Big Red Lollipop

Title: Big Red Lollipop

Author: Rukhsana Khan

Illustrator: Sophie Blackall

Picture Book #5

Big Red Lollipop is your typical karma story, “what goes around comes around”. After being invited to her first birthday party at school Rubina rushes home to tell her family the exciting news. There is only one problem – her little sister Sana wants to come too! To make matters worse, Rubina’s Ami (mom) insists that she takes her. As she expected, Sana ruins the party and Rubina doesn’t get invited to another for a very long time. Sana even eats her red lollipop she gets in her treat bag! Little sisters can be the worst.  But, what happens when Sana grows up, is invited to a party, and must take her little sister Maryam with her? Readers will be surprised by Rubina’s response.

I enjoyed this book for several reasons. First, the illustrations were very well done. They were colorful and realistic and added to the story greatly. I also enjoyed the moral of the story or the message that it was trying to convey. Though it had a little to do with karma, it also had to do with friendship and forgiveness between sisters. This would be an excellent book for any students with younger siblings, male or female. I would recommend its use for any classroom as a silent reading book or for circle time use. In fact, I may share it with my own little sister when I get the chance.