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Books For A New Big Sister (or Brother)

A few folks have asked what we’re doing to prepare Clara for a younger sibling, beyond getting her a baby boy doll when we found out it was a boy in there (she still has a deep love for Captain Barnacles – more on him here and here).

Clara Baby Boy

Mostly we have just been chatting with her about how she’s going to be a big sister and she seems really excited to “give him bottles and change his diapers and carry him *like this* and share my toys.” We’ve also tried to involve her in fun activities for him, like letting her pick out a stuffed toy for him (she chose one with a mustache)…

Mustache

… and assembling furniture for his nursery together.

Fjell Clara Helping Daddy 1

We’ve also been reading a few books on the “new baby” subject to her, namely these:

big sister book recommendations

I’m A Big Sister – This is a great one for specifically highlighting the cool things about being the older sibling. So it mentions some things big kids can do (push the stroller, help to change a diaper) and although the babies have it pretty good (being pushed and coddled) there’s a great page about the big sister getting ice cream, but babies can’t have ice cream. As strange as it sounds, it probably sums up a lot of the envy that older kids might have for the younger ones who get a lot of attention, and points out some fun things that bigger kids can do that babies can’t.

You Were The First – This one is so sweet that it makes me cry every time. I really want Clara to know how loved she is, and we know she’s bound to feel our focus shift a little when we bring home her brother, so this is a nice way that I can remind her that she’ll always be my special girl. It just chronicles all the things that happen when you bring home a new baby and reminds the child you’re reading it to that you did all those sweet things with them first.

The Berenstain Bears’ New Baby – John and I joke that this should be called “The Berenstain Bears Build A Bed” because the storyline is a lot more about the transition for big brother from his small bed to a big one (and then his little sister is born and gets his small one). In fact, brother’s out in the woods with papa when Momma actually has the baby, so his little sister just magically appears at home halfway through the book. But Clara seems to love it, especially the part where the little sister punches her big brother in the nose. Seriously, that happens and it cracks her up.

So there are three adorable “sibling on the way” books that we’ve enjoyed. Do you guys have others you’d recommend? We’d love to check them out!

Comments

  1. Danielle C says

    This came from a friend of ours when I was pregnant with our second. We talked about how at first, the baby would be pretty boring. She wouldn’t be able to play really and she might cry a lot, and that Mama would be nursing a lot; but that as she got older she would play more and more and they’d have lots of fun together. I think it helped with the expectations. My oldest was such a big help in those early days: bringing me a snack when I was nursing, bringing diaper supplies, etc.

    Reply

    • Kate says

      YES! My daughter’s expectations were pretty low when her brother came along. She knew he was going to just lay there and cry a lot but that some day he would be her bestie ;) We made it a point to also talk about how Mommy and Daddy would soon be taking care of her AND him – sometimes she will have to wait and sometimes he will have to wait.
      I think it helped :)

  2. Leslie says

    So sweet. My kids are all grown now, but I remember worrying how the older one, then ones, would accept their new sibling(s)… but all went well, and then I went on to have two more as a surrogate for two families. So the subject of babies/kids/siblings always warms my heart. Keep up the good work.

    Reply

  3. Sarah says

    Not necessarily an “one the way” book, but a favorite book of ours is “What Brothers/Sisters Do Best”. It’s a book that reads forwards and backwards, one side for each sibling. And the pictures are totally adorable.

    Reply

  4. Bridget says

    Oh goodness, that Berenstain Bear’s one brings me back! I loved the bopping-on-the-nose part, too.

    I was two when my younger brother was born, so that one I don’t really remember, but when my other brother was born when I was eight, that I really remember! I think my favorite part was we got called out of school (down to the principal’s office!) where the school secretary was waiting with our new tshirts that said “I’m the Big Sister!” and “I’m the Big Brother!” Our grandparents picked us up and took us to the hospital to meet him, and the pictures of us meeting our brother for the first time were precious!

    Reply

  5. Bethany says

    “How To Be a Baby by Me, The Big Sister” is hilarious, and Clara’s old enough to really appreciate the humor.

    Reply

  6. Brittney says

    My first two babies were only 16 months apart, and we did almost nothing to prepare our oldest – he didn’t seemed bothered by his sister, but he WAS confused about why I was home all the time! When our third and fourth came we read the books you shared to prepare them for MORE kids. Ha! It’s always different, but I think that the immediate reaction was mostly “Look at the new baby! Why does the new baby always sleep?!?! Boring!”

    Clara will be an awesome big sister!

    Reply

  7. Lisa@Double Door Ranch says

    Excuse me, I have something in my eye…. *sniff* I’m cool, I’m cool.

    I’m planning to expand my family in a bit of an unconventional way in the next few years. I’ve been reading a lot of books for moms on the subject, but when I get to the kids books, I just sob! I can just picture holding a new little one and reading those books together. Man, these eyes can’t stop welling up!

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      Oh man, you’re right! Those kid books get us like mom books and hallmark cards can’t!

      xo
      s

  8. Jeanne says

    When our 2nd daughter was born, we had 2 of the 3 books mentioned above! I’m A Big Sister, and The Berenstain Bears New Baby!!! Now we have 3 girls (6, 3 and 6 mos) and before #3 was born last July, we re-read those books for our middle’s benefit. We STILL read I’m A Big Sister at bedtime sometimes. Love your blog (and want to try your terrarium project from Young House Love you posted today). Cheers and best wishes!

    Reply

  9. April says

    We were given the big brother version of the “I’m A Big Sister” when we were expecting our second. Our son loved it and has even wanted to read it again recently and his little sis is 6 months old.

    Reply

  10. Erin says

    We have a tattered 30-year old copy of that Berenstain Bears book and my 4-year old loves it to pieces. Just like Clara, she’s getting a baby brother in April…haven’t told her she’s more likely to get peed on than punched in the nose. :)

    Reply

  11. J. Giunta says

    A book my kids seem to like is “What’s Inside” by Jeanne Ashbé. It’s a flip book that compares the inside of things like a suitcase, television, teddy bear, with what’s inside mommy’s belly. There’s also a follow up book about when the baby has arrived, but I haven’t seen it.

    Reply

    • Rowena says

      My favorite book that I have read to my two oldest was ‘there’s a house inside my mummy’ they both loved it and I enjoyed reading the clever rhyme, another thing I’ve done is to get a small gift from their new sibling

  12. Kristin says

    I had the sibling discussions with my son too. It helps that he was older and really understood what was happening. He also loved going to my doctors appointments.

    I found that having a boy and then a girl helped as he wasn’t going to have to “share his boy toys cuz girls don’t like them.” Little did he know…. Seven years later she’s giving him a run for his money while playing video games.

    Reply

  13. Kristen says

    I loved this advice from Penelope Leach via A Cup Of Jo:

    In her memoir Waiting for Birdy, Catherine Newman quotes Penelope Leach :
    “Imagine your husband coming home to tell you that he was proposing to take on a second wife as well as you, and imagine him using the various phrases that are frequently used to break the news of a coming baby to a child:
    * “I like you so much I just can’t wait to have another gorgeous wife.”
    * “It’ll be our wife. It’ll belong to both of us and we’ll both look after her together.”
    * “I shall really need my reliable old wife to help me look after this new young one.”

    Kind of funny, but it really makes sense!

    Reply

  14. Heather says

    My kids loved “Making Me: The Pregnancy Activity Book for My Big Brother or Sister”, and “What’s Inside?” by Jeanne Ashbe (a lift-the-flap book). Both talk about what’s happening with baby inside mommy’s “tummy.”

    Reply

  16. Brandi says

    “I’m a Big Sister” by Joanna Cole and “How to be a Baby…by me, the Big a Sister” by Sally Lloyd Jones

    Reply

    • CL says

      We read “The New Baby” to our kiddos as they were preparing for siblings. We still love this book and my oldest is 13! Such a sweet book!

  18. Beth says

    My New Baby by Rachel Fuller shows mama breastfeeding the babe. That helped us talk about how I was going to be spending a lot of time holding him and sometimes they might have to wait a couple minutes for something they want.

    Reply

  19. Abby M says

    Hope you’re prepared with a delicious pint or two of ice cream when the new baby arrives! I’m with Clara… the advantage of eating special treats is a good one :) I only have one baby so far, but I will definitely keep these in mind before baby #2!

    Reply

  20. Melanie says

    Berenstain Bears! I grew up on those books! Oh man. What a throw back. I’m so happy Clara loves it!

    #nostalgia :)

    Reply

  21. Nikki says

    Mercer Mayer’s little critter series has a book “the new baby” that is simple, has fun illustrations, and talks about the things mommies and daddies have to do, but adds that there are things the big sibling can do too.

    We love little critter (and berenstain bears!) books in our house!

    Reply

    • Nay says

      We love One Special Day – it makes it even more special that our older son’s name is Spencer. We didn’t get it until after his baby brother was born but it is one of his (and our) very favorite books :)

  23. Megan says

    Those are all wonderful choices :) (I’m a librarian so talking about books is always dear to my heart.) When growing up, I also loved the Berenstain bears collection and the new baby book was a favorite. (I liked the punch in the nose too, haha!) I laughed at John’s description about it being more about the bed than the baby. Another favorite of mine is Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes. It’s one of his about the little mouse girl Lilly and in this one, she gets a new brother Julius. She is excited at first, but when she gets jealous she’s hilariously mean to him – I believe I recall her telling him he’s a raisin? And of course, in the end she loves him. :)

    Reply

    • MariaVonPoppins says

      Yes! I’m a librarian too, and I love Julius. I’m also a big fan of Tricia Springstubb’s new book, Phoebe and Digger.

  25. Jaclyn says

    So cute! I had that Berenstain Bears book back a million years ago when my mom was expecting MY little brother. I remember the part about baby Sister punching Brother in the face. LOL for days.

    My daughter doesn’t have any recommendations for you because she’s not a big sister or sister-to-be just yet (I am SO not ready for that!) but I was wondering, on a separate but related (still bookish) note, do Clara and/or the Bun have the Eric Carle book “A House for Hermit Crab”? Not to be weird, but I always think of you guys when Hermit Crab decorates his shell house.

    Reply

  26. Rachel says

    The only other one I could think of was: when you were inside mommys tummy.
    All three of my kids loved that one since it gave them a chance to ask about the baby inside me at the moment, and gave me a chance to talk about when I was pregnant with them.
    I’m sorry to hear Sherry, that you are still sick. : / May the sickness end right now!

    Reply

  28. Cair says

    Your post took me back to one of my favorite books when my dd was young, and one I still give as a gift. The book is “When I Was Young: A Four-Year-Old’s Memoir of her Youth” by Jamie Lee Curtis, illustrated by Laura Cornell. While it’s not specifically about bringing a new baby into the family, it is about a 4-year-old, and she has a baby sibling. Most of all it is just a really fun book with great illustrations.

    Reply

  29. Bethany says

    “How to Be a Baby by Me, The Big Sister,” is hilarious. I think Clara’s the perfect age to appreciate the humor!

    Reply

  30. em says

    I LOVE “I’m a Big Sister.” (BTW, my little one is the same age as Clara, so it’s funny to me that even though we bought the book 3 years ago, it’s undergone quite a cosmetic change. Look at that hip stroller! Our book is so retro in comparison). Anyway, so many of these books are negative- the older sibiling is jealous, the parents don’t have time for him or her because of the baby, and in the end older sibling learns to like the baby. So, I like that I’m a Big Sister is pragmatic and positive. Why suggest negative feelings to the older kid when they are not even there? But I think I’m a Big Sister does just what Danielle suggests- explains that the baby won’t play at first, cries, etc.
    When the baby was born, some close friends wanted to visit to see the baby. So, we had a “Big Sister” party (complete with a supermarket ice cream cake that said Congratulations Big Sister!) and got my daughter a Big Sister t-shirt. We just wanted her to know she would always be special to us. I was a small thing, but I think it’s nice to acknowlege the older sibling’s new role.
    My oldest was 2.5 when her brother was born and she was only mildly interested at first. But, once he started smiling at her, all bets were off. She loved having such a devoted fan and she was, and is, his favorite person in the world. I hope you have a similar experience!

    Reply

    • Rebecca says

      We got “I’m a Big Sister” (by Joanna Cole – there is also a big brother version) for our 2.5 year old for Christmas and she really likes it. She has always been obsessed with babies though so she loves anything and everything about babies.

      I’ve been wanting to get the Little Critter book suggested by a few others because we love Little Critter and I may have to check out “You Were the First” too.

  31. lauraBC says

    Be careful of berenstain’s New Baby. Our oldest was so excited to get a baby brother but he’d flench whenever he was around. We finally asked what was up and he said “he’s going to pop me on the nose and I want to know when it’s coming”

    Reply

  32. carrie says

    The Mercer Mayer Little Critter book on the subject is really good too- its another one that emphasizes all the great and amazing things that the big sibling can do, and how much the little sibling will adore them, even though it means sharing stuff and sharing attention.

    Reply

  33. Mary says

    Here’s another cute one that my kids liked. It;s by the author of Stega Nona.
    The Baby Sister
    by Tomie dePaola
    Also, when my friends came over to see the new baby, they brought a gift for the older one. Even some candy or a balloon. I loved the idea because not only is baby getting attention, but baby gets gifts. So a gift for each of them worked better.

    Reply

  35. Kelly says

    I totally remember the part about Sister Bear bopping Brother on the nose from way back when I was a kid. So cute!

    I wonder if the first book is also available in “I’m a Big Brother” for boys?

    Reply

  36. Emily says

    That’s a pretty big stuffed animal for a newborn, but I have a unique experience with those. I was almost 3 yrs old when my brother was born and I remember parts of it. I remember picking out a toy with my dad in the hospital gift shop and I remember the nurse holding me up for my first peek. My parents say in that moment I asked “is that my baby brother” and the nurse told me yes. Without any warning, I chucked the stuffed animal at him and said, “here” as it hit him in the head. My mom always said that she was so thankful that I picked out a stuffed animal smaller than her hand instead of a fire truck toy or something else with sharp edges.

    I also remember being VERY jealous when everyone would come to visit and I was no longer the center of the Universe. I’d answer the door with my parents and instead of the great greetings I’d get, “where’s the baby” or “how do you like being a big sister” Natural questions but I remember being hurt. Maybe you can remind your family/friends to take a moment before they get into baby mode to stop and ask Clara about her day and what she did that day instead of asking her questions about the baby. She may like them, but from my own experience, I did not!

    But… I was still the doting big sister. I fed him, held him, kissed him, never let him touch the ground my Mom said. I liked him but I missed being the center of the world to everyone else that came to visit.

    Reply

    • Nicole says

      I was so jealous too! I was 2 when my brother was born, and while I don’t remember it, my parents told me that when I met him for the first time in the hospital, I flagged down a nurse in the hallway and told her we were finished with him and that she could take him away now.

      Another thing to note for Clara is that she might feel funny about handing down some of her old toys, even ones she no longer plays with. There is a video of me in my baby brother’s room doing what can only be described as “playing the sh*t” out of my old toys which were now “shared with the baby” — my dad’s voice over says how I hadn’t touched those toys in over a year and suddenly I couldn’t get enough of them and didn’t want the baby playing with them! That said, Clara will be older than I was when I got my first sibling, so she might be just fine! I was 3.5 when my next brother came along, and by then I was thrilled to be the big sister who could be helpful and take care of the new baby.

      Good luck with the transition! She seems like a really stable, cool kid — I’m sure she will do great :-)

    • ErinY says

      I’m the younger sibling so of course I didn’t notice any changes, but my brother is almost exactly a year older than I am (1 year, 2 days). Whenever I act weird, uncoordinated or make a mistake or what have you I like to blame him. Apparently when he came to visit in the hospital the first thing he did was give me a nice headbutt! haha Totally cracks me up hearing about it! And he’s always been an awesome older brother despite being the typical childhood fights. I just always say he’s the one that started it all on that first day! lol

  37. Alaina J. says

    “My New Baby” and “Waiting for Baby” by Rachel Fuller were super cute board books. I liked that they showed the mom getting an ultrasound and the baby breast-feeding–two things that I thought were the most confusing for our oldest (who’s now almost 4 the big sis to an almost-2-year-old sister and a 4 week-old brother). Also, in “My New Baby,” the older sibling looks so much like our oldest that it made me misty-eyed to read it with her.

    http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Baby-My-New/dp/1846432758/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390512458&sr=8-2&keywords=my+new+baby

    http://www.amazon.com/My-New-Baby-Rachel-Fuller/dp/1846432766/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390512458&sr=8-1&keywords=my+new+baby

    Reply

    • Marissa C says

      I’m due in 5 weeks and my 2 year old requests “Waiting for Baby” almost every night. Great book.

      Although the part about the mommy sleeping on the couch while daddy prepares dinner is pure fiction… ;)

  38. Clare says

    “There’s a house inside my mummy” is a favourite in our house. We’re in Australia, I don’t know if they publish a USA “Mommy” version.

    Reply

    • Hanna says

      was going to suggest this one too! i have it ready and waiting for when we have a second baby.

  39. Melissa says

    Check for a sibling class at the hospital. The hospital we use had a sibling class where the tots get to tour the labor and delivery wing. They also had anatomically correct(!!!) baby dolls and taught the kids to change diapers and swaddle them. It is a great experience for the kiddos!

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Yes! I took that kind of class when my brother was on the way. I have no idea what I learned but I remember the room and the hallway and being there with other big sisters and brothers. They’re good topic-wise, but they’re also good for reducing some of the intimidation of going to a hospital!

  41. Liz Sauer says

    I love to see that you are a supporter of the National MS Society – that charity has a HUGE place in my heart! My Dad, Sister and childhood friend all have it! We are very involved with Walk MS in Columbus, Ohio…its coming up soon. I just wanted to send my appreciation to you because I think its wonderful that you show your support on your website!

    Cheers –
    Liz Sauer

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      Of course! My aunt passed away from it last year after living with it for over a decade. We love MS walks and bike rides!

      xo
      s

  45. Breanne says

    We use The Big Sibling Book: Baby’s First Year According to me to let our son document his sister’s first year. There is a 5 year age difference between the two but he loved being involved in this way. He also brought her a blankie he picked out to the hospital when he first came to visit! Just relax and make it fun and they will enjoy!

    Reply

  46. Miranda says

    Alright, this is kind of a weird one, but it’s the first book that comes to my mind when someone talks about books for siblings and new babies. It’s called Another Mouth to Feed, and it’s about this little monster Harvey who gets scared when he hears his dad call the baby-on-the-way “another mouth to feed.” He thinks the baby is just going to be a giant mouth that eats everything! Of course in the end the baby is not just a giant mouth and Harvey feels safe with the new member of the family.

    I’m a librarian, but not in the children’s department, so I don’t have a ton to add to the discussion outside of what’s already been mentioned above. Another Mouth to Feed (and the rest of the books in the Monster Street series) stand out it my mind because the illustrations are really bright and colorful, and I like clever wordplay (each book in the series is a play on a different saying or idiom). Might not be the best book for preparing kids to become big sisters/brothers, but it’s a fun book anyway.

    http://www.amazon.com/Another-Mouth-Feed-Monster-Street/dp/140486069X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390512165&sr=8-1&keywords=another+mouth+to+feed

    Reply

  48. Kathleen Britton says

    You can never go wrong with the Berenstain Bears, imho. There are two others that Clara might like – The Birds, the Bees, and the Berenstain Bears (Sister realizes that Mama’s lap is getting smaller, so Mama and the doctor explain things to her) and The Berenstain Bears and Baby Makes Five (all about after the newest baby comes and Sister is out of sorts about her). Another neat book is Little Rabbit’s New Baby (Little rabbit is excited about having one baby sibling, but then he gets three and things aren’t quite what he expected). I read that with my older son when his little brother was on the way as well as a Berenstain Bears or two.

    Reply

  49. Staci says

    Not a book suggestion, but I was nearly six when my little brother was born and quite reluctant about sharing the spotlight. My grandma came to stay with me when my mom went into labor. She and my mom had conspired on a special scavenger hunt for me to do while my mom was having the baby. One of the items I found was a Muppets record, which was a HUGE hit with me! The last item was money for me to purchase my brother’s “coming home from the hospital” outfit. My grandma and I shopped for that together. It helped me feel connected to my brother and still brings back good memories today. (I’m 42!)

    Reply

  50. Kristen says

    I loved reading “Will You Still Love Me?” because it highlights how love grows when a new baby comes; it is not taken away. We also made a book through I See Me called “The Super Incredible Big Sister” that had the girls names in it and came with an award for the big sister.

    Reply

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