no\u2019<\/em>s added up.
\nEveryone was tired.
\nFinally, it was bedtime.<\/p>\n

Hazel reached for her no<\/em>-saying grump of a brother.
\nEdgar got as far as \u201cNnn\u201d before a tired-baby gravity settled him on her lap.<\/p>\n

Edgar felt as weighty as two Edgars.
\nHe leaned back, a heavy-headed, warmly cuddled, not-no<\/em>-saying lamb of a ram.
\nHazel began to read.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

(Can\u2019t you just feel warm baby in your lap?)<\/p>\n

When Hazel finishes reading, they think Edgar\u2019s gone to sleep. But instead, he says his second and third words. And let\u2019s just say that they\u2019re a lot more positive.<\/p>\n

This book brings something interesting to the party of new-baby books for the bigger sibling. There\u2019s plenty of talk about the frustrations, but the cozy ending does point out that it\u2019s all worth it.<\/p>\n

And if nothing else, parents will be charmed.<\/p>\n

audreyvernick.com<\/a>
\npriscillaburris.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/edgars_second_word.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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