The Pain and the Great One
The Pain and the Great One is a children's picture book published in 1974, written by Judy Blume and illustrated by Irene Trivas. This is the only picture book written by Blume, that illustrated by the American illustrator Tomie dePaola. though many of her other novels, notably The One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, have interior illustrations.
 1984 edition | |
| Author | Judy Blume |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Irene Trivas, Tomie dePaola |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's book |
| Publisher | Prentice-Hall |
Publication date | 1974 |
| Media type | |
The book follows the sibling rivalry between a sister (age 8; third grade) and her younger brother (age 6; first grade). In total, the boy and the girl are two years apart. The book is divided into two parts, one told from the viewpoint of each sibling. In the end (last page) of each part (both "The Pain's" section and the "Great One's" section), each one ends with the sibling saying, "And Daddy says, 'The Pain/The Great One is just what they always wanted'. YUCK! I think they love him/her better than me!". The girl refers to her brother as "The Pain," due to him always being a nuisance for her, while the boy calls his sister "The Great One," a sarcastic nickname based on her thinking herself the better sibling. It is a humorous look at the mixture of emotions shared by young siblings.
Years later, between 2007 and 2009, Blume published four additional books featuring these characters; they are not picture books.