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sducharme's review
4.0
The Pain is the little brother and The Great One is the older sister. They each tell their sides of the story of how they fit into the family. Of course, each thinks the other is the one who gets more attention and better treatment from the parents. A fun look at the concept of perspective and a good mentor text for "voice". This is a story kiddos will easily relate to. Realistic watercolors extend the text and supply fitting expressions to the characters' faces.
erinmp's review
4.0
Judy Blume writes from both perspectives of a big sister and a little brother. "Pain" is the little brother, told by sister; "Great One" is little brother complaining about big sis. Both children think that the other is a great intrusion on his/her life and lists the reasons why.
Great book about sibling rivalry and seeing the other side of the stoy. Any child with a sibling can relate and learn something.
Great book about sibling rivalry and seeing the other side of the stoy. Any child with a sibling can relate and learn something.
novelesque_life's review
4.0
4 STARS "An eight-year-old girl, "The Great One," and her six-year-old brother, "The Pain," state their cases about each other and who is best loved by their parents." (From Amazon)
A great picture book from Judy Blume.
A great picture book from Judy Blume.
calistareads's review against another edition
5.0
I hear this book everyday in my house right now. One child thinks the other child has it better and the other child thinks they have the short stick. This is so well done.
There are two parts to this story. First part is about the little brother from the big sisters POV. He gets everything, life is so unfair. The second part is the big sister from the little brothers POV. She is perfect and gets everything. They are unhappy separated.
I know I was this way with my brother too. The illustrations did not wow me, but they help tell the story. The story seems to be the perfect interplay, at least in our house.
The kids were funny. they said things like "I never do that" or "I always share" Yeah right. Interesting to see how they want to see themselves. This book is perfect childhood. Judy rules and she really does understand children.
There are two parts to this story. First part is about the little brother from the big sisters POV. He gets everything, life is so unfair. The second part is the big sister from the little brothers POV. She is perfect and gets everything. They are unhappy separated.
I know I was this way with my brother too. The illustrations did not wow me, but they help tell the story. The story seems to be the perfect interplay, at least in our house.
The kids were funny. they said things like "I never do that" or "I always share" Yeah right. Interesting to see how they want to see themselves. This book is perfect childhood. Judy rules and she really does understand children.
kendrareads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
The Pain and the Great One think that the other is the favored child and they can't do anything right. Perfect picture of sibling rivalry and classic from Judy Blume. Much loved!
shahrun's review against another edition
4.0
Fun look at both sides of sibling rivalry. Full colour illustrations throughout really complement the story.
thatjamiea's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like it's cheating to claim this is a book for 2015 but indeed it is and I did read it.
This is actually written like a free verse poem with some darling illustrations that tell the story of the The Pain (little brother) and the Great One (big sister). It's super short and would be great for emerging readers or for reluctant or poor older readers because while short and simple, the subject matter isn't too "babyish".
This is the tenth Judy Blume title I've read this year with 13 to go.
This is actually written like a free verse poem with some darling illustrations that tell the story of the The Pain (little brother) and the Great One (big sister). It's super short and would be great for emerging readers or for reluctant or poor older readers because while short and simple, the subject matter isn't too "babyish".
This is the tenth Judy Blume title I've read this year with 13 to go.
panda_incognito's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first Judy Blume book that I have ever read in my life. My mom is still deeply bitter about her experiences reading Judy Blume YA back in the 70s, and when my sister and I were young, she forbade us from reading this author's stuff. It might surprise some people that this didn't drive me straight to it, but I was an obedient child, and I was also a sensitive soul who preferred to avoid unnecessary trauma that I, too, would remember for decades afterwards.
However! Recently at work, one of my coworkers was talking about Judy Blume, and taking some of her books home for her daughter. It occurred to me how unusual and strange it is that I've never read anything by this author, and since I want to be a children's librarian, it makes sense for me to have at least passing familiarity with her works.
I thought that starting out with some forty-eight page chapter books would be pretty safe, and I enjoyed this one a lot. The first half of the story is from an older sister's perspective on why her brother is such a pain, and the second half of the story comes from the brother's perspective, as he complains about how great his sister thinks she is. It's hilarious, and I can see why people admire Judy Blume's writing, since she has such an eye for real-life situations and captures dialogue perfectly.
Some reviewers have complained that the parents in this book parent badly and set their children up for rivalry. I don't think that's true at all. Because this book contrasts the children's perspectives, you see how selective their observation is. They each pick up on grievances to the exclusion of the good things in their lives, and this is a hilarious early chapter book introduction to the concept of the unreliable narrator.
However! Recently at work, one of my coworkers was talking about Judy Blume, and taking some of her books home for her daughter. It occurred to me how unusual and strange it is that I've never read anything by this author, and since I want to be a children's librarian, it makes sense for me to have at least passing familiarity with her works.
I thought that starting out with some forty-eight page chapter books would be pretty safe, and I enjoyed this one a lot. The first half of the story is from an older sister's perspective on why her brother is such a pain, and the second half of the story comes from the brother's perspective, as he complains about how great his sister thinks she is. It's hilarious, and I can see why people admire Judy Blume's writing, since she has such an eye for real-life situations and captures dialogue perfectly.
Some reviewers have complained that the parents in this book parent badly and set their children up for rivalry. I don't think that's true at all. Because this book contrasts the children's perspectives, you see how selective their observation is. They each pick up on grievances to the exclusion of the good things in their lives, and this is a hilarious early chapter book introduction to the concept of the unreliable narrator.
sean67's review against another edition
4.0
Book one in this series about the siblings and the adventures and hijinks they get up to, no William by any means but some decent story telling here.
Score check: Judy Blume #04.
Score check: Judy Blume #04.
imaclogger23's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0