Daughter's Day Blues - Hardcover

Pegram, Laura

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0803715579 ISBN 13: 9780803715578

Publisher: Dial, 2000

Synopsis

Jealous of the constant attention her baby brother gets, Phyllis Mae's mother decides to set a special day aside for her daughter where being a daughter is celebrated all day long.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

A sympathetic look at sibling life from the perspective of the oldest daughter, whose toddler brother wreaks domestic havoc wherever he goes. Life with her brother is always tumultuous for Phyllis Mae; J.T. creates one mess after another as he careens through his days. In his wake, Phyllis often feels ignored and under-appreciated. When J.T. accidentally destroys the Mother's Day cake, Phyllis Mae wonders why there isn't a special day for daughters. Her wise grandmother circles Daughter's Day on the calendar, only a week away; Phyllis Mae daydreams about what a day dedicated to her will entail--banana pancakes, a special cake and, most importantly, the undivided attention of Nana and Mommabut her ideal vision goes awry, due to J.T.'s antics. Pegram addresses the older child's need for attention and a toddler's need for constant surveillance with sensitivity and compassion; Phyllis Mae's exasperation with J.T. is without anger and her ready acceptance of his presence at the Daughter's Day party makes it clear that, frustrations and all, she loves her little brother. Van Wright and Hu's extraordinarily lifelike watercolors are beautifully rendered; the expressive faces and gestures engage onlookers fully in the characters' lives. Pegram's understanding tale is a balm for readers with similar longings, and it provides an opportunity to discuss the importance of every family member in a household. (Picture book. 5-9) -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Phyllis Mae feels like every day belongs to her little brother J.T. He's always getting into things and her mother and grandmother spend so much time with him that the girl sometimes feels neglected. She longs for a day just for her, "a day for daughters like the one for mothers." In response, Momma and Nana plan "Daughter's Day," complete with banana pancakes and Phyllis Mae's very own cake. As they make plans for the party throughout the week, J.T. makes all sorts of trouble and his sister gets the Daughter's Day Blues; she feels like she'll never have anything that is just hers. However, Momma and Nana know just what to do to make her day special. Pegram has created a sympathetic, likable African-American character with whom children with younger siblings may identify. Realistic facial expressions are artfully rendered in watercolor and pencil. The illustrators' use of shadow and light helps convey the warmth and emotions of the characters. However, the pictures are not as clear when viewed from a distance, making this a better choice for one-on-one reading.
Margaret Rhoades, Orange County Library System, Orlando, FL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dial
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0803715579
• ISBN 13: 9780803715578
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Van Wright Cornelius, Hu Ying-Hwa