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Being Middle

by Lori Orlinsky (text) & illus. by Vanessa Alexandre
Yorkshire. (Being Me). Aug. 2025. 24p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780881441055. PreS-Gr 3
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PreS-Gr 3–The middle child of three sisters feels left out, ignored, and almost invisible in this tale of siblings. Wearing hand-me-down clothes? Check. Being called the wrong name by a sister’s previous teacher? Check. Mom comes to the rescue, reminding the child of reasons why being the middle child—the middle anything—can be a positive thing. Middle children will recognize the perceived unfairness of being both a younger sibling and an older one: the older one bosses the middle child, the younger one steals all the attention. Middle children certainly deserve stories about the frustrations they face, but the rhyming text feels forced, with lines that don’t scan. The illustrations, while colorful, lend the text a falsely cheery feel. Characters present as white.
VERDICT A well-intentioned sibling story that misses the mark.
Reviewed by Sue Morgan , May 01, 2025

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