FICTION

Christmas for Greta and Gracie

illus. by Yasmeen Ismail. 32p. Nosy Crow. Sept. 2016. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780763689438.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—The dynamic of the titular bunny sisters is as follows. Greta is one year, six months, and three days older than her younger sibling. She is also taller, more talkative (the pink speech balloons that fill the page outsize and outnumber Gracie's yellow ones), and more than willing to share the things she thinks she knows. Christmas preparations become moments for Greta's overbearing big sister behavior to shine through: she'll put the star on top of the tree because Gracie is too little, a ribbon bought at the store will be purchased by Greta because Gracie is too quiet to be heard over the bustle, and Greta will ice skate alone because Gracie is too slow. Yet on Christmas Eve, Gracie finds that slow, quiet, and little do have their rewards, especially when Santa comes to visit. Gray Greta, yellow Gracie, and the rest of the digitally created illustrations seem like watercolor, and their soft quality captures the sisters' relationship—sweet and affectionate even when the tables have turned.
VERDICT Many children will find this tale entertaining and familiar.

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