Jill McElmurry (1954–2017)

Warning: Sarcasm ahead.

Mario the squirrel "likes to invent amazing moves". There's an awesome full page spread of Mario's cool moves. His whole family think's he's amazing. All except Isabelle, who's obviously a math whiz (note the thick glasses and graph paper!). She's easily worked out Mario's moves, plus some cool moves of her own. "That's nice" she tells Mario politely.

After a demonstration of her own amazing move, Mario refuses to be friends with her anymore because A. she stole his show more move and B. she's not allowed to have a move. Only the amazing Mario is apparently allowed to have moves.

Isabelle points out, very reasonably, that all the animals have moves. She doesn't point out, but quite easily could have, that her move is nothing like Mario's, being much more difficult and involving advanced math as compared to Mario's, which is just a leap through the trees.

Mario goes into a depressed sulk and starts collecting "amazing sticks" that being the only thing he can think of that nobody else can do.

Isabelle, apparently realizing that she has stepped out of the natural order of things, then asks Mario to teach her his move (you know, the one she had previously mastered in, like, ten seconds flat? The one that was really simple compared to her own move?) and tells him how wonderful it was. She was wrong, it's not just nice, it's elegant and graceful! Only Mario can teach her how to jump from point A to point B. She'd probably be willing to do all his math for him if he'll just talk to her and be happy, thus justifying her empty existence without his friendship!

Mario graciously asks her to teach him her move as well. Then together they create even more amazing moves.

I bet when they went to college Isabella did all his research and wrote his papers, all while constantly assuring him that all she needed was to bask in his awesomeness and never get credited for any of her work.

Verdict: Of course I don't think the author deliberately set out to write a story with the message that girls have to constantly stroke boys' egos and can never be better than them or they'll get upset and - gasp - stop talking to them! She probably intended to point out that it's not necessary to be better than everyone and by working together you can do even more amazing things. But you know, group work isn't always better. I'm personally against teaching kids to downplay their own abilities and strengths so as not to make other kids feel bad, although I don't advocate boasting or going out of your way to make people feel inferior. But exactly what is Mario bringing to this equation, other than an over-sensitive ego, poor sportsmanship, and the need for someone to constantly assure him that he's amazing, even when he's not?

ISBN: 9780375868542; Published 2012 by Schwartz and Wade; Borrowed from the library show less

Young Leo Letardi's family had always considered him the baby, from the time he actually was a baby, and needed the care of Nanny Fanni, to his graduation from high school, and on into his adulthood. Nothing he did or said seemed to change their perception of him, or make them stop referring to him as a 'baby.' Until, that is, Leo himself had a baby...

I vacillated between a two and three star rating with Jill McElmurry's I'm NOT a Baby! - a quirky picture-book examination of the life of the show more youngest child, in an Edwardian family - but eventually decided upon three, as I think young readers will be able to identify with Leo's frustrations at his family's inability to see that he is growing up. For my own part, I wanted to enjoy this more than I did, but somehow the magic just wasn't there for me. show less

This book is an excellent book to use for kids to help them relate the the idea of "labels" in school and at home. The book opens as toddler Leo climbs from his bassinet and asks for waffles, only to be sternly declined and presented with porridge. Later events show him in infants' togs and enduring cooing remarks ("What a clever baby!") even as he attends school, gives a graduation speech, and starts his first job. McElmurry adds surreal touches to the ornate, period settings that suit the show more farce: odd colors dominate (pea green, salmon pink); word-bubbles introduce a comic-book informality into the stately compositions; and occasional, anachronistic elements appear, such as one character's high-top sneakers. Children will be deeply amused by the premise, and wholly sympathetic to the frustrations of being labeled, patronized, or willfully misunderstood. show less

This story is gentle, cheerful, and beautifully illustrated, making it a perfect holiday read-aloud that blends rhythm, kindness, and Christmas magic for young children.