My family will be welcoming a new baby in the next couple of months, and my son is going to be a big brother for the first time. If you know any young children who are about to become an older sibling, you may want to read some books together to help discuss the changes that will happen in their lives and how the whole family can celebrate. Here are some recommendations!
Baby, Sleepy Baby by Atinuke (2021).
This lyrical lullaby shows a whole family – sister, mother, father, and grandmother – coming together to soothe their baby into a gentle sleep.
First Laugh Welcome, Baby! by Rose Ann Tahe and Nancy Bo Flood (2018).
Parents, grandparents, and big brother and sister take turns trying to make a new baby laugh. When the first laugh finally comes, they celebrate the Navajo or Diné tradition of welcoming the baby into their family and clan.
How to Welcome a New Baby by Jean Reagan (2022).
This funny and colorful read gives tips for a new big brother or sister on how they can help welcome the new baby, from gentle kisses to running away from stinky diapers to what to do if YOU need an extra hug.
Old MacDonald Had a Baby by Emily Snape (2019).
There is no older (human) sibling in this story, but the farm animals are happy to help their stay-at-home dad with feeding, diapers, and bath time, until their other dad gets home from work!
What Makes a Baby by Cory Silverberg (2013).
If little ones are asking how this baby got here, this is the perfect title that explains things accurately but at a simple level and is inclusive of all situations, including adoption, surrogacy, and transgender or nonbinary parents.
Happy reading!
-Teresa Moulton, children’s librarian and Public Service Leader
