First There Was Me, Then There Was You by Yvonne Sewankambo and Aurore McLeod - ESSENTIAL

First There Was Me, Then There Was You by Yvonne Sewankambo, illustrated by Aurore McLeod. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2025. $19. 9781536239003

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

When a big brother meets his little sister for the first time; the love is immediate! Yet waiting for her to do more than sleep, cry, drink, and repeat is frustrating  Once his little sister is old enough, the adventures begin! The two are inseparable.  They watch clouds, play hide-and-seek, discover, and dance. As they grow and eventually need to go their separate ways, the brother reminds her that he will always love her (trust me, I do!) and she can always count on him. 

This is a heartwarming tale of just how deep a sibling bond can grow.  Sewankambo gives us a perfect rendition of the emotional ebb and flow of sibling relationships.  Most of the time things are wonderful and loving, yet there will be times of discontent.  The illustrations are fun and exciting.  The warmth of the colors draw the reader into each page.  

Reviewer: SL