Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Iris and Walter and Baby Rose
Illustrator: Christine Davenier
Fiction Series
For ages 6 to 9
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt , 2012 ISBN: 978-0547850641
One day Iris’ mother tells her that she is going to be a big sister. In the spring a new baby is going to join their family. Iris is so thrilled she goes and tells her friend Walter straight away. Waiting for the baby to arrive isn’t easy and sometimes Iris feels as if the big day will never arrive, but finally, one spring day, the baby is born.
Unfortunately, the new arrival does not live up to Iris' expectations. Baby Rose is very noisy. She is “very, very, very fussy,” and her fussiness drives poor Iris to distraction. Luckily her smart friend Walter has a good idea. He brings Iris a pair of earmuffs to wear. They, at least, deaden the sound of the crying somewhat.
Grandpa also helps by taking Iris out for a day, giving her break a from the baby and also giving her a whole day of his undivided attention. When she gets home from her wonderful day out Baby Rose is asleep, and her parents are able to show her how much they love her and appreciate her, without being distracted by a crying baby. Maybe being a big sister isn't going to all that bad.
In this charming little chapter book, beginner readers get to read a delightful and very engaging little story, and they also get to share in a very familiar scenario. Anyone who has had to adjust to having a new baby in the house will be comforted by this story. They will see that they are not the only ones who find a new baby annoying and difficult, and they will be relieved to see that babies do get better with time.
Well written, and divided into chapters for the advancing beginner reader, this is just one in a series of wonderful series of books about Iris and Walter.
