Russell's Secret

With soft, charming, and cheerful pen and ink illustrations and expressive characters, Hurwitz provides a imaginative, educational, and unique variation on the familiar themes of sibling rivalry created by the arrival of a new baby and a child who doesn't want to go to school. Jealous of the attention his baby sister Elsia receives and tired of life as a "big boy," four-year old Russell begs to stay home from nursery school like baby Elsia. Russell's clever mother grants his request literally. She treats him exactly "like a baby." She feeds him only baby food for breakfast, refuses to let him watch TV or play with his Legos, makes him take a nap, puts him in the playpen with Elsia, and gives him a bottle of hot milk to drink. Warned that his lunch will be mashed carrots, peas and banana, Russell decides its better to be a "big boy" and go to school. Embarrassed to tell his school friends why he's late, Russell says: "It's a secret." Recommended for all children aged 4 to 8 and highly recommended those with young siblings.