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
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
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
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