Baba

This picture book about a big sister reluctantly taking her little cry-baby sister with her on a walk, lends itself well both to Brown's glorious countryside scenes and to her expressive way with the human face. The little girl will bring a smile of recognition to any adult who has had to deal with a whingeing toddler trailing in the wake clutching her comfort blanket and the older children's irritated embarrassment is nicely portrayed. When the blanket catches on a gate and unravels to nothing, however, there turn out to be hidden reserves of strength in the smaller child who, satisfyingly, comes up trumps after all. Small children will, undoubtedly, find much to relate to.