Mail Harry to the Moon! by Robie H. Harris, Michael Emberley (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Nobody told this older brother that having a new little brother would mean big changes, and he's FED UP! It's time to mail Harry to the moon so life can go back to the way it was before Harry: No more spit-up! No more grabbing! No more wailing in the night! But along the way, baby Harry might just help our hero see that being a big brother means more than just a big nuisance-it means adventure and friendship, too.

Known for their keen grasp of the ups and downs of childhood, bestselling author-illustrator team Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley offer kids and parents a lively look at the lighter side of getting along with the baby in the house.

Publishers Weekly

"Mail Harry to the moon!" is just one of the suggestions made by the narrator, who's suffering the displacement blues since the arrival of his annoying, attention-hogging baby brother. "Before Harry, nobody but me sat on Grandma's lap," he mourns. "Yesterday, Harry did. So I said, 'Put Harry back inside Mommy.' " But when the boy believes that Mommy and Daddy really have taken him up on the moon idea, his attitude changes dramatically. Harris and Emberley (Happy Birth Day!) are old hands at striking the right balance between comic Sturm und Drang and genuine poignancy, and their considerable talents make this otherwise familiar tale feel fresh and funny—and psychologically true. Emberley's cartooning brims with terrific shtick—he gives the hero some slow burns and outbursts worthy of Ralph Kramden. Kids will particularly appreciate Emberley's gift for staging: the final sequence, in which the narrator sets off for the moon (a laundry basket serves as rocket, a colander as space helmet), blows out any vestige of sentimentality with its full-throttle energy. Ages 3—6. (June)

Children's Literature

This lively picture book explores the familiar theme of the shock the arrival of a new baby causes to an older sibling. Before Harry arrives the young protagonist is king of the roost. Not any more. Harry eats his older brother's banana, spits up on him, chews on his stuffed gorilla, and, worst of all, takes his place on grandma's lap. Each territorial depredation inspires a new solution. Our hero wants Harry flushed down the toilet, stuffed back in mommy's tummy, sent to the zoo, and, finally, shipped off to the moon. But wait. When he cannot find Harry he fears his parents have actually taken his advice and off he goes in his laundry basket rocket to rescue his little brother. Expressions on Harry and his older brother's faces are hilarious. Ingenuous little Harry, blissfully unaware of the growing storm, is pictured dazedly poking out of the toilet and the trash can and imitating the monkeys when put in their cage at the zoo. Lots of white space behind a goggly-eyed expressive big brother showcases the drama as he becomes increasingly desperate to rid himself of his nemesis. Simple cartoon figures with colorful word-bubbles convey emotions. A multicultural grandma is a nice touch. A light hearted look at a common predicament. Reviewer: Quinby Frank

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1- New siblings will easily relate to the angst that baby Harry causes for his older brother. "Before Harry, nobody grabbed my gorilla and chewed on its nose. Yesterday, Harry did.... Before Harry, nobody but ME sat on Grandma's lap. Yesterday, Harry did." To restore order to his once peaceful household, the boy suggests a variety of solutions. "Flush Harry down the toilet!... Stick Harry in the zoo!... Mail Harry to the moon!" One morning the house is strangely quiet, and the older sibling worries that his parents have actually sent helpless Harry to outer space. Climbing in his laundry basket spaceship, he achieves a daring rescue and even lets Harry sit on his lap for the ride home. Emberley's strong visual punch lines bring the humor to life, and the older boy's expressions clearly get his feelings across. Young listeners are sure to giggle at the various predicaments that Harry's brother envisions for him. Mail Harry to the Moon will have broad appeal for those with or without a new baby in the family.-Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI

Kirkus Reviews

With keen understanding and a comic touch, Harris addresses the trials and travails of adjusting to a new baby in the house. Told with all the snappish disdain of an older sibling, Harris's protagonist laments the bygone days before his little brother's arrival. His laundry list of misdeeds inflicted by his litter brother includes nibbling on toys that do not belong to him and usurping the cozy comfort of Grandma's lap. With each infraction, Harry's big brother suggests solutions to the problem of Harry that become increasingly extreme, resulting in his demand that Harry be sent into orbit. Harris keeps her text simple and straightforward. While adults may cringe at the sentiments of the disenfranchised sibling-"Flush Harry down the toilet!"-young readers will relate. Emberley's illustrations comically convey Harry's brother's rising disgruntlement. His over-the-top characterizations of the exaggerated requests will elicit gales of giggles from all readers, regardless of their birth order. (Picture book. 3-6)

Product Details