Minnie and her Baby Brother

Many books have been published which tackle the subject of a new baby entering the family. This one is told from the point of view of three-year-old Minnie. The age gap between Minnie and her brother is one commonly chosen by families and many young children will be able to relate to the observations that Minnie makes about the differences between herself and her brother. Walsh has made the decision to let the baby remain nameless and this feels somewhat unnatural. The bold illustrations make use of a collage-like effect. They mimic the drawing style of young children in their simple two-dimensional rendering. The comparisons that Minnie makes between herself and her brother are emphasised through the use of a different flap on each page. These work well in most cases but occasionally fail to contribute anything new or exciting to the book. The pages themselves are sturdy and designed to withstand constant exploration. Overall, this book presents the relationship between young siblings in a manner with which most three-year-olds will easily relate.