A review by katy_irene
Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan
4.0
A universal story of sibling rivalry with a strong emotional punch. The Big Red Lollipop is one of those beautiful stories that doesn't give away all its secrets until the very last page. The story is straight from Kahn's childhood, so it features a Pakistani family living in Canada. Rubina, as the oldest of three sisters, acts as a cultural interpreter for her Ami (mother). She explains what a birthday party is and inherently understands that you should not ask if your little sister Sana can come too. It gets worse. Sana is bratty at the party and then steals Rubina's big red lollipop!
It's a story most children (and all siblings) will identify with regardless of their gender, age, or culture. Kahn's sophisticated text takes it to the next level. A lot is left for readers to infer, and I love that. Time passes and the girls age. But the story doesn't drag or seemed rushed. Because it is ultimately a story of forgiveness, I think it would work best with the older picture book crowd.
Blackwell's muted illustrations are gorgeous. I really like the way she depicts movement with lines, especially on the musical chairs spread. The facial expressions on the family's faces are spot on and really natural. Rubina has the best glare ever. So many wonderful artistic touches that don't take the focus away from the story or visually overwhelm the reader.
It's a story most children (and all siblings) will identify with regardless of their gender, age, or culture. Kahn's sophisticated text takes it to the next level. A lot is left for readers to infer, and I love that. Time passes and the girls age. But the story doesn't drag or seemed rushed. Because it is ultimately a story of forgiveness, I think it would work best with the older picture book crowd.
Blackwell's muted illustrations are gorgeous. I really like the way she depicts movement with lines, especially on the musical chairs spread. The facial expressions on the family's faces are spot on and really natural. Rubina has the best glare ever. So many wonderful artistic touches that don't take the focus away from the story or visually overwhelm the reader.