Books Meant for A New Big Sister (or Brother)

A few folks have asked what we are 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 enjoy for Captain Barnacles – more on him here and here).

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

… and assembling furniture for his nursery together.

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

I am A Big Sister – This is a strong one for specifically highlighting the cool things about being the older sibling. So it mentions some things big kids can do (push the stroller, assist to change a diaper) and although the babies have it fairly good (being pushed and coddled) there is a strong page about the big sister getting ice cream, but babies cannot have ice cream. As strange as it sounds, it likely 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 lively things that bigger kids can do that babies cannot.

You Were The First – This one is so sweet that it makes me cry every time. I truly want Clara to know how enjoyed 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 pleasant way that I can remind her that she’ll consistently be my special girl. It simply chronicles all the things that happen when you bring home a new baby and reminds the child you are 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 in fact has the baby, so his little sister simply magically appears at home halfway through the book. But Clara seems to enjoy 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 have enjoyed. Do you folks have others you’d recommend? We’d enjoy to check them out!