Joe's Cafe Author:Rose Impey, Sue Porter (Illustrator) When brother Joe is taking care of toddler sister Amy one hot afternoon, he soon pronounces her "a pain" and ignores her for his favorite game--making worm, spider, and snail treats to "sell" in his imaginary Creepy Crawly Cafe. But when Amy wanders off, Joe is in tears, and realizes what it means to be in charge. Happily, Am... more »y is recovered, and reconciliation, repentance, and forgiveness take place before a family picnic. Those who have been "in charge" will identify with Joe's irritation, his frantic fear, and his relief.
There are childlike touches in the story: Amy's innocent delight in making some flowers "all fall down"; her wriggling out of Joe's hug; Joe's excitement about the sale of his goodies; and his attempt to find his sister. The text is often interspersed with spot illustrations--sketchy ink outlines and watercolors that capture the muddy children and rumpled adults in a setting of lush green gardens and countryside. One effective double-spread angles the text alongside the trail of flowers, then skirts Amy as she walks along the path. Joe's helplessness in his search is suggested by his relative smallness against the rest of the neighborhood; facial features are simple but expressive. A reassuring book for individuals or group sharing.« less