Whatever Happened to My Sister?

Whatever Happened to My Sister?

By Simona Ciraolo
Published by Flying Eye Books

There's always the odd picture book that comes along that stops and makes you think. Whatever happened to my sister? does just that (along with pulling those heartstrings!) This is Simona Ciraolo's second book for Flying Eye, with her debut being the charming Hug Me.  

Whatever happened to my sister? is just as heart warming as her debut, and with what seems like a slight change in her illustration style, this book is absolutely beautiful from start to finish. It tells the story of a a younger sister convinced that her older sister has been replaced by a lookalike. Her sister no longer wants to play picnics, go trick or treating, or skip and hullahoop in the garden. Instead she just locks herself away in her bedroom and hangs out with her friends - who are mostly boys! Will she ever get back the sister she once had so many fun times with?

Simona Ciraolo's illustrations are delightful, capturing each scene perfectly. She uses a warm colour palette throughout and I get the sense of warm summer days which remind me of those summer holidays when I was growing up. 

I have to confess that I teared up when the younger sister is going through old photographs. Simona captures the love between two sisters so beautifully and it makes you wish that no one should ever have to grow up or get old!

All in all this is a perfect way to introduce young children to growing up and the changes their older siblings may be going through. Whatever happened to my sister? hits bookshops this August. More information can be found on the Flying Eye Books website.