What Brothers Do Best/What Sisters Do Best

What Brothers Do Best/What Sisters Do Best
Laura Numeroff, author
Lynn Munsinger, illustrator
2009

This book is delightful! It's part of a series (moms/dads, grandpas/grandmas, aunts/uncles), each of which is a flip book that must be flipped over half way through and read again! I've not read the others, but we love this one. Numeroff is the author of the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie books, and Munsinger is the illustrator of the Tacky the Penguin books, so you may recognize their work.

The text is identical for the brother half and the sister half. Animals are used for the siblings, and pairs of same gender siblings are pictured as well as boy/girl siblings. The illustrations do a nice job of showcasing how the brother might help you do something versus a sister helping you do the same thing without making gender differences too pronounced. It's a subtle shift between the two halves, but one which I appreciate. For instance, both brothers and sisters can play pretend with you, but the sister picture shows a big sister dressed up and having a tea party with a younger brother while the big brother picture shows a crazy cowboy roundup!

This book would make a terrific gift for children who have mixed gender siblings. Family affirming, boy/girl affirming, and a great book to share.

Recommended for ages 4-8.