Sara Loves Her Big Brother

In colored pencil illustrations, Apple shows all the nuances of Sara's love, which Hooker's text winningly understates. A hug given to a brother on rollerskates has near-disastrous results. Sara considerately wakes him up in the morningeven if he doesn't want to get up. Her gift to him of a purple dollop of jam leads to an accident involving spilled cereal. And on it goes, while a cat offers a thoughtful running commentary, and a stuffed koala bear acts as a dazed onlooker. When the day is over, big brother curls up in a chair to read to a freshly bathed Sara, then tucks her in with plenty of kisses. A sweet harmony between text and pictures prevents the story from sentimentality, and the sibling relationship is portrayed with just the right amounts of exasperation and love. Ages 3-6. (August)