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A Book For Siblings - The Big Red Lollipop

I have a sister and every year when Rakshabandhan rolls around, we pretty much sit out the festival. We did not truly believe in "Rakhi" brothers and sometimes when we felt like it, we sent out Rakhis to our cousin brothers, but suffice it to say it was not an immersive experience.

The Big Red Lollipop written by Rukhsana Khan and illustrated by Sophie Blackall is a book for and about siblings. Rukhsana Khan was born in Pakistan and immigrated to Canada at age 3 and perhaps a bit of her experience is included in this book.

Rubina gets invited to a birthday party and is so excited to tell Ami. Ami (her mother) does not know what a birthday party is and is quite puzzled by the fact that people celebrate the day they were born. Sana, Rubina's little sister throws a fit that she wants to go to the birthday party too. Rubina tries to explain that she cannot go because she was not invited, but Ami does not agree. She has Rubina call her friend and let her know that her little sister will be coming.

At the birthday, Sana throws a fit and wants to win every game and even cries when she falls down while playing musical chairs. If you are an older sibling, does all this bring back memories? It does for me :)

The goody bags have each a big red lollipop. Sana does not wait and eats all her goodies and breaks her goody bag toys by the time she goes to bed. Rubina, on the other hand, saves her big red lollipop to eat the next day, only to find a small triangle left the next day. Sana had thoughtfully left her the triangle.

The book traces sibling relationships, and a mother's reaction to sibling feuds and of course, it has a lovely end where Rubina comes to Sana's rescue and the sisters bond.

The lovely illustrations by Sophie Blackall add to the emotions in the book.

A perfect books for sisters, share it with each other on Rakshabandhan. My daughter, an only child, loved it too and we have re-read it many times so far!