In this heartwarming book, a boy named Rasheed recalls that the very first person he saw when he opened his eyes was his big brother, Anthony, tenderly watching over his crib. Anthony tells their mother, "I got him, Momma .... I'll be careful, I promise. He's my little brother."
We watch Anthony learn to hold and burp the baby with their father's help. When they grow a bit older, Anthony shows his little brother how to build up and knock down block towers. In thunderstorms, Anthony helps Rasheed feel safe by sitting next to him, leaning in close, and saying, "No matter what, I'll always be here for you. I got you."
Illustrator Shamar Knight-Justice adds to these reassuring vignettes with expressive, bright pictures. As the boys continue to grow, we see Anthony holding Rasheed's shoulders to help him learn to ride a bike, both boys with careful, concentrated looks on their faces as they come down a hill. Once Rasheed masters this skill, Anthony pays him the honor letting him ride with him and his friends.
So what is Rasheed to do when one day he notices Anthony's bike missing and waits and waits for him, wondering whether his brother has forgotten him? This book is well worth purchasing to find out, and the culmination — when Rasheed himself becomes a big brother — is a genuine reminder that love and nurturing get passed down just as surely as toys and clothing do.
Children ages three to seven, especially those expecting new siblings, will find in these pages both comfort and the inspiration to care for anyone more vulnerable than they are. Derrick Barnes, the award-winning author of empowering New York Times bestsellers, has once again shown how children can flourish with kindness.
