At ten years old, Zaydek Michels-Gualtieri is not an expert at many things. But on the subject of being a brother, Zaydek can speak with authority. "The way I see it," explains Zaydek, as he molds clay into miniature creatures (his favorite hobby), "I've been a brother my whole life. They say you are supposed to write about the things that you know."

And so, putting pen to paper, this fifth-grader in Washington, DC, captured his own experiences of having a baby sister. No question about it, I Was Born to Be a Brother (book and CD set), was written by an expert.

Writing a book about being a brother was not out of character in a family that takes books very seriously. Zaydek's older sister, Akaela, made a splash two years ago when, at 11, her first book was published.

Described as "a delightful book for those embarking on this complex but rewarding role," I Was Born to Be a Sister sells steadily to schools and libraries around the country.

"It's really fun to have your own book," says Akaela, now a ninth-grader. "It helps me remember what it was like when he as little and it always makes me smile. I get to go to schools and lead assemblies, plus the book tour was really fun!"

Both brother and sister had the experience of being the older sibling when a new one arrived on the scene (Miralah is now five-years-old). "The great thing about their books is that the journey they had to go through adjusting to the arrival of a new sibling was the same, but they each arrived there through different paths," explains mother, Dia Michels, herself an award-winning author of books for both adults and children.

"Akaela's book is sweet," adds Tony Gualtieri, their dad and a Ph.D. physicist, whose writing is usually limited to scientific papers. "But Zaydek's book is very funny. 'Boy energy' is a special force and Zaydek captures it beautifully."

While Dad was not particularly involved in the writing of the books, he was a participant in the creation of the original music that accompanies them (each book includes a CD with story narration as well as songs for brothers and sisters to share). "Music is such a big part of kids' lives, we felt a book for children needed songs to go with it."

The family traveled to Lakeville, CT, to work with the professional songwriting team of Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton. Together they
created a song for each book. "We had a ball working on the songs," describes Donald, as his fingers dance across the keyboard. "We spent a lot of time trying to articulate the emotions of the children to develop songs that captured their experiences. The songs are just great -- there is no way to hear them and not start tapping your toes."

I Was Born to Be A Brother has already captured the attention of one of our nation's famous brothers. Senator Christopher Dodd (D, CT) has five siblings so the book hit home for him. "I've been a brother all my life and I know what an important part of life it is. I Was Born to Be A Brother is a delightful and refreshing exploration of the male experience of a new sibling. The text is fun and the pictures are fabulous. Plus the CD makes it perfect for road trips and for enjoying at bedtime. It portrays the many roles of a brother and the importance of nurturing and being nurtured. This is the kind of book we want our children reading to build better citizens for tomorrow."

What's next for this book-making family? "I don't know. I guess Miralah needs to write her book," says Zaydek. And Akaela adds, "Right now, Zaydek and I are just trying to keep up with our homework." And autograph a few books besides.