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Critically Recognized
  • Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes book cover
  • Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes book cover
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Julius, the Baby of the World

by Kevin Henkes

A new baby, an older sister, and a change of heart

$11.53 USD
$19.22 USD $11.53 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Author recognition

    #1 New York Times bestselling author

    The supplied description identifies Kevin Henkes as a #1 New York Times bestselling author; this recognition is ...

  • Critical praise

    ALA Booklist starred review

    Booklist gave the book a starred review and praised its approach to sibling rivalry.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A new baby, an older sister, and a change of heart

Julius’s arrival changes the family’s balance: his parents shower him with affection, while Lilly resents the attention and insists on her own importance. When Cousin Garland criticizes Julius, Lilly’s response becomes a turning point in the sibling conflict. The picture book uses this family disagreement to explore rivalry between siblings and self-esteem, with the contrast between the adults’ praise and Lilly’s objections at the heart of the premise. Its subject is familiar to families adjusting to a new baby, while the story keeps the focus on Lilly’s changing view of her brother.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Children ages 4–8 encountering a new sibling in the family
  • Families and caregivers seeking a picture book about sibling rivalry
  • Read-aloud and story-time settings

Themes

Sibling rivalrySelf-esteemAdjusting to a new babyFamily relationships

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

The baby of the world is anything but that to his big sister Lilly--until Cousin Garland dares to criticize him. A classic, evergreen picture book about new siblings and self-esteem by #1 New YorkTimes bestselling author Kevin Henkes.

When baby Julius is born, his parents think he is just perfect. "Julius is the baby of the world," they chime as they kiss him and admire him.
But Lilly is Julius's older sister, and she knows differently. "I am the queen," says Lilly. "And I hate Julius."

Poor Julius. And poor Lilly, because her selfish behavior is making her miserable, too. Can anyone persuade Lilly that her brother really is the baby of the world?

This funny picture book classic from the beloved Kevin Henkes explores sibling rivalry and self-esteem in a genuine and approachable way. The carefully crafted text is perfect for reading aloud and story times, and the artwork, in Julius, the Baby of the World and across all of Kevin Henkes's mouse books, is playful, funny, inviting, and timeless.

"It's hard to imagine a more enjoyable way to approach the sensitive issue of sibling rivalry." --ALA Booklist (starred review)

Kevin Henkes is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who has been awarded the Caldecott Medal for Kitten's First Full Moon, two Caldecott Honors, two Newbery Honors, two Geisel Honors, the Children's Literature Lecture Award, and Children's Literature Legacy Award, among numerous other honors. Favorites from his body of work include the picture books Waiting, A Parade of Elephants, and The World and Everything in It, and the novels for middle grade readers Olive's Ocean, Bird Lake Moon, and the Miller Family Stories.

Kevin Henkes's classic and bestselling mouse books include:

 

  • Chester's Way
  • Chrysanthemum
  • Julius, the Baby of the World
  • Lilly's Big Day
  • Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
  • Owen
  • Sheila Rae, the Brave
  • Wemberly Worried
  • A Weekend with Wendell
  • Penny and Her Marble, Penny and Her Sled, Penny and Her Song, Penny and Her Doll (Level 1 I Can Reads)
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