Sour Cakes

A light-skinned child with long, wavy black hair navigates the contrary moods of their younger sibling in this tender picture book debut by Krossing. As the older awakens the younger, the latter immediately disagrees with every suggestion: they want to stay in, not play outside; instead of coloring with yellow, pink, or red crayons, the younger prefers gray; at the proposition of baking a sweet cake, the younger complains, "I feel sour." At each turn, the older sibling meets their sibling's objections with patience and compassion. When asked what they do want, the younger confesses, "I want fog to crash down on big monster feet" and, after that, "I want to disappear." But the older sibling offers a kind response worth celebrating: "Can I disappear with you?" Kwan's soft-toned, fluid illustrations fill each spread, encapsulating the siblings' shifting emotions. This sensitive narrative shows the significance of empathy in meeting people where they're at. Ages 3-7. (Oct.)

PreS-Gr 1--When younger sister wakes up in a contrary mood, her enthusiastic older sister suggests fun and uplifting activities to cajole her out of it; it's only when the sullen mood explodes into anger that older sister changes course, commiserates with her sibling, and changes her mood. Told through their ongoing dialogue and shown in various sizes of type for emphasis, the two girls, with black eyes and black hair, cycle through several misfires until the older one hits on the correct approach: to join her sibling in the bad mood. Together, they dance away the gray fog that has enveloped them on big monster feet. Kwan's colorful illustrations often sweep across spreads to express the mood, effectively build tension, and emphasize the size and importance of the younger child's emotions. VERDICT By accepting big, negative emotions without condemning them or dismissing them, this book is great for launching discussions about when and how to express moods and feelings.--MaryAnn Karre, Binghamton, NY