Dee Dee and Me

K-Gr 2—In this excellent look at sibling power plays, Dee Dee dominates Hannah in every way: she's taller, pushier, and able to gain control of a situation before her younger sister even realizes what is happening. When Hannah wears her beautiful new apron, Dee Dee admires it, takes it, cuts it up, and makes it into a purse for herself. When Dee Dee's friends come over to play, Hannah is told to pretend to be the butler and to make cucumber sandwiches, and then Dee Dee dismisses her: "Butsy, that will be all." Preparing to run away after being pushed too far, Hannah gives Dee Dee the cold shoulder and finds that playing by herself is fun. When Dee Dee comes looking for Hannah and asks her to play dress up, Hannah sets some ground rules, and Dee Dee complies-although she refuses to be Butsy. "Well I won't either," says Hannah. The gouache and pen-and-ink illustrations have a homey feel, plenty to look at, and a lot of movement. The text carries the story forward at an energetic pace, keeping readers guessing whether Hannah can figure out a way to solve the problem of her pushy sister. This satisfying story for both older and younger siblings is a real winner.—B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA