Roly Poly by Mem Fox (review)

Fox, Mem Roly Poly; illus. by Jane Dyer; photographs by Jeanne Birdsall. Beach Lane/Simon, 2019 40p Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-4814-4556-6 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-4814-4557-3 $10.99 R 4-7 yrs

Roly Poly the polar bear is none too pleased when a baby brother shows up unannounced: "I never asked for a little brother and I don't want one now." Of course, little brother Monty toddles around after Roly Poly everywhere, stealing Roly Poly's hard-won fish, grabbing Roly Poly's precious walrus tooth, and just generally being a nuisance. He's such a nuisance, in fact, that when the ice cracks and Monty is stranded on a drifting iceberg, Roly Poly hesitates, but he does finally jump into the icy seas to save him. While baby bro's transition into toddlerhood feels a little rushed, this is a genuinely funny and compassionate affirmation to big brothers and sisters that yes, sometimes a baby sib is an undeniable pain in the rear. Mom's reaction to Roly Poly's insistence that he really has no desire for Monty's presence ("I know. … But we think you will adore him") is the height of adult obliviousness, and it will likely feel familiar to any kid who's only grudgingly welcomed a new addition to the family. Photographs of the posed three-dimensional polar bear figurines, handmade by needle felting, are surprisingly emotive, both in Roly Poly's disdain and his folks' excitement, and the miniature scenes are sure to delight fans of dollhouses and their ilk with their teeny tiny versions of ice skates, a telescope, fishing poles, and even a family "portrait." With a bit of sass and a whole lot of warmth, this will make even the most reluctant older child chuckle.