Thomas's Sitter

Jean Richardson

ISBN 10: 0027761460 ISBN 13: 9780027761467

Publisher: Four Winds Press, 1991

Synopsis

With the arrival of Thomas's new baby sister comes a new baby sitter, and Thomas is prepared to dislike him, but patient, gentle, wild-haired Dan is so nice, Thomas is proud to have him around

About this title

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K-- Thomas is fed up with his new baby sister. She isn't any fun, and she monopolizes his parents' time. On top of everything else, his mother is going back to work and hiring a babysitter. Hating that idea, Thomas is on his very worst behavior when prospective (female) sitters show up for interviews. Then Dan arrives, a young man who captures Thomas's interest at once. Dan is a very positive male role model: he genuinely likes children and willingly takes part in activities and domestic duties. He tells Thomas that he is not only a babysitter, but also a Thomas-sitter. This revelation, plus his mother's assurances that they picked out Dan especially for him, renews his feelings of importance in the family and makes him more tolerant of his sister. However, the third-person narration, told from Thomas's perspective with only a smattering of dialogue, detracts from the story's immediacy. The large realistic watercolor paintings are cheerful and bright, but uneven in quality. Since more and more children are spending time with care-givers, this book will find a ready audience along with others on the topic: The Good-Bye Book (Atheneum, 1988) by Judith Viorst and My Baby-Sitter (Macmillan, 1985) by Anne Rockwell. --Laura Culberg, Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Thomas's new sister has caused a particularly unacceptable disruption: Thomas won't be going back to friend Matthew's house while his mother is at work--now there'll be a baby-sitter. Distressed, Thomas acts out, driving away candidates with his pranks until he meets Dan: ``artist, handyman, gardener, and perhaps your babysitter.'' Predictable, but told with some nicely imaginative touches; Holmes makes a fine debut with lively realistic watercolors that deftly capture Tom's feelings. Warmly appealing. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Four Winds Press
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0027761460
• ISBN 13: 9780027761467
• Binding: Library Binding
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 27
• Illustrator: Dawn Holmes