Roly Poly is felt-made book goodness for kids expecting a sibling

Having to share your stuff when you’re a kid is challenging, especially when, heretofore, it’s just been you. Those older kids and their parents know what I’m talking about. The younger one is just here for the party, but they need to realize that party has been happening prior to their arrival. Roly Poly is by Mem Fox with art by Jane Dyer that illustrates the feelings, actions and family dynamics that happen when a new baby is brought into the fold.

That’s a tall order for a children’s illustrated book, but Roly Poly manages to do it in a way that’s warm, not saccharinely sweet and gets the point across to those slightly older kids who are expecting a sibling. Think of it as a kid’s version of what to expect when you’re mom’s expecting, except this is the polar bear version with felt creations.

We’re such a fan of felt-created animals the book could almost be about a blind mole rat and we’d like it. Thankfully, that’s not the case and Roly Poly, as the book is poetry in felt stop-motion as we see him and his parents live life as a happy group of three. The close of photos are detailed, perfectly scaled and move, despite them obviously being photographs on a page.

There is a warmth factor that real things have when photographed as the main objects in a children’s book. It’s obvious to a child that the characters aren’t illustrations and they look so life-like that they will capture their imaginations as we see the siblings learn their new lives.

At first Roly Poly is not having any of Monty’s nonsense. What’s he doing in my bed? Why is taking any attention away from mom and dad? Sure the wrestling is kind of fun, if he’s being honest, but it’s more a hassle, so I’m going for a walk.

Because younger siblings to what older ones do, Monty follows and gets into danger. The text that accompanies the art matches its pace and emotion. As the elder sibling realizes that his brother is in trouble he does what big siblings do. It’s not perfect and even after that incident the two get along, for the most part.

The text in Roly Poly is such that a middle elementary school student should be able to read it with minimal assistance. Those younger kids will love the art and be able to read a couple of sight words. The black words are printed in oversized font on white paper, so they are easy to read. If you have a five year-old this the kind of book that you’ll read to them, those slightly younger kids will still love the art and have lots to talk about with the bears’ behavior.

If you’re not expecting a sibling then this book won’t be that interesting to you unless you absolutely must see every cute, felt creature book out there. If you’re expecting more kids under your roof then Roly Poly is going to be just the sort of go-to book to introduce your existing small people to the new, smaller ones joining the fray.

There are affiliate links in this post, because, felt.