"Mama, let's prepare for Calla's birthday! It's coming soon, right?"
Calla's birthday is in April. It's now the end of August. We count the months together and she realises it is a long way away. She ponders about it for a moment, and then says,
"Ok, but we can still prepare for it!"
That's the kind of sister Poppy is. She is an awesome sister who looks out for her little sister. They get along fabulously and I feel very blessed (I wrote about it here). But I also know that as siblings, there is always the possibility of jealousy, arguments and "It's not fair!"s.
So when I was invited to review the book One More Candle by Merry Susiarjo, a story about a younger sister who desperately wants one more candle on her birthday cake so that she can be the same as her older sister, I knew immediately that it was the book for us.
Younger sister Nola wants to have everything her older sister Betty has. So when their parents hold a joint birthday party for them, she is really upset that her birthday cake has one less candle than her sister's. So Nola decides to go off to search for someone to help her light one more candle for her next birthday since neither Mum nor Dad will help her.
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She asks fireflies, the moon, the sun, a lighthouse but of course, nothing works and at the next birthday party, she finds herself with one less candle than her sister on the cake again.
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What I absolutely love about the story is the connection portrayed between the sisters. When Nola storms off to sulk, it isn't Mum or Dad that go to comfort her, it's her older sister. And younger sis doesn't push her older sister away; instead she accepts her older sister's hugs and comforting words.
At the party, Betty gives Nola a very simple but meaningful present that makes her happy, and Nola says "Thank you, Betty, you always understand me best."
As a mum reading this, it brought tears to my eyes. Which mother doesn't hope for that kind of closeness between her children?
I see it between the girls sometimes. When Calla refuses to eat, sometimes she will accept a spoonful or two if her sister feeds her. When Poppy cries, sometimes Calla goes to her and strokes her hair (or hit her head a little harder than necessary) in an attempt to sayang her. It's lovely to watch. This book personifies the relationship between sisters beautifully and I would recommend it to anyone with little children, especially those with daughters.
Do I have a giveaway for this? Of course I do - Surely you know me by now.
I've got two copies of One More Candle to give away, a hard copy one, and a paperback version, and they will be autographed personally by the author!
Contest starts NOW and ends at 23.59hrs of 29 August 2013. To enter, you MUST leave a comment on this blog telling me what the best thing is about having a sibling, and you MUST leave your email address so that I can reach you if you win. If you win and I write to you, you MUST reply within 48 hours because if not, then guess what? Nie nie ni bu bu, no book for you.
This is a worldwide giveaway. I repeat, this is a worldwide giveaway. So readers over in Timbaktu (do I have any readers in Timbaktu? - if you are reading this over in Timbaktu, say "Hi!"), feel free to join in the fun!
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Calla's birthday is in April. It's now the end of August. We count the months together and she realises it is a long way away. She ponders about it for a moment, and then says,
"Ok, but we can still prepare for it!"
.JPG) |
| They make each other laugh in a way that only sisters can |
That's the kind of sister Poppy is. She is an awesome sister who looks out for her little sister. They get along fabulously and I feel very blessed (I wrote about it here). But I also know that as siblings, there is always the possibility of jealousy, arguments and "It's not fair!"s.
 |
| Calla holds her own little birthday party with cupcakes :) |
So when I was invited to review the book One More Candle by Merry Susiarjo, a story about a younger sister who desperately wants one more candle on her birthday cake so that she can be the same as her older sister, I knew immediately that it was the book for us.
 |
| Sometimes books have drawings that make my eyes hurt. Not this one. Love the choice of calming colours! |
Younger sister Nola wants to have everything her older sister Betty has. So when their parents hold a joint birthday party for them, she is really upset that her birthday cake has one less candle than her sister's. So Nola decides to go off to search for someone to help her light one more candle for her next birthday since neither Mum nor Dad will help her.
 |
| That's Poppy's birthday candle! Yes I kept it! |
She asks fireflies, the moon, the sun, a lighthouse but of course, nothing works and at the next birthday party, she finds herself with one less candle than her sister on the cake again.
What I absolutely love about the story is the connection portrayed between the sisters. When Nola storms off to sulk, it isn't Mum or Dad that go to comfort her, it's her older sister. And younger sis doesn't push her older sister away; instead she accepts her older sister's hugs and comforting words.
At the party, Betty gives Nola a very simple but meaningful present that makes her happy, and Nola says "Thank you, Betty, you always understand me best."
As a mum reading this, it brought tears to my eyes. Which mother doesn't hope for that kind of closeness between her children?
I see it between the girls sometimes. When Calla refuses to eat, sometimes she will accept a spoonful or two if her sister feeds her. When Poppy cries, sometimes Calla goes to her and strokes her hair (or hit her head a little harder than necessary) in an attempt to sayang her. It's lovely to watch. This book personifies the relationship between sisters beautifully and I would recommend it to anyone with little children, especially those with daughters.
Do I have a giveaway for this? Of course I do - Surely you know me by now.
I've got two copies of One More Candle to give away, a hard copy one, and a paperback version, and they will be autographed personally by the author!
Contest starts NOW and ends at 23.59hrs of 29 August 2013. To enter, you MUST leave a comment on this blog telling me what the best thing is about having a sibling, and you MUST leave your email address so that I can reach you if you win. If you win and I write to you, you MUST reply within 48 hours because if not, then guess what? Nie nie ni bu bu, no book for you.
a Rafflecopter giveaway