Overview

A big sister proudly shares the ways she can help her mom with the new baby in this Israeli family, with the reader learning a few Hebrew words along the way.

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9781541542457

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MY SISTER IS SLEEPING Author: Devora Busheri Illustrator: Michel Kichka Translator: Shira Atik Review Issue Date: February 1, 2020 Online Publish Date: January 12, 2020 Publisher: Kar-Ben Pages: 24 Price ( Hardcover ): $17.99 Publication Date: April 7, 2020 ISBN ( Hardcover ): 978-1-5415-4244-0 Category: Fiction A young girl anticipates all the fun she will have when baby sister wakes up from her nap. There will be giggles and cuddles, a chance to feed the baby, and a walk with her in the stroller. This baby is endlessly fascinating, with feathery eyelashes, fists that open like fans, and strawberry lips. The protagonist is patient and reminds herself again and again, Soon she will wake up. As narrator she describes all these attributes and plans in simple, brief sentences as if she is speaking directly to her readers. Originally written in Hebrew and translated into English, the tale is made all the richer by the inclusion of Hebrew words incorporated in the narration, always within context and never intrusively. She smells clean like milk, halav. Kichka's softly hued illustrations add a great deal of clever and amusing details, depicting big sister in different rooms of a comfortable home, drawing bright pictures with colored pencils and paint to while away the time. She draws at and under the kitchen table, on the floor close by baby's crib with stuffed animals seemingly watching her progress, on a porch, and in the backyard. But this big girl can wait no longer and falls asleep, carried off by Ima for her own nap. All members of the family present white. A lovely, sweet treat for big siblings everywhere. (Picture book. 3-8)--Journal

Most parents are aware of the category of books dedicated to preparing older children for a new baby. Many focus on potential feelings of disappointment and exclusion as the younger sibling seems to take over the time and attention of caregivers. My Sister is Sleeping takes a different approach, presenting a little girl so absorbed in her artwork that the arrival of a sister has no negative effect on her happy moments of drawing. The book also teaches Hebrew words in an unobtrusive way suggesting that bilingualism is a natural state and a wonderful way to express love. Young readers will relate to the fact that the girl's identity as an artist is not compromised, but rather enhanced, by the addition to her family. The text is gentle and poetic. Sentences in English include Hebrew words highlighted in light red font, bringing them to readers' attention without disrupting the fluency of the story: 'My little sister, achoti, is sleeping.' Busheri's use of metaphor is consistent with a child's perception of the world, where lips are 'strawberries, tootim, ' and a baby's delicate eyelashes are 'tiny feathers.' The girl is totally engaged in drawing pictures but also aware of the parallel events surrounding her as she helps care for the baby and watches her while she sleeps. Busheri subtly assures children that welcoming a new sibling allows them to show growth and maturity. Kichka's portraits of the young artist, a red-head with oversized glasses, are both playful and touching. She alters proportions, with some pictures reflecting a child's perspective on her environment. Drawing at the kitchen table, the girl holds a pencil as long as her arm and produces a smiling face with a strawberry at its center, too large to be contained by the table. Settings are slanted, sometimes viewed from above, and full-color alternates with figures drawn in shades of grey. The young artist does not separate her creative role from her nurturing one. In one scene, she busily draws under a table, a large pot and spoon at her side, while her baby sister appears in the doorway sleeping in her crib. Adults will find humor in the juxtaposition of pencil and cooking utensils: 'Mom-my will give me a bowl and spoon, k'arah v'kapit, and I will feed her oatmeal.' The book's words and pictures complement one another, as simple, brief statements accompany appealingly messy settings. A balcony has a clutter of green plants and clothes hanging to dry; the girls' room is a clutter of toys, open drawers, and brushes. A collection of stuffed animals, falling out of the baby's crib, observes the artist at work, painting while her sister sleeps. In this highly recommended story, Busheri and Kichka have envisioned the arrival of a baby through the eyes of an older child, one whose imagination makes her open to change. -- Emily Schneider, Jewish Book Council -- Website My Sister is Sleeping, written by Devora Busheri and illustrated by Michel Kichka, is a fun read for any parent with an impatient older sibling. The big sister in this story tells of all the wonderful things she will be able to do with her baby sister once she finally wakes up. While she's waiting, big sister is very busy painting and drawing pictures and trying to be patient. Will her baby sister ever awaken from her nap. As an added bonus to this delightful tale, Hebrew words are seamlessly woven into the story, introducing readers to simple vocabulary words like sister (achoti), Mommy (Ima) and hands (yadayim). The illustrations are filled with the sister's child-like drawings, creating a friendly bond between the reader and this creative main character while sending a positive message: being a big sister can be lots of fun. -- Marcia Berneger, San Diego Jewish World -- Website A big sister in an Israeli family draws pictures as she eagerly anticipates her baby sister waking from her nap. She lovingly describes the baby, imagining all the things she will do when the baby wakes up: holding the baby in her lap, feeding her oatmeal, and taking her for a walk in the stroller. Of special note is that 'My Sister Is Sleeping' also includes Hebrew words in the descriptions of the joys of having a new baby in the family. While highly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 3-8, 'My Sister Is Sleeping' is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781541542457, $7.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.59). -- James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review -- Website As older sister waits for her baby sister to awaken from her nap, she draws and paints, and thinks about what they will do. Big sister will hold the baby in her lap, help feed her oatmeal, and then take her for a walk in the stroller. Big sister also describes the baby, with her 'eyelashes like tiny feathers, ' hands that 'open like paper fans, ' and lips 'like two little strawberries.' Big sister waits and waits patiently, but disappointingly, baby sister is still asleep at the end of the book. There is no overt Jewish content in this book, but there is a Hebrew lesson: my achoti (sister), ima (mother), yadayim (hands), k'arah v'kapit (bowl and spoon), tootim (strawberries), halav (milk), einayim (eyes), and agala (stroller). The illustrations have a somewhat muted background so that adorable big sister and her artwork stand out on each page. A good pick for a story time about baby siblings or being patient, with young readers soon supplying the Hebrew words. -- Chava Pinchuck, Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel; Past Chair, Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee -- Magazine A big sister adores her little sister and watches her while she is sleeping. She likes being in the same room as her when she is sleeping and also thinks about her when she isn't inside the room she is sleeping in. Throughout the time she thinks about her, she is doing something it looks like she enjoys: creating art. She thinks about how she will spend time with her when she wakes up. Throughout the story, different Hebrew words are given after the English words that they are about, for instance, the Hebrew word for milk is given after it is used in a sentence in English. I really like that the big sister in this story respects the sleep her sister needs and seems careful not to wake her up. I also like that she seems to love spending time with her, even when she is asleep. I love that Hebrew words are brought into the story, which I think will help children grasp onto the Hebrew words relating to the English words a little at a time. A great book that will show children how to treat their smaller siblings great when they are infants! -- Jill Harris -- Blog A young girl anticipates all the fun she will have when baby sister wakes up from her nap. There will be giggles and cuddles, a chance to feed the baby, and a walk with her in the stroller. This baby is endlessly fascinating, with feathery eyelashes, fists that open like fans, and strawberry lips. The protagonist is patient and reminds herself again and again, 'Soon she will wake up.' As narrator she describes all these attributes and plans in simple, brief sentences as if she is speaking directly to her readers. Originally written in Hebrew and translated into English, the tale is made all the richer by the inclusion of Hebrew words incorporated in the narration, always within context and never intrusively. 'She smells clean like milk, halav.' Kichka's softly hued illustrations add a great deal of clever and amusing details, depicting big sister in different rooms of a comfortable home, drawing bright pictures with colored pencils and paint to while away the time. She draws at and under the kitchen table, on the floor close by baby's crib with stuffed animals seemingly watching her progress, on a porch, and in the backyard. But this big girl can wait no longer and falls asleep, carried off by Ima for her own nap. All members of the family present white. A lovely, sweet treat for big siblings everywhere. -- Kirkus Reviews-- Journal

A young girl anticipates all the fun she will have when baby sister wakes up from her nap. There will be giggles and cuddles, a chance to feed the baby, and a walk with her in the stroller. This baby is endlessly fascinating, with feathery eyelashes, fists that open like fans, and strawberry lips. The protagonist is patient and reminds herself again and again, 'Soon she will wake up.' As narrator she describes all these attributes and plans in simple, brief sentences as if she is speaking directly to her readers. Originally written in Hebrew and translated into English, the tale is made all the richer by the inclusion of Hebrew words incorporated in the narration, always within context and never intrusively. 'She smells clean like milk, halav.' Kichka's softly hued illustrations add a great deal of clever and amusing details, depicting big sister in different rooms of a comfortable home, drawing bright pictures with colored pencils and paint to while away the time. She draws at and under the kitchen table, on the floor close by baby's crib with stuffed animals seemingly watching her progress, on a porch, and in the backyard. But this big girl can wait no longer and falls asleep, carried off by Ima for her own nap. All members of the family present white. A lovely, sweet treat for big siblings everywhere. -- Kirkus Reviews-- Journal A big sister adores her little sister and watches her while she is sleeping. She likes being in the same room as her when she is sleeping and also thinks about her when she isn't inside the room she is sleeping in. Throughout the time she thinks about her, she is doing something it looks like she enjoys: creating art. She thinks about how she will spend time with her when she wakes up. Throughout the story, different Hebrew words are given after the English words that they are about, for instance, the Hebrew word for milk is given after it is used in a sentence in English. I really like that the big sister in this story respects the sleep her sister needs and seems careful not to wake her up. I also like that she seems to love spending time with her, even when she is asleep. I love that Hebrew words are brought into the story, which I think will help children grasp onto the Hebrew words relating to the English words a little at a time. A great book that will show children how to treat their smaller siblings great when they are infants! -- Jill Harris -- Blog As older sister waits for her baby sister to awaken from her nap, she draws and paints, and thinks about what they will do. Big sister will hold the baby in her lap, help feed her oatmeal, and then take her for a walk in the stroller. Big sister also describes the baby, with her 'eyelashes like tiny feathers, ' hands that 'open like paper fans, ' and lips 'like two little strawberries.' Big sister waits and waits patiently, but disappointingly, baby sister is still asleep at the end of the book. There is no overt Jewish content in this book, but there is a Hebrew lesson: my achoti (sister), ima (mother), yadayim (hands), k'arah v'kapit (bowl and spoon), tootim (strawberries), halav (milk), einayim (eyes), and agala (stroller). The illustrations have a somewhat muted background so that adorable big sister and her artwork stand out on each page. A good pick for a story time about baby siblings or being patient, with young readers soon supplying the Hebrew words. -- Chava Pinchuck, Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel; Past Chair, Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee -- Magazine A big sister in an Israeli family draws pictures as she eagerly anticipates her baby sister waking from her nap. She lovingly describes the baby, imagining all the things she will do when the baby wakes up: holding the baby in her lap, feeding her oatmeal, and taking her for a walk in the stroller. Of special note is that 'My Sister Is Sleeping' also includes Hebrew words in the descriptions of the joys of having a new baby in the family. While highly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 3-8, 'My Sister Is Sleeping' is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781541542457, $7.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.59). -- James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review -- Website

Author Information

Devora Busheri is a children's book writer, editor, and translator. She has authored and edited many books for various publication houses in Israel. Her previous include The Abba Tree and In the Jerusalem Forest. Devora lives in Jerusalem with her husband and their four children.

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