Heavy emotions meet a deep well of understanding in this uplifting sibling story. Two siblings wake up in two very different moods; the older one cheerful and lively, the younger grumpy and irritable. The big sister negotiates and cajoles, tries everything she can think of to cheer her little sister up, but nothing works. She offers to go outside and play, but her sister refuses. She suggests they colour a picture, but her little sister only likes the colour grey. She proposes they bake sweet cakes, but her sister only wants sour ones. It's only when little sister's gloomy mood reaches a boiling point that the older sibling tries a different tactic. She empathises and enters the gloom with her sister, and offers up compassion along with a grey picture and a sour cake. Together, they navigate the little sister's messy feelings and are finally able to play. Told in striking, conceptual illustrations, this story explores empathy and emotional acceptance in a warm, accessible way.
