Siblings

The Very Worst Monster;  Pat Hutchins; 1985; ages 3 to 10; fiction. Nobody noticed Hazel Monster any more, until she gave her new brother away. Hilarious illustrations and the competition for being the "worst" make this a fresh and pleasurable reading experience.

I'll Fix Anthony;  Judith Viorst; 1969; ages 5 to 10; fiction. When Nicholas' older brother is mean to him, Nick dreams about the revenge he will get when he turns 6. Humorous and authentic prose with irreverent drawings.

The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo;  Judy Blume; 1981; ages 6 to 10; fiction. The "middle" child in this family of school-age children feels ignored until he gets the part of the purple kangaroo in the third-grade play.

Later, Gater;  Yep; 1995; ages 8 to 12; fiction. When brothers join forces to keep their parents from giving away their pet alligator, they discover wonderful traits about each other. Yep, who is Chinese-American, peppers this realistic story with the nuances of life in Chinatown.

Who Put That Hair In My Toothbrush?;  Jerry Spinelli; 1994; ages 11 to 15; fiction. Seventh-grader Megin and ninth-grader Greg cannot get along for 1 minute. Spinelli alternates the perspective in each chapter, so the reader experiences the action through the eyes of both teenagers. Fathers will love this funny and sensitive dad.

The Secret of Happy Children;  Steve Biddulph; 1997; adults; nonfiction. Using cartoons, examples, and an information bite format, the author offers concrete suggestions to nurture the whole family.

Siblings Without Rivalry;  Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish; 1986; adults; nonfiction. Delightful and classic guide to helping children get along. Filled with examples, cartoons, and useful strategies.

Adapted from:  Ellen C. Perrin, MD Susan Starr, MEd Addressing Common Pediatric Concerns Through Children's Books. Pediatrics in Review. 2000;21:130-138.  © 2000 American Academy of Pediatrics