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That's Not Fair
An older brother has to accomodate the new baby in the family.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
1 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Gina Mayer
71 books44 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. For the German author of novels, youth books and children's books, see Gina Mayer
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 20, 2015
Gina and Mercer Mayer have a great series in the Little Critter books. They illustrate the struggles of children as seen by themselves. In the case of "That's Not Fair", the Mayers treat practically all situations which would make a kid scream, well, "That's not fair!" The book begins with Little Critter having to (unfairly) make his bed. What follows are a series of (mostly) unrelated events which Little Critter sees as being unfair. They are things like not being able to get ice cream or candy while his family is at the mall or not being able to cut his little sister's hair. His parents unfairly make him wash the dog and then take a bath, even though neither of them like getting dirty. My favorite is when he wants to bring a skunk into the house in order to feed, but his parents won't let him. In the end however, Little Critter tells us one of the only fair things about his life: the fact that he gets to stay up later than his sister and baby brother (which might I add, his little brother and sister probably see as unfair).
One of the strengths of the Mayers' Little Critter books is that children can relate to them. The narrator is a young child like them, and explains things as a young child sees them. This literary choice comes with interesting consequences. One is that the book lacks resolution for all of the "unfair" things that happen in it. When we read, we usually encounter a problem and later a solution. Yet, in "That's Not Fair", none of the problems really has a satisfactory resolution, which is what normally happens in life. A kid sees candy, he asks his mom or dad for it, they say no, the end. Real Life "micro problems" like the ones Little Critter faces generally lack firm resolutions, and so, naturally, we don't find one in the book. Though kids may not notice this, they will surely relate to Little Critter's plight. Nothing goes his way. They will also relate to the solution that Little Critter finds for this plight (though it is more of a coping mechanism than a solution). In taking heart in being able to stay up later than his siblings, Little Critter shows something that many of us have seen, a child's taking pride in being able to do something that other kids, especiall siblings, cannot. It makes for a very real conclusion, and may open the way for positive thinking in its readers. We may not be able to solve all of the unfair things in life, but we can take heart in what we have. For adults, the didacticism of the lesson may be off (taking enjoyment from being able to do something someone else can't), but it will make sense for a child.
Another strong element that is seen in all of the Little Critter books comes from the illustrations. It is the mouse that always makes an appearence. It is not mentioned in the text, but it is present in every illustration. I remembered loving searching for it whenever I read the Mayers' books, but I didn't really understand the universality of the mouse until when my younger brother told me to wait so that he could find the mouse when we were reading the book together. The mouse in and of itself is innocuous, innocent, and never says a word. So why does it demand such an attentive audience? Perhaps it is because it is only found in the pictures. We must search for him in order to find his story. We are naturally curious about the novel, and the mouse's actions are not a direct mirror of Little Critters'. Sometimes it is his ally, yet sometimes it mimics his parents. We really don't know what he will do until we look, and that is what keeps us looking: the need to know the hidden story. At least that is what I think. Why do we get on facebook so much? To see what everyone else is doing. Why do we look at the mouse? The same reason. In any case, this illustrative device causes us to pay more attention to the pictures and even get more enjoyment out of the books. For me, at least, it wouldnt' be a Little Critter book if it didn't have little animals poking about in the sidelines.
One of the strengths of the Mayers' Little Critter books is that children can relate to them. The narrator is a young child like them, and explains things as a young child sees them. This literary choice comes with interesting consequences. One is that the book lacks resolution for all of the "unfair" things that happen in it. When we read, we usually encounter a problem and later a solution. Yet, in "That's Not Fair", none of the problems really has a satisfactory resolution, which is what normally happens in life. A kid sees candy, he asks his mom or dad for it, they say no, the end. Real Life "micro problems" like the ones Little Critter faces generally lack firm resolutions, and so, naturally, we don't find one in the book. Though kids may not notice this, they will surely relate to Little Critter's plight. Nothing goes his way. They will also relate to the solution that Little Critter finds for this plight (though it is more of a coping mechanism than a solution). In taking heart in being able to stay up later than his siblings, Little Critter shows something that many of us have seen, a child's taking pride in being able to do something that other kids, especiall siblings, cannot. It makes for a very real conclusion, and may open the way for positive thinking in its readers. We may not be able to solve all of the unfair things in life, but we can take heart in what we have. For adults, the didacticism of the lesson may be off (taking enjoyment from being able to do something someone else can't), but it will make sense for a child.
Another strong element that is seen in all of the Little Critter books comes from the illustrations. It is the mouse that always makes an appearence. It is not mentioned in the text, but it is present in every illustration. I remembered loving searching for it whenever I read the Mayers' books, but I didn't really understand the universality of the mouse until when my younger brother told me to wait so that he could find the mouse when we were reading the book together. The mouse in and of itself is innocuous, innocent, and never says a word. So why does it demand such an attentive audience? Perhaps it is because it is only found in the pictures. We must search for him in order to find his story. We are naturally curious about the novel, and the mouse's actions are not a direct mirror of Little Critters'. Sometimes it is his ally, yet sometimes it mimics his parents. We really don't know what he will do until we look, and that is what keeps us looking: the need to know the hidden story. At least that is what I think. Why do we get on facebook so much? To see what everyone else is doing. Why do we look at the mouse? The same reason. In any case, this illustrative device causes us to pay more attention to the pictures and even get more enjoyment out of the books. For me, at least, it wouldnt' be a Little Critter book if it didn't have little animals poking about in the sidelines.
June 30, 2017
Almost any child will readily identify with the narrator because, let's face it, life is not fair. Highly reminiscent of Judith Viorst's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day as well as her My Mama Says books. A sure-fire hit with most any child who hears this oft told tale.
July 28, 2010
Julia is so into the Little Critter books right now and I'm happy because they're fun (and not annoying) to read to her. The illustrations are awesome and I can't get enough of some of the faces the family makes, especially Little Critter himself.
In this book Little Critter is put out because life is just not fair. He isn't allowed to cut his baby sisters babydoll's hair, he isn't allowed to eat in the living room, he's made to try on new clothes at the store, etc. His face when his Dad tells him he can't finger paint before bed is classic - one of my favs for sure.
At the end of the story Little Critter finds one thing that is fair - his little sister and baby brother have to go to bed before he does.
In this book Little Critter is put out because life is just not fair. He isn't allowed to cut his baby sisters babydoll's hair, he isn't allowed to eat in the living room, he's made to try on new clothes at the store, etc. His face when his Dad tells him he can't finger paint before bed is classic - one of my favs for sure.
At the end of the story Little Critter finds one thing that is fair - his little sister and baby brother have to go to bed before he does.
February 8, 2018
LC doesn't think many things in his life are fair? Is he right? Why or why not? At the end he thinks it's fair that he stays up the latest of all his siblings. Is that fair?
April 22, 2012
This book would be good to use to build classroom community. The main character does not want to do anything he is told, and this causes problems for everyone including himself. The book can also be used to teach elementary students reading comprehension skills like imaging. I could use this book to teach children reading comprehension skills like predicting, monitoring, and looking-back strategies, too.
April 23, 2012
This book is a great book to read to K-3 students. It could be used in the beginning of the school year to establish what's right or wrong and to build a community within the classroom.
September 14, 2025
I love little critter books, but this one fell a little flat for us. The older niece understands, the younger one just says everything's not fair anymore. So not the desired effect lol.
May 12, 2008
Sometimes things are not fair but sometimes they are fair!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews