School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1Cousins uses her bold cartoon artwork this time to feature an appealing zebra and her growing family. Unfortunately, the simple story reinforces too many of the stereotypes associated with new siblings and offers little comfort to youngsters confronted with a new household member. For instance, when the relatives come to visit, they completely ignore Za-Za, who is shown playing alone in the corner. Mom and Dad are both too preoccupied to deal with their daughter. In fact, when Za-Za announces, ``Mom! I want my hug now!,'' her mother replies, ``Why don't you hug the baby?'' Obviously, Za-Za needs to quell her feelings of displacement, a fact her mother just does not seem to grasp. The child is finally rewarded with her parents' attention only after she hugs and plays with the baby. The message here is certainly not a reassuring one.Lisa Marie Gangemi, Farmingdale Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Cousins's (Maisy Goes to School) childlike gouache figures and hand-lettered text set against bold fields of color give this oversized book a decidedly cheerful look. Za-Za, a young zebra, candidly narrates the story: "My mom is going to have a baby. She has a big fat tummy. There's not much room for a hug." A familiar scenario unfolds after Mom brings the newborn home from the hospital. Visitors arrive to coo at the baby, and Mom and Dad shower the interloper with attention, too. When Za-Za demands a hug "now!" Mom responds: "Why don't you hug the baby?" So the older sibling does just that-and, after spending some time playing with the little one, concludes, "He was nice. It was fun." Finally, Mom puts the baby to sleep, and Za-Za gets a hug and a story. If not the most clever or insightful book available on this well-worn subject, Cousins's simple story delivers a useful message to preschoolers in Za-Za's situation. Ages 2-up. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved