A Space for Me

Cathryn Falwell captures sibling life with disarming accuracy here. Alex loves his little brother Lucas — but Lucas breaks his dragon figure, scatters his puzzle pieces, and invades every quiet corner he tries to claim. The solution Alex finds, retreating to the backyard to build his own refuge, is realistic and healthy. What elevates this above a standard conflict-and-resolution picture book is the moment he looks back and sees Lucas watching forlornly from the window. The empathy that follows feels genuinely earned. Falwell's textured collage art is warm and visually engaging throughout. The honest caveat: the story is simple and short, as picture books must be, and the resolution moves quickly. Older children may find it thin. But for families with young siblings navigating shared space, this is a lovely, emotionally intelligent read.