Let's Be Friends Again

Let's Be Friends Again takes sibling conflict seriously, presenting an undiluted portrait of a boy's rage at his younger sister. Wilhelm makes the sister's transgression substantial: she decides to give her brother's pet turtle some exercise by setting him free in the pond. When the boy finds out what she's done, he exclaims: "I was madder than I'd ever been before. I could have killed her right there and then.''

He doesn't kill her, but he imagines various gruesome punishments that he feels would befit a turtle-liberating sister. Finally, he lets off steam by pounding on his pillow. His anger dissipated, he is able to be friendly with his sister again.

This valuable book will help children understand that anger is a normal, manageable emotion. (4-8)