The Best Worst Brother

by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, Charlotte Fremaux (Illustrator)

For ages 4-8. Isaac is almost three years old and Emma is in elementary school. Emma misses the adoring baby brother Isaac used to be. Now that hes older, hes a pain. Emma used to be able to make Isaac laugh. He used to let her hold him without squirming. But no more. Now Isaac spits out his food and knocks down her blocks when Emma tries to play with him. Sometimes his behaviour is downright embarrassing. Emma thinks Isaac would be more fun if hed hurry up and learn some of the sign language she and her mom are trying to teach him. His slower pace is maddening at times! THE BEST WORST BROTHER is an endearing and realistic look at how a relationship evolves between a typically developing older sister and her younger brother with a developmental disability. It also shows how sign language can help a child that acquires speech more slowly. As Emma is pleased to discover, Isaac can learn to sign, he just learns when hes ready. For those who recognise aspects of their own family in the story, it will be comforting to read about this 'warts and all' sibling relationship. Charlotte Fremauxs realistic illustrations are deft and colourful. Text and illustrations mesh beautifully, making THE BEST WORST BROTHER a delightful tale to read at home or share at school. Also by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen :
We'll Paint the Octopus Red

Genres: Family, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Contemporary

26 pages, Hardcover

First published June 3, 2005

About the author

See also S.A. Bodeen.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ages 5 and up. The prequel to this book, We'll Paint the Octopus Red, explored a girl's anxiety about her newborn baby brother having Down Syndrome and her parents' reassurance that he'll be able to do anything she wants him to do. I found that story a bit too simplistic and too sparse on information about Down Syndrome. In this sequel, the realities of having a toddler brother with Down Syndrome are illustrated in detail. He's sometimes too loud and raucous for his sister and he can't speak yet. She misses his infant days when all he did was sleep and coo. Her parents wisely react to some of her complaints with sympathy and others with the smile that every older sibling gets annoyed by their younger ones. The story follows her family's attempts to use Sign Language to help communicate with him and the joy of small steps toward success. There is a lot of information in the back of the book about Down Syndrome and Sign Language.

[Brenda Quinones · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters of the book are Emma and Issac. The book it’s about a sister and her brother who has down syndrome. It’s a great book to read children. Loved the drawings and expressions of the characters. The book is written from Emma’s point of view as she describes some of the characteristics of down syndrome, but it also shares the frustration she was having trying to teach his brother sign language.
I recommend this book because it teaches children about Love, family, perseverance, and helping others. At the end of the book are some questions and answers to help children learn a little more about sign language and down syndrome.

[Maria Salgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books tells the story of Emma and her brother Isaac who has down syndrome. It is written in a way that anyone with siblings can relate to when they get frustrated with their siblings, while giving something specific to children with disabilities, using sign language when spoken communication is difficult. While Emma gets frustrated when Isaac isn't able to communicate by signing, she still tries to help him. When he does use it, Emma is very proud of him and she says there is no one else like him and that he is the best brother.

[Miranda Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story about an older sister who finds herself annoyed with her hyper and moody younger brother who cannot communicate well with his words, which is frustrating to her, but reminds herself of the love she has for him through teaching him sign language. As her brother learns this way of communication, with her help of course, she feels proud and happy for him and feels loved by her family. The lesson here is that patience can lead to great outcomes. This is great for ASL teachers in the younger levels with very realistic illustrations as a bonus.

[Marie Arie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book of a girl named Emma who is trying to teach her brother with Down's syndrome how to communicate using sign language. The book makes use of warm engaging colors and animated pictures to capture attention. This book/series would be great a asset in the classroom helping children to understand sometimes other kids with disabilities may need a little bit more time to learn something and how to be patient with them.

[Lara Lleverino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as sweet as the earlier book by Bodeen about this same sister and brother, but that is the whole point. The little brother is growing up and his issues require patience that is hard for the little sister.

[Hannah Joly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, can be used in classroom to relate to a student that has a special needs sibling and can see how happy and proud she is of him.

[Brooklyn Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives insight into a persons life who may be surrounded by someone with special needs. It helps people understand that we aren’t the same.

[Nausheen Ukani]

This narrative tells about the relationship evolving between a typically developing older sister, Emma, and her younger brother, Isaac, who has a developmental disability. Emma is in elementary school, and Isaac is almost three years old. The narrative shows how Emma gradually helps her little brother learn sign language because his speech acquiring abilities are developing at a slower pace, although she gets very frustrated and impatient at first. This book shows readers how sign language can help a child that acquires speech more slowly. As a teacher, it is appropriate for instructional use, especially for students who can relate to a younger sibling. It will introduce my students to the idea of how every person is unique and develops differently than others.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about a girl and her brother, which I can relate to because I also have a younger brother. She loves it at first because he is very cooperative. When he grows up things start to change. His behavior changes from when he was just a baby. Now he throws things and spits and doesn't know how to talk so it's hard for them to communicate. Emma's mother tells her about sign language. Emma has the idea to try to teach Isaac how to do sign language so they can communicate better. Eventually Isaac does a few simple sign language moves and Emma is proud of him and herself. The back of the book talks further about sign language.

[Alison Durbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only will this book appeal to anyone who has a younger sibling, but it will also appeal to those who may have a sibling with a disability. I love how the author depicted the journey of the relationship of the two siblings: she started out loving her brother when he was an infant, but she became more easily annoyed the older he got. This book is very heart-warming and relatable, and for that reason, I think I will be purchasing this book for my classroom.

[Marissa Pezzullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a child is getting a younger sibling, it can be hard for them to adjust. Having this book at their disposal can help to calm the situation. Some older siblings may think that their younger sibling will automatically start talking and playing with them. So this book would be a good tool to help them see what really happens. The little girl thinks her little brother should speak, eventually she uses sign language and he still doesn't talk. Then one day uses it and it makes her proud.

[Kelly Powell]

This is a common tale between siblings, not just brothers. I enjoyed this book because many of us are misunderstood for many reasons and this book shed some light on how we may not know what someone acts a certain way but with time we can learn to be friends. We need to love others for their differences and many times we can learn from them because they are different from us. This book really touched me and I would love to have this in my classroom.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see my own students in Isaac now.

I enjoyed the depiction of sign language as that is how many of my students communicate. While this book didn't make me tear up like We'll Paint the Octopus Red, I am glad to see a continuation of the sibling relationship of Emma and Isaac as well as children with Down syndrome in children's literature.

[Priscilla Schelling · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this story, the older sister Emma really wants to help teach her brother, but she gets very frustrated when he doesn't improve in communication. This story addresses that she things he is a terrible brother until he finally shows signs of understanding. This story doesn't explicitly identify the brother as having a specified special need, but it does insinuate that he has one.

[Jessica Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for students who have siblings or family members with down syndrome. Continues the story "We'll paint the octopus red" with emma and Isaac and how emma is trying to teach Isaac to use sign language. Shows the struggles they go through, but in the end emma finds out that Isaac is just as great as any little brother.

[Yahya Han · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sister in this book feels that she has the worst brother until almost the last page, when she decides she has the best brother.I think book needs really big revision. The book doesn't do a good job of explaining how she came to this conclusion. I think writer should create a cause-effect relation why she starts loving her sister.

[Megan Sutherland · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Emma tries to be patient while she has to teach her younger brother Isaac. Isaac has down syndrome and it is difficult for her to communicate with him. It shows how Emma communicates with Isaac through sign language. This books inculdes questions that children could have about sign language and answers for them.

[Logan Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book to demonstrate to children how to get along with their siblings. Very inspiring and motivational for young children. This book shows the patience and love can bring out the best in everyone. It is a good book to demonstrate the difficulties and benefits of having a family member with special needs.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

While never stated explicitly, Emma's little brother Isaac has Down's syndrome and at three years old don't really communicate verbally. The family works to teach him American Sign Language as a way to assist him in getting some of his internal thoughts out. Very subtle and a valuable example of ASL in practice.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

"We'll paint the octopus red" three years later, so the big sister is 9 and the little boy is 3 and is speech delayed, so they are teaching him sign language. The Q and A in the back of the book are about sign language and Down Syndrome.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is not very obvious from the pictures that the brother has down syndrome could be autistic too.
Older sister Emma tries to be patient while teaching three-year-old Isaac, who has Down syndrome, how to communicate using sign language. Includes questions and answers about sign language.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a good book to read with students who have siblings or family members with special needs. I really shows these kids how to cope with that. I never knew that the little boy had special needs until the book was over.

[Kim Foy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming story of a girl who has a brother who is disabled. She worries about what her friends will think of him since he is so different from most little brothers. However, she ends up being very proud because he begins using the signs that she has taught him.

[Rebecca Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a big sister whose little brother has a disability. She tries to teach him sign language to communicate. She teaches him many things. This is a good book for learning patience and for learning about how to deal with disabilities. This book is good for 1-2 grade.

[Lydia Moses · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book to a series of books about a sister and her brother who has downs syndrome. At the back of the book there is tips about sign language. I would recommend this book to a family who has a new sibling with downs syndrome.

[Carlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book shows how a sibling copes with having a brother with special needs. It shows that with patience and love, you can find something good in everyone. The book does not say what the disability is, but gives a good glimpse at sign language.

[Hannah Moss · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sister finds it very frustrating when her brother has difficulty understanding everything. The disability is not mentioned in the book but he has some kind of disability and his sister eventually realize that he is trying to learn and understand, but it is difficult for him.

[Adam Hardesty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to demonstrate to children how to get along with their siblings. This book shows the patience and love can bring out the best in everyone. It is a good book to demonstrate the difficulties and benefits of having a family member with special needs.

[Breana Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a little girl with a little brother who is deaf. She tries to teach him sign language and with patience he finally learns. Would be great if any deaf students are in the class, or just to teach the children about sign language.