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Sometimes, I wish I had a big sister. And in my mind, she’d be just like the one in this sweet story about how that special person in your life can make even the most troubling days, not just better, but fun!
Before I go on, I’d like to admire the metaphor offered up to the reader on the cover, such an apt one for the loving relationship between this pair. Big sis with her long coat shelters little sis from life’s more troubling moments. And if she can’t protect her completely, she’s there to offer comfort.
"We were supposed to have the best day."
The story is written from the perspective of the little sister. Look at her eagerness to explore, pulling her older sister along toward the subway. This is going to be an exciting day of adventure! BUT, that one word, “SUPPOSED,” gives the reader a clue that things may not go as planned. As often happens, right? And for younger kids (let’s face it, even some of us older kids find ourselves a bit out of sorts if things go wrong), bumps along the road can be more than a little unsettling.
"But it was really hot,
Like superhot—
Leg-stick-to-the-seat hot."
Oh, no!! Heat can really make for a grumpy child, but big sister knows how to fix that with ice cream!
Oh, no!!! There goes the ice cream!!! And that dog is just waiting for the opportunity to take advantage of that melted mess. Big sis to the rescue!! She’s got napkins, and I’ll bet she ends up sharing her ice cream with little sis.
The day becomes way too crowded, so big sis puts little sis on her shoulders. But little sis is still “so thirsty.” And then it starts raining!!! Oh, no!
Big sis is prepared with raincoats. All throughout the day, big sis “fixes” all kinds of disappointments. She makes new plans, only to find out that places have long lines or are closed. When little sis is hungry and big sis runs out of money, they end up heading home. But it’s the things they do along the way that turn this disappointment-filled day into one that was better, because little sis has her big sis is with her.
Now that I think about it, this would also be the perfect book to give sisters on their birthdays, or anytime they’d like to celebrate that special relationship. 
The illustrations by Katstaller are playful (who doesn’t love a ringtail stuffy?) and from the perspective of the little sister, so we feel the child’s disappointment viscerally. But the bright, popping yellow of big sis’s raincoat serves as a beacon of sunshine, warmth, and love.
Activities:
We all can struggle with being inflexible when plans need to change. This SocialThinking website to find suggestions on how to deal with “Rock Brain,” or being set in your thinking. Nelly Buchet’s author’s note invites readers to think of a time when plans were upset. What was something fun that you did instead?
Pair this book with The Unbudgable Curmudgeon by Matthew Burgess. Discuss ways to deal with being a “grump.”
Ask kids if they have an older sibling. Can they think of ways their sibling has helped them feel better when they’ve been sad? Maybe it’s time to turn the tables, and do something that would help their older siblings when they are sad. Maybe they can draw them a picture, write a short note, or make them a different kind of special present. Or maybe the reader is the older sibling. What have they done to help a younger sibling feel better?
One of the disappointments of the day includes the “missing” lemurs at the zoo, and the “consolation” purchase of a lemur stuffy at the zoo’s gift shop. Watch the American Museum of Natural History video of lemurs in Madagascar. The website also contains a downloadable classroom discussion guide about lemurs in Madagascar.
Title: Big Sister, Long Coat
Author: Nelly Buchet
Illustrator: Rachel Katstaller
Publisher: NorthSouth, March 2024
Ages: Pre-k through elementary
Themes: siblings, being open to change
For more perfect picture book recommendations, please visit Susanna Hill’s website.