This picture book is cute and colorful, with well-crafted text and vivid watercolor art, but I don't like the focus on Lilly's contempt for her younger brother. It's natural and understandable for siblings to resent a new arrival, and Lilly comes around in the end, but the repeated use of the word "hate" and vivid depictions of her disliking the baby went on too long, in my opinion.

This can be humorous for some children, but it seems to me that it is best to read in retrospect, looking back on one's first experience with a new sibling. I would not want to read this to a child who was expecting a new sibling soon, or was trying to adjust to one, because it seems to set them up for trouble, and encourage them to treat others in a disrespectful way. I can see how this book could be a therapeutic experience for a child who is afraid of their real feelings, can't express their frustrations, and needs to see big sibling angst expressed in a dramatic way in order to process their own struggles, but that is the only circumstance that would inspire me to share this book with a kid.

The story is supposed to be realistic and cute, but it just seemed harsh to me. I can see how Henkes was simply presenting a situation, not affirming it, but there are so many negative implications to Lilly's behavior that this isn't something I would want to normalize or model for children. It's important for older siblings to be emotionally honest and acknowledge their true feelings, but the hatred and nastiness in this book is far too much for me.