Book Descriptions
for Me and the Boss by Michelle Edwards and April Harrison
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Lee’s big sister, Zora, is “the boss,” often telling him what to do and always watching out for him. At a sewing program at the library, Zora insists the librarian give Lee fabric, thread, and a needle just like the other kids, even though he’s younger. “Mrs. C shows us how to sail our thread through the needle’s eye like a little boat.” Lee’s jumble of stitches makes a crooked half-moon. “The boss makes a fine flower.” Lee hides his messy work when they get home. But in the middle of the night, he takes out the needle and thread and picks up where he left off; remembering to stitch slowly, he transforms the half-moon into a full moon, complete with a smile. Inspired, he keeps going, first sewing up the hole in his pants pocket, and later surprising Zora by fixing the torn ear on Bess, her bear. “She wraps me and Bess in her special hug, and we share something that is bigger than my pocket, bigger than Bess’s ear, maybe even bigger than me or Zora.” The mixed-media collage illustrations, often with circular frames, echo the tenderness and warmth of a story about two Black siblings. Marvelous pacing and superb details further distinguish the storytelling. Winner, 2023 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 4-8)
CCBC Choices 2023. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2023. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
CORETTA SCOTT KING ILLUSTRATOR HONOR AWARD WINNER
CHARLOTTE ZOLOTOW AWARD WINNER
All the highs and lows of having a bossy, protective, and loving older sibling are depicted in this heartwarming picture book by a critically acclaimed author and award-winning illustrator.
Meet Lee, a little boy who won't give up until he learns how to sew, and Zora, the sister who watches him try--and ultimately succeed!
"I know big sisters. Zora, the boss, she's mine," explains Lee as he and Zora head to the library, where Mrs. C is teaching the children how to sew. Though Zora sews a beautiful flower on her cloth square, little Lee makes a mess out of the half-moon he is trying to stitch. That night, when he can't sleep, he gives sewing another try...and succeeds, even mending the hole in his pants pocket! The next morning, he sneaks into Zora's room and sews the ear back on Bess, her stuffed bear. When Zora discovers Bess, she wraps Lee in her special big sister hug--for just a moment--and then is back to being the boss once again.
National Jewish Book Award-winning author Michelle Edwards and Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award-winning illustrator April Harrison create a funny, oh-so-true portrait of a brother and sister’s relationship in this winning picture book.
CHARLOTTE ZOLOTOW AWARD WINNER
All the highs and lows of having a bossy, protective, and loving older sibling are depicted in this heartwarming picture book by a critically acclaimed author and award-winning illustrator.
Meet Lee, a little boy who won't give up until he learns how to sew, and Zora, the sister who watches him try--and ultimately succeed!
"I know big sisters. Zora, the boss, she's mine," explains Lee as he and Zora head to the library, where Mrs. C is teaching the children how to sew. Though Zora sews a beautiful flower on her cloth square, little Lee makes a mess out of the half-moon he is trying to stitch. That night, when he can't sleep, he gives sewing another try...and succeeds, even mending the hole in his pants pocket! The next morning, he sneaks into Zora's room and sews the ear back on Bess, her stuffed bear. When Zora discovers Bess, she wraps Lee in her special big sister hug--for just a moment--and then is back to being the boss once again.
National Jewish Book Award-winning author Michelle Edwards and Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award-winning illustrator April Harrison create a funny, oh-so-true portrait of a brother and sister’s relationship in this winning picture book.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
