Realistic Fiction : Big Red Lollipop

The story is about Rubina who is invited to her very first birthday party, she rushes home from school to ask her mom, she tells her mom the birthday party will consist of games, toys, cake and ice cream! Her little sister Sana screams that she wants to go, but Rubina doesn’t want to take her. However the only way she can go is if she calls her friend and ask’s if Sana can join her.
 (I think everyone has been in that position before!) They both end up going to the birthday party and Rubina is the only one who brought their little sister. Sana then demands to win every game at the party and when she falls down during musical chairs she cries. When leaving the party they are given party favors. (chocolates, candy, whistle, ruby ring and a big red lollipop) Sana eats her red lollipop on the way home in the car and Rubina saves hers for the next day. Rubina put her big red lollipop on the top shelf of the fridge to have in the morning, Rubina dreams about how good it will taste. In the morning when Rubina gets up she opens the fridge door and all that is left of the lollipop is a triangle stuck to a stick. Rubina knows that Sana ate the lollipop, Rubina throws the lollipop across the floor in frustration. Then one day Sana is invited to a birthday party and there little sister Miriam screams she wants to go to, but Sana doesn’t want to take Miriam. Rubina tells her mom to not force Sana to take Miriam to the party, so Sana gets to go by herself. After the party she comes home and she hands Rubina a big green lollipop.

The story reminds me of me and my siblings when I was younger! there was always some sort of rivalry going on and I always wanted to go with my sisters even though they didn’t want me to join them and my mom would sometimes force them! The story demonstrates some universal truths like the brattiness of younger siblings, the unfairness at times when it comes to siblings, but it also shows how empathy can overpower revenge. We see this when Rubina pleads to her mom to let Sana go by herself to the party, she chooses to be empathetic. The story focuses on sibling rivalry, and conflict but it also focuses on forgiveness and compassion. (when Sana brings home a green lollipop from the party)The illustrations are eye catching and alluring (especially the big red lollipop), the illustrations also demonstrate the different the ethnicities, capturing beauty and expressive quality of the family. The mix of patterns and colors are also very pleasing. I would rate this story a 3 1/2 out of 4 stars, the story doesn’t focus on an eye for an eye, it focuses on forgiveness and compassion which is crucial for young readers (2nd grade and up) to learn. Rubina’s self- grace saves Sana from the pain and loneliness she feels. The attention to detail within the pages are remarkable, the variety of colors and patterns creates this expressive story! It might be a little challenging for young readers to read due to some of pronunciations of words, but if readers are listening it can be relatively easy for them to comprehend.

Title: Big Red Lollipop
Author: Rukhsana Khan
Publisher: Viking Books
Publication Date: 2010
ISBN: 9780670062874

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