Note: while I have no issue with the “f word” I know some people might. Therefore, I have abbreviated it to the friendly “F*” within the review.
F*, Now There Are Two of You is a very realistic telling of what happens when you have that delightful little terror, the second child. Of course, it is mostly humorous, but having seen the second child-syndrome with friends, family and just knowing kids, there is more than a little bit of truth to these feelings and reactions.
This is the third in the “Go the F* to Sleep” and “You Have to F*****g Eat” series. However, even though this is funny, the author, Adam Mansbach, and illustrator, Owen Brozman, might have gone to the well one too many times with this one. There is something “missing” or at least, the “punch” of the first book is lost. This is most likely because the word, F*, has been used so many different times of late, it has lost its shock value. It is no big f*ing deal anymore. When you even look this title up, it has the full word spelled out and none of the “niceties” of the other two.
While reading, I had one or two chuckles, but not the usual belly laughs of the first book, or other spoof books. That is not to say the book does not have its moments. This story that is told to the older sibling even touches on some issues the older sibling will deal with (not that mom and do not love them, they are just too tired to care). And the illustrations are interesting. The sweetness of them is the perfect counter to the not so sweet text. And parents will sympathize as they learn, “that two is a million more kids than one.”
And needless to say, this is not for the younger crowd.