Julius, the Baby of the World
By Kevin Henkes
The Story
A mouse who calls herself queen is furious when her parents bring home a new baby brother and declare him the best baby in the world — until a visiting cousin dares to insult him.
Why It's Special
For the newly-crowned older sibling who is not thrilled about sharing the throne, Lilly's jealousy will feel uncomfortably, hilariously familiar.
- Big idea: Loving a new sibling isn't automatic — it can grow sideways, through jealousy and grumbling, before it arrives.
- Vibes: Sharp, funny, and emotionally honest, with a mouse-world charm that softens the sting.
Perfect For Kids Who
- are working on adjusting to a new sibling
- respond well to characters who admit to not-nice feelings
- enjoy Kevin Henkes's expressive mouse families
- like to talk about being jealous or left out
Ask Your Little Reader
- Feelings & empathy: Why do you think Lilly said 'I hate Julius' when her parents called him the baby of the world?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever felt jealous when someone else got a lot of attention?
- Story & problem-solving: What do you think Cousin Garland said about Julius that upset Lilly?
- Imagination: If you were the queen of your house like Lilly, what rules would you make?
- Character study: How does Lilly's opinion of Julius seem to shift over the story?
