{"id":31904,"date":"2017-03-04T23:27:17","date_gmt":"2017-03-05T03:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=31904"},"modified":"2017-03-04T23:27:17","modified_gmt":"2017-03-05T03:27:17","slug":"review-of-alphonse-that-is-not-ok-to-do-by-daisy-hirst","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=31904","title":{"rendered":"Review of Alphonse, That Is Not OK To Do! by Daisy Hirst"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Alphonse, That Is Not OK To Do!<\/em><\/p>\n

by Daisy Hirst<\/p>\n

Candlewick Press, 2016. 36 pages.
\nStarred Review
\n2016 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>: #12 Picture Books<\/p>\n

This book about being a big sister of an annoying little brother charmed me with its specific details.<\/p>\n

The drawings are simple, such as a child would do. Natalie and her little brother Alphonse are some sort of monster. Natalie is red and Alphonse is blue.<\/p>\n

The story is also simple. <\/p>\n

They both liked naming the pigeons, [Banana! Lorraine!]<\/p>\n

bouncing things off the bunk beds,
\nand stories in the chair.<\/p>\n

And they both loved making things.<\/p>\n

Except that Alphonse did sometimes draw on the things that Natalie made,
\nor eat them, and Natalie hated that.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I like that the author doesn\u2019t need to tell us that Alphonse is being aggravating.<\/p>\n

One day when lunch was peas
\nand TV was awful
\nand Mom did not understand, [What a lovely dog! It is a HORSE.]
\nNatalie found Alphonse under the bunk beds . . .<\/p>\n

eating her favorite book.<\/p>\n

\u201cALPHONSE, THAT IS NOT OK TO DO!\u201d said Natalie.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What follows is Alphonse trying to reconcile with Natalie, and Natalie needing some time first. She draws a picture of awful things happening to Alphonse. I especially like the touch of the \u201cswarm of peas.\u201d Then she shuts herself in the bathroom and takes a bath.<\/p>\n

But while she\u2019s in the bath, she thinks she hears things happening to Alphonse like what she drew.<\/p>\n

When she comes out and learns that Alphonse just created disasters while trying to get the tape to fix Natalie\u2019s book, she\u2019s just glad that Alphonse is okay.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a simple story, but it warms my heart. Sometimes little siblings are incredibly annoying \u2013 but sometimes they\u2019re creative partners.<\/p>\n

candlewick.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a>
\n< Find this review on Sonderbooks at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/alphonse.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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