My two favorite “new baby” books are: It’s hard for young children to imagine what having a real baby will actually be like. Help them (and yourself) out by reading a few or all of these books that will help prepare and explain to them the various emotions they may experience such as jealousy, confusion and anger that may arise. I think that’s a great one for older or middle children who are adjusting to a new baby and the time-sharing of parents it requires. Thank you for the recommendations. Introducing your new baby to your toddler. Practical tips on how to be the parent your child needs and create happy family dynamics (but still do your job! it's called god gave us two by laura bryant. Great topic. As a child, I moved six times from the beginning of kindergarten until my high school graduation. The text is simple enough for toddlers to understand, and the illustrations are peaceful and soothing. Some of our favorite sibling books were “Hey, Little Baby!” (Nola Buck, R.W. Little Dragon is about to be a big brother and he is not happy about it. This guide will help. Thanks for the great blog post and great responses! Kevin Henkes writes often of characters who are going through big changes who learn to adapt and thrive. What if the room smells bad?”  Even children who are not naturally “worriers” will find delight in seeing how Wemberly overcomes her worries about starting school. I’ve always believed that a good book can help pretty much any situation from fixing a drippy sink to mending a broken heart. Case in point, a few years ago I read Franklin’s Afraid of the Dark (or some such title) and until then, my girls were content to sleep in a dark room. I was searching for something to help my 4-yr-old niece adjust to a new baby, who recently made her the middle child. Thanks for putting the list together Megan! As the companion book to I’m a Big Sister (above), I Am a Big Brother by Caroline Jayne Church shares the joys of becoming a big brother and how the arrival of a new baby comes with many transitions. Kate Wicker knows this topic quite well, especially since she and her husband recently added baby girl number three to their family. These October bestsellers will make your life easier this fall! This is a really great list.. One that I would surely save and keep and add to as my toddler grows.. I agree about Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs about grieving. The sentences are short and the thoughts are a bit disjointed, jumping from one thought to the next. For when you're too exhausted to waste time on books that won't help. . Then, as now, I have found a wealth of support and conversation in the pages of children’s literature. Thanks! There is so much about babies that toddlers can’t anticipate and sustaining a sensible focused conversation with a toddler is never easy. Of course, you could never hate your husband after kids! Two boys are a total blast! The first year of my son’s life — my first year as a mother — was a blur of wonder, exhaustion and anxiety for me, in nearly equal measures. Amy, I absolutely and wholeheartedly agree! It ends at age 1, so for a more thorough, but less readable, guide, try “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.”. Many books stand out in my mind but for dealing with grief Badger’s Parting Gifts was always the most touching and poignent. Now how do I prepare her for it?” Storytelling, I’d learned from the brilliant book The Whole-Brain Child was a fantastic way to engage then 21-month-old Allie, so I turned to my favourite resource – our local library. He loves to read it and I think he really understands the concept of a new baby in the house. Thanks a million! The characters on these pages coax out what children are worrying about before the start of school and allows for meaningful discussion that might help to quell these fears. Oh my gosh – that got me all teary-eyed (again)! When parents divorce, it is extremely common for children to think that somehow the children are to blame. Thank you! Hope this helps. This story encourages both older and younger siblings to learn to view each other with gratitude, appreciate, and love. Found this helpful? .-= Heather Allard´s last blog ..Don’t Forget! It’s one that my oldest daughter wants to read over and over, and I always notice more tenderness (for at least a little bit) toward her younger sisters after we read it. Books for 12-18 months. Economist Emily Oster brings the data-driven approach of her incredible pregnancy book, "Expecting Better," to the challenges of early parenthood. The book is a rare one among sibling-to-be books, because this little girl is totally psyched to tell her baby sis all about cupcakes, swimming, strawberries, and the other awesomeness things adults take for granted in life. The Kissing Hand helped my daughter adjust to Kindergarten during the first few weeks and it helped even more that her teacher read it to them once a week for the first two months of school. This book not only helps children to understand that it is not the fault of the children when parents divorce, it also explains some terms and phrases that are often used in these circumstances, but that children may not understand. The books guide through the idea of purity in relationships, and can help instill a healthy, positive view of themselves, which they will take into relationships in the future. Great list! I will have to check into them. Hello, Baby! Mrs. Raccoon gives Chester Raccoon a kiss on the hand that will go with him on his first night of school. Whether you are just about to tell your toddler there is a baby on the way or have already welcomed your new bundle of joy, these are my personal recommendations of books that help young children cope with the arrival of a sibling. Thank YOU for the recommendation, Andrea! 1. .-= Megan´s last blog ..What We’re Reading Wednesday: August 12th =-. After my brother and I were both old enough to read aloud we would read chapter books as a family – mostly the classics. It's a great book for toddlers! It's a great book! But reading a story can allow parents to speak their hearts — even if the sentiment is “borrowed” from the author of the book. The 50 Best Books for 11- and 12-Year-Olds 15 Classics That 8- to 12-Year-Olds Say Are Worth Reading Today 21 Middle Grade & Chapter Books to Dive Into This Fall 2020 Popular Topics Books Boys Love Books Girls Love Action & Adventure Explore All Tween. Each gorgeously illustrated page of this powerful book offers calming and inspiring reassurance to the loved ones left behind when someone passes away. What a great list you’ve put together here! eval(ez_write_tag([[300,600],'mamapedia_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',625,'0','0']));I have to say that the advice about Joanna Cole's, "I'm A Big Brother" is great! “ Sophie and the New Baby ” by Laurence Anholt Told through the eyes of a new big sister / new big brother, I’m a Big Sisterand I’m a Big Brother explore the ups and downs of having a new sibling and help to reassure your child that s/he is still loved and special. Amidst many books on dealing with loss, The Next Place stands above the rest as a book that will offer hope and healing to many. The book centers around a polar bear family who are expecting another baby. This is very helpful. I thought a book might be listed on this post…but I see there is not. Thanks for sharing . I liked this book because it addressed the older sibling’s mixed feelings and showed my daughter that it was okay to feel many different ways toward the new baby. We bought "Look Who is going to be a Big Brother" for our 2 year old son when we were preparing for the next one (now 5 months old). How to Be a Baby . Such lovely suggestions! Find the top 100 most popular items in Amazon Books Best Sellers. I like the idea of the “book of firsts”. I’m not sure how much my toddler understood it at the time, but perhaps now that she’s experienced the tension of having less attention, we can read it again and she’ll be able to relate better. is a brilliant lift-the-flap book which is perfect for younger children who need a gentle introduction to the idea that there is a baby inside mum’s tum. and you add pictures of your son & family, too. Here’s the new school book… http://www.twigtale.com/books/remis-new-school. What a great post – another fabulous book when introducing the topic of death/grieving is Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs by Tomie de Paola. it's the sequel to another book that we already owned. There are some good ones by J. Cole.