About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is struggling to share the spotlight with a new baby or is feeling the sting of sibling rivalry. Written by the legendary Madeleine L'Engle, this story is told from the hilarious, slightly snobbish perspective of Touché the poodle. Touché is convinced she is the star of the house until the Master and Mistress bring home a strange, hairless 'other dog' who doesn't even know how to bark. This story is a perfect tool for normalizing feelings of jealousy and displacement. By framing the new baby as a confusing new pet, the book creates a safe, humorous distance that allows children to laugh at the absurdity of the situation while recognizing their own complicated emotions. It is ideal for children aged 4 to 8 who are transitioning into the role of an older sibling or navigating changes in family dynamics.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book handles the theme of emotional displacement in a secular, realistic, and humorous way. While the poodle feels momentarily 'replaced,' the resolution is hopeful and focuses on the expansion of love rather than the loss of it.
