My Brother and Me

K-Gr 2—Aloush adores his much older big brother Ramez, who has graduated from college and works at an engineering company. Ramez drives the boy to school, takes him to basketball practice, and allows him to hang out when friends visit. The golden age dissolves when Ramez gets engaged, so Aloush attempts benign pranks to scare his fiancée away. Her calm reactions to spilled water and a surprise hamster prove Deema's character is stellar and finally the pair bond over toy cars and video games. When Deema asks Aloush to be her little brother, his hug and "I'll think about it" promise a happy ending. Fidawi's charming line drawings of elongated bodies in a muted palette capture the myriad of moods with secret humor stitched in. A giant fly on the page facing a stinky soccer uniform and the young boy's reaction to Mama's ululating engagement celebration are a hoot.