Sometimes

by Rebecca Elliott

Toby and Clemmie return in this touching and amusing sequel to Just Because , proving that even a scary hospital can be a place for fun if you have the right attitude and the support of someone you love

 

Toby loves his big sister Clemmie. She always looks after him and he looks after her—no matter what. Toby knows his sister is very brave, but when she has to go to the hospital again, they both have to help each other face their fears. Together, they still find ways to have fun and make the hospital a much better place. Their uplifting story will be loved by parents and children alike who find themselves in a similar situation, and will help encourage children to ease their fears and feel better about spending time in intimidating hospitals. Toby and Clemmie first appeared in Just Because , in which Toby paints us a picture of his super big sister and all the things they do together—just because.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2011

About the author

Rebecca Elliott is the author and illustrator of the best-selling Owl Diaries series (Scholastic US) & over 20 picture books including Just Because, Sometimes, Naked Trevor and Zoo Girl, for which she was nominated for the 2012 Kate Greenaway Medal.
Her new series The Unicorn Diaries (Scholastic US) & her first YA novel 'Pretty Funny ' (Penguin Random House) are out now.

Reviews

[Mary Ellen Fitzpatrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Sometimes’ by Rebecca Elliott is a story book that displays the relationship between a brother and sister, which is something most children can relate to. This book focuses on a SEN child named Clemmie who has to visit the hospital again due to a long term illness. As SEN is my specialism and I will hopefully be working with SEN children in the future I thought reviewing this book would be both beneficial for me as a teacher, as well as a child with SEN. This book goes through the process of a hospital experience, from hospital food to drips. It highlights Toby’s braveness as he reassures his sister she is not alone. Many children with SEN have to visit the hospital quite frequently and this story shows them how to make the experience both fun and adventurous. This is a very positive and heart warming book which portrays a good balance of a hospital experience. It also helps familiarise children with the concept or visiting hospital and how to support a family member or friend who may be in hospital. I would recommend this book for children from Year 1 to Year 4. Year 1 and 2 children would need some help reading the text while children from 6 years plus should be able to read the book without little difficulty.

[Chinook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just an okay read for me - I think I’d have preferred a bit if Clemmie’s character had been the main character, rather than her brother. I wasn’t fond of the page “Clemmie likes to stretch, watch me, and look pretty.” And the idea of the boy dancing twice as much because Clemmie can’t dance... while it’s possible this character can’t, I think young children might extrapolate that to all wheelchair users, which certainly isn’t the case.

I think the audience for this one is fairly narrow - siblings or other children who are close to a child who has to visit the hospital frequently. I don’t think it works as well for a general audience because of the way the brother is the central character.

[Sinthia Burgos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet book to read and the illustrations were bright and colorful. It Shows a strong relationship between the two siblings. Clementine uses a wheelchair and constantly has to visit the hospital. The book expresses the love her brother has for her. Toby thinks his sister is so brave and strong. I enjoyed reading this book because it shows so much love regardless of a disability. The children learn to make hospital visits fun and entertaining.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another picture book about a wee boy's experiences with his severely disabled sibling (based on Elliott's own children). This time, although his sister Clemee is in hospital, her brother still has fun with her.

[Nam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of a young boy and his big sister who just happens to be disabled. It is inspiring because the boy doesn't think any less of his sister for what she cannot do. He just helps her be a normal kid.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a boy who thinks his big sister is the greatest.

She’s in a wheelchair and spends time in the hospital; that’s part of their lives. The illustrations are cosy and active.

[Emily Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes is the follow on story of ‘Just Because’ and proves the hospitals can also be fun.

Toby has a disabled sister called Clemmie who looks after him and he knows that she is very brave. Sometimes, when she is poorly she has to go into hospital and Toby goes too. This is his turn to look after her and together they turn the hospital into a fun place to be.

What I like about this story is that it can be used to ease children’s worries about themselves, a sibling or a friend going into hospital. It again demonstrates the power of a brother and sister bond and accurately reflects a younger siblings admiration for their older brother or sister. The text is supported by beautiful illustrations like in the first book and there is the added fun of trying to spot the ladybird in the pictures.

This book can be used in an Early Years or KS1 class at story time or as a book in the book corner for them to look at independently. In a mainstream school it can be used to raise awareness of disability, especially if you may have a child starting in your class who is in a wheelchair. It can also be used as a starting point to talk about hospitals and teach the children that they are not scary places and people go there to get better.

I would give this book four stars due to its portrayal of the innocent and unconditional bond siblings share.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a well-done book for kids who have to cope with a disabled sibling or who either they or a sibling have to go to the hospital. It's sweet and gentle, which is needed in such cases. It got to part of me because, except for the stretching, the illustrations showed that this girl could very much have been like my Locked-In Syndrome friend. And seeing her personality represented and all, well, it made my heart a crying kind of happy. Like the book "Out of My Mind" did.

11/20/18 Brought this home over the weekend to have some books around in order to help the kids become prepared for what their sister may have to go through at the hospital. SD picked this for one of our family bedtime books. I think it might have been a little over SS's head. And it was obviously an older sibling in the hospital. But I think SD grasped it. And when she starts to see baby in the hospital, she may remember things that were addressed in the book. I know that when I mentioned the next day that as long as she felt healthy and had one more shot, she would get to visit her sister in the hospital, she was really happy she would get that choice. So maybe she's coming to grips already.

[Caitrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Subgroup: illnesses in the family

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Topics: special needs, family, siblings, hospitals

Synopsis: This children's book shows the relationship between a brother and sister. The sister, Clemmie, is a special needs child and has to go to the hospital again. To face their fears together, the siblings create "hospital adventures" together and get through their visit. One adventure they go on is a hospital boat bed going through the rough waters. This story, based on the author's special needs children, really shows the bond between siblings.

4) Elliott, R. (2012). Sometimes. United Kingdom: Lion UK.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toby loves his big sister Clemmie. She always looks after him and he looks after her - even when her disability means she has to go to hospital again. They still find ways to have fun together - and their story will help encourage children facing a similar situation, whether due to their own illness or to visit a relative or friend.

[Hazel Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rabbits read this book today and loved looking for the ladybird in the pictures. We discovered a lot about Clemmie's life in her wheelchair and all the things she can do. One of the children in Rabbits has a sister in a wheelchair so we were able to talk about what she can do too.