Eddie: Harold's Little Brother - Hardcover

Ed Koch, former New York City Mayor, is a partner in the law firm of Bryan Cave, writes for several magazines, and has a weekly program on Bloomberg Radio WBBR as well as a weekly television spot on New York News 1. Pat Koch Thaler, Ed's little sister, is a former associate dean of New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies, and is the author of numerous books and articles.

Kindergarten-Grade 3–Eddie's older brother is a star in baseball, basketball, and football; as hard as the younger boy tries, he can never measure up to him. Eddie loves telling the neighborhood kids about Harold's exploits, though, and this leads to his eventual realization of his true talents. Set in a big city in the days of knickers and hand-pushed ice-cream carts, this story has a nostalgic charm, yet lacks the emotional complexity that marks the lives of real children. Unlike the fictional Eddie, most youngsters would probably feel at least occasionally envious of Harold. And some of the dialogue doesn't ring true; for instance, Harold tells his brother, "Let's try to think of something you do well and really love." The skillfully done watercolors add a lot of atmosphere and humor, especially when showing Eddie's mishaps playing baseball. Based on childhood memories of the authors, the former mayor of New York City and his sister, this book is recommended for larger collections or where local interest warrants purchase.–Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
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