Children's Book Review: Big Sisters by Gordon Jensen

I love finding special children's books to share! This morning, I am featuring my review of a book that focuses a topic very close to this mom's heart: sisters! Learn about Big Sisters by Gordon Jensen, read my thoughts on the book & be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post. 

 

Book Title:  Big Sisters by Gordon Jensen
Category: Children's Non-Fiction (Ages 3-7),  32 pages
Genre:  Children's Non-Fiction 
Publisher:  Printopya
Release date:  November 2024
Content Rating:  G - The book is about the special relationship between sisters. ​

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About the Book

Winner of the Independent Book Award for the Novelty & Gift category and the Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention for the Children's Non-Fiction, Growing Pains, Picture Book - 5 Years and Younger, and Poetry categories, Big Sisters is a beautifully illustrated book that discusses the unique nature of the relationship between sisters.

 

My Review

 

Big Sisters Offers an Endearing Full Circle Glimpse at a Big Sister's Life. The book is a short one, with a single sentence presented on each page. While the simplicity of the book makes it easy to read with younger children, the context of the book seems solidly geared toward parents/grandparents as well. The little book takes readers from the beginning of life for a big sister--through to a later-on-almost-end-of-life time, focusing briefly on some of the transitions sisters go through along the way. Girls--especially sisters--will enjoy the vintage, relationship-focused vibe of the book, but I'm not sure that the emotional journey of life will be understood by younger readers. I think adult sisters will find the book is better aimed toward them than the children in their care.

Big Sisters Offers a Beautiful Look at Sisterhood--In Text and Illustrations. This book is very simple, but says so much at the same time. The vintage, simplistic photos add a "memory lane" style feel to the book, while the text serves as simple poetic reminders about the roles of sisterhood (and how those roles will shift in time). Children may leave the book with a stronger appreciation for their sister, while older adults may find the book a little sad as they face the realities of growing older. 

Would I Recommend Big Sisters by Gordon Jensen? I love this book--but I am not sure that I love it as a traditional children's book. I do think it's a great fit for a family story time to open a discussion about sisters, relationships, or new babies. I really love the book as a special, simple gift book for adult sisters, as I feel that the messages of the book have a much stronger significance for parents, aunts or grandparents than they will for young readers. It's a beautiful book with endearing messages that would make a wonderful gift for daughters--or parents and grandparents.

 

Buy the Book  

Amazon 
add to Goodreads

 

Meet the Author

​Gordon Jensen holds an MBA from University of Rochester, New York, Simon School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. After working in finance In New York for several years, Jensen went back to Minnesota to run the family business. He retired after selling the the business and is now fulfilling a number of life-long dreams, including writing a novel series.

Enter the Giveaway

BIG SISTERS Book Tour Giveaway