Big Sister Now: A Story About Me and our New Baby by Annette Sheldon

Illustrated by Karen Maizel. 32 p., Magination, 2006. When there's a new baby at home, you don't get to be the baby any more. At first, Kate doesn't like this. It feels confusing, and she worries that the adults have forgotten about her. Not only that, but when she needs something, she has to wait until baby Daniel's needs are met first. But she does get what she needs eventually, and her Mommy and Daddy are empathic. Kate starts to understand that although she doesn't like not being the baby any more, she does like feeling big. She begins to help take care of Daniel. Her wise Grandma, who up until now seemed only to be paying attention to Daniel, asks Kate to help her bake cookies - because Kate is big enough. This story includes an afterword for parents about how to help children adjust to a new baby. The illustrations convey emotion expressively. With Kate, children will learn that being big can still be as "warm and safe and lovey" as being the baby was. Ages 2-6

Bittle by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan

Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. 32 p., HarperCollins/Cotler, 2004. Having a new baby may be easier for some children to accept if they hear it from a pet's perspective. In this story, Nigel the cat and Julia the dog have a happy life until their humans start preparing for a baby's arrival. When they realize that a baby's coming, and even when she's first born, they're apprehensive. But they find that they can make the baby, whom they call Bittle, happy when no one else can. When Bittle cries in her crib, Nigel jumps in and curls up with her, and she stops crying. The pets play with the baby at night, and bring back the toys that she throws out of her crib. As Bittle gets older, Julia and Nigel discover that they have interests in common with her. And when Bittle starts to talk, she doesn't say "mama" or "papa" - she says "woof" and "meow." With its energetic, colorful illustrations, this story shows children that even if having a new baby doesn't sound great, they can find ways to connect happily with their younger sibling. Ages 3-6

I Kissed the Baby! by Mary Murphy

16 p., Candlewick, 2003. How do you appreciate a new baby? You see the baby and appreciate how tiny the baby is. You feed the hungry baby, sing to the baby, tickle the baby, and of course, you kiss the baby! With its bold, black and white illustrations whose splashes of color spread onto the page at the end, this simple story is joyful and loving. Ages 0-2

Tadpoles by Betsy James

32 p., Dutton, 1999. Molly resents her baby brother, Davey, because Ma carries him to and she has to walk. One day, Molly discovers frog eggs at the pond. With Ma's encouragement, she brings them home to watch them grow, promising to return them to the pond when they become frogs. Ma explains that Molly and Davey began as dots, much like the ones inside the frogs' eggs' jelly. Molly watches the eggs grow into tadpoles, and then into frogs. She helps Davey watch the eggs develop, and he grows, too. Molly is sad when it's time to let the frogs go. At the same moment, Davey learns to walk - and walks to Molly. Now that Davey can walk, Ma lets the children take turns being carried. An afterword tells how to raise frog eggs. Children will see that some of the ways that babies monopolize their parents are temporary, and that helping a baby grow can lead to a special relationship with the baby. Ages 4-8

Oh, Baby! by Sara Bonnett Stein

Illustrated by Holly Anne Shelowitz. 32 p., Walker and Co., 1993.

Most of this book is about what babies can do. They make faces, imitate older people, grab older people's fingers, eat, poop, and get bathed. They cry when they need something. Babies' kissable cheeks, special smell, and smiles are irresistible. As they get older, babies pick up things, play with them, and put them in their mouths. Eventually, they learn to crawl and walk. This book would be a good choice for a child who hasn't had a lot of experience with babies, since knowing what to expect can help ease the transition to having a baby in the house. It doesn't directly address feelings about having a new brother or sister.

Ages 2-6

Baby Can by Eve Bunting

Illustrated by Maxie Chambliss.32 p., Boyds Mills, 2007.

When there's a new baby in the family, sometimes the older child feels as if the baby gets all the attention. In this story, adults get excited when baby James does things like smile, roll over, and even burp. Big brother Brendan responds by showing how well he can do each of these things. When James finally learns to walk everyone wants him to walk to them, but James walks to Brendan for a hug. Brendan is happy, and Mom describes this as evidence of James's love for him. Charmingly illustrated in watercolors with a primarily pastel color palette, this story supports the unique importance of the older sibling.

Ages 2-4

When Joel Comes Home by Susi Gregg Fowler

Illustrated by Jim Fowler. 24 p., Greenwillow, 1993.

A girl's parents' best friends, Jean and George, are adopting a baby, and she anticipates all the details of his arrival as she and her parents join with other friends to greet them at the airport. Although things don't go quite the way she'd planned, there's a large crowd of friends at the airport to welcome the family, and their joy and excitement are palpable. As George has promised, the girl is the first to hold the baby, and this is the special moment she'd known it would be. This story offers a sense of identification to children who are welcoming a baby in similar circumstances, as well as a reminder that the connection between people is more important, and more real, than an imagined world where everything goes perfectly.

Ages 4-8
Main character's cultural background: European American
Cultural context: multicultural

Big Brother Dustin by Alden R. Carter

Illustrated by Dan Young and Carol Carter. 32 p., Whitman, 1997.

Dustin's parents bring home great news: they are going to have a baby girl. Dustin is very excited. He helps get the baby's room ready, takes a class for older siblings at the hospital, and, with his mother, reads a book about having a new baby in your family. But his biggest job is thinking of a name for the baby. He works hard at this, and comes up with the perfect name, MaryAnn, after his grandmothers, Mary and Ann. The story ends with a delightful album of pictures of Dustin and MaryAnn playing together. Dustin has Down syndrome. Illustrated with emotionally resonant color photographs, this story conveys excitement and warmth.

Ages: 3-7
Cultural Context: European American

The House of Joyful Living by Roni Schotter

Illustrated by Terry Widener. 32 p., Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2008.

When a new baby comes into the family, it's hard to give up being a special only child. This is a little girl’s struggle in this story that's genuinely empathic with the experience of being a child. The girl lives in an apartment building full of friendly neighbors who share their diverse cultural traditions and a common value of helping others. This building, the House of Joyful Living, has a rooftop garden where they gather to talk, eat, and listen to music, and once a year, to have a party. The girl feels as if she's on top of the world on the rooftop, with not only her parents, but all the other "great, good" adults, to herself. The girl knows her mother is pregnant, but for most of the story, she pushes aside this knowledge. When a neighbor makes a special gift for Mama and the baby, the girl can't ignore this any longer, and she can't help worrying that the baby will consume all her parents' attention. She doesn't want to share; she doesn't want to lose the feeling of being special. When Mama and Papa comfort her, she can feel special again, and she begins to understand that the baby could be jealous of her. She finds herself feeling sorry for the baby, who is missing so much of her own wonderful experiences. And this inspires a sense of generosity toward the baby. Through her parents' loving responses, she's able to transform her hurt and envy into a secure sense of care and compassion. This story can help children find that care and compassion in themselves.

Ages: 4-8
Cultural Context: multicultural

Mommy's Lap by Ruth Horowitz

Illustrated by Henri Sorensen. 24 pages. Lothrop, Lee and Shepard, 1993.

Sophie loves being in Mommy's lap, a very special place. When Mommy becomes pregnant, there is less room in her lap and she is generally less available to Sophie and somewhat preoccupied with the new baby. Sophie tolerates this unhappily. When baby Sam is born, Mommy immediately finds room for both Sam and Sophie on her lap -- and when she holds Sam herself, Sophie learns that her own lap is a wonderful place. This story helps children understand that their mother's preoccupation during pregnancy is temporary, and that even though things will never be the same when a new baby is born, their relationship with their mother isn't just diminished, it's more differentiated and complex, through the child's identification with her.

Ages: 3-7
Cultural Context: European American

A Pocket Full of Kisses by Audrey Penn

Illustrated by Barbara Leonard Gibson. 32 pages. Tanglewood, 2006.

When children have a younger sibling, they may worry that they won't be special to their parents any more, and as a result, won't get enough love. In this sequel to The Kissing Hand, Chester the raccoon has a little brother, Ronny, who takes his things, follows him around, pulls his tail, and generally annoys him. When Chester's mother reassures him with a Kissing Hand, he's happy because he knows that she loves him. But when she gives Ronny a Kissing Hand, he's shocked - he thinks she's given Ronny his (Chester’s) Kissing Hand. He worries that she doesn't have enough Kissing Hands for both young raccoons. Patiently, Mrs. Raccoon reassures Chester by telling a story in which the endless light of the sun resembles her endless love for the two of them. But what's most reassuring of all is the extra Kissing Hand she gives Chester to keep in his pocket in case he ever needs it - to meet the special needs of a big brother. With Chester, older siblings will learn to maintain their sense of themselves as special and loved.

Ages: 4-7
Cultural Context: non-human

How I Named the Baby by Linda Shute

32 pages. Whitman, 1993.

One way that children can be involved in a new baby's life is to help think of baby names. James immediately asks to have this role when Momma tells him about her pregnancy. He also decides to make the baby a birthday picture during the last month of Momma's pregnancy. Because the baby is to be born in June, he includes the word "June" on the picture, along with images of the baby and the things he and the baby will share. This inspires the family to consider naming the baby June, if she's a girl. This is the one girl's name that everyone agrees is perfect -- and the baby is a girl. This book includes an appendix with popular names in several countries, and their meanings. This story will encourage children to participate in naming their new brother or sister, and by doing this, to have a special involvement in the baby's life from the beginning.

Ages: 4-7
Cultural Context: multicultural

How I Named the Baby