Siblings play a unique role in one another's lives. Whether your child is the first born, a middle child or the baby, this Sibling Set fosters a child's sense of self and helps them feel secure in their role in the family.

"The Michels-Gualtieri siblings have a new baby in the house! These books (with a sing-along CD) depict their journey from being Akaela and Zaydek to being a big sister and a big brother. It's not always easy, but they work it out to everyone's happiness. Excellent for children about to become "big." -- Susy Parker Goins Natural Family Online, July 2005 "Washington fifth grader Zaydek Michels-Gualtieri celebrates being a brother with two sisters in I Was Born To Be A Brother (Platypus, 2003, ages 4 to 7, $18.95). The first person narrator knows it is his job to teach his little sister all the important life skills, such as how to eat ice cream with a straw and how to make the right noises for certain toys. In a voice both playful and honest, the narrator admits to getting mad sometimes at the troublesome tyke. He outlines his plan to build a catapult to send her to the planet Xeron. But at the end he relents, saying that his sister makes him the "best brother in the whole wide world." A charming book about the sibling bond, with Daniel Liegey's illustrations conveying some of its pleasures and pitfalls." -- Mary Quattlebaum Washington Parent, March 2004 "Written by ten-year-old Zaydek G. Michels-Gualtieri, I Was Born To Be A Brother is the charming true story of a young boy who adapts to having a little sister around the house. Despite their rivalries, there are siblings who know and love one another. Full-color illustrations by Daniel Liegey and an accompanying CD with the story and music make for a cherished and strongly recommended children's picture book tale about "siblinghood" -- and is especially meant to be shared among siblings." Midwest Book Review, Oregon, WI

Dia L. Michels is an award-winning internationally published science and parenting writer, she is the author or editor of over a dozen books for both children and adults. Her books have been translated into Spanish, Dutch, Hebrew, Chinese, and Korean. A popular speaker, she lectures frequently at conferences, universities, libraries, and schools around the country. She teaches classes on mammal reproduction and lactation at children's and science museums around the U.S. and is a commentator for Public Radio, International. Her articles have been published in People, Parenting, Mothering, Parents, Baby Talk, Family Fun, Nurturing, and the Washington Post. She lives in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC, with her husband, Tony Gualtieri, their three children, and four cats and a dog. She can be reached at Dia@PlatypusMedia.com. Fred Bell draws on memories of childhood with his two sisters for the illustrations in Zack In The Middle. He does his drawings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he lives with his dog and cat. His drawings appear in publications regularly throughout the US. A resident of Jersey City, NJ, Dan Liegey is a professional illustrator and storyboard artist who loves his job. He loves chocolate and candy so much that sometimes he has to remind himself to eat some vegetables. He has been a brother ever since the day he was born. A fifth-grader living in Washington, DC, Zaydek Michels-Gualtieriloves making clay creatures, racing cars, playing computer games, and working on his solid foil ball. He is a little brother to Akaela and a big brother to Miralah. Though he occasionally works on his catapult designs, he really does love being a brother! Akaela S. Michels-Gualtieri lives in Washington, DC with her writer-mother, her scientist-father, a younger brother, a baby sister and three cats. When she is not playing the piano, she is usually doing gymnastics. A world traveler, she has been to Europe and China. Artist Marcy Dunn Ramsey has two daughters, Jessie, a sculptor, and Rosie, a critic. She is also fortunate to have a patient husband who likes to cook. When she isn't tearing her hair out over deadlines, she does large oil-paintings of nice quiet places to nap in.