While the written words are simple, the pictures on each page say a thousand words. The focus of the story is centered around Rubina’s home with a single scene at the birthday party. Literary elements at work in the story (Genre/setting/characterization/plot/theme/point of view/style): This beautifully illustrated picture book is a realistic fiction story written from Rubina’s point of view. When Sana gets home, she shares her green lollipop with Rubina and after that the sisters are friends. Sana is allowed to go to the party without her little sister. As Sana is begging and pleading with her mother not to take her little sister along, Rubina interrupts and pleads on Sana’s behalf.

Their mother, Ami, tells Sana she can’t go unless she takes Maryam with her. Now the youngest sister is old enough to beg to go along. Until one day, Sana comes home with her first birthday party invitation. She’s so upset, but the worst of all is that Rubina doesn’t get invited to any more parties. Rubina can’t wait to eat her lollipop, only to find that Sana has already eaten it. At the end of the party, each girls gets her own goody bag with a big red lollipop inside. Sana must win all the games or she whines and complains.

Begrudgingly, Rubina takes Sana to the party, and it’s a nightmare. She gets invited to her first birthday party, but she is not allowed to go unless she agrees to take her younger sister, Sana. Summary: Rubina is the oldest sister of a household with three girls. Publisher: Viking (a division of Penguin Group)

Big red lollipop by rukhsana khan