Great list, Sarah! When I was pregnant with my second, I would choke up (and sometimes full-on cry) when reading You Were the First by Patricia MacLachlan, the sweetest love letter to a firstborn. It doesn’t cover the nuts and bolts of having a new sibling, but it nails the emotional transition.
Baby Tree looks so good! We don’t have a second but for some reason I still enjoy reading books about this season in a child’s life. It’s such an exciting (and scary) time all at once!
There’s Going to Be a Baby by John Birmingham and Helen Oxenbury has my fav illustrations maybe ever. It imagines the incoming baby as having all these ridiculous jobs (flipping pancakes, being a sea captain, zookeeping and banking) but also these truly beautiful scenes of the mom with the bigger kid as the seasons pass and her belly grows.
However the text needs some editing and could have been WAY more simple and straightforward but I honestly just did some editing while reading it to my littles since the illustrations were so captivating.
I love this list! So many good ones. If you have time, I'd love to submit a question for a future post. In a few weeks, my family will be embarking on a cross country move to be closer to family. I am seeking out books about moving to help my almost 4 year old with this big change. Any suggestions?? Thank you! <3
- The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain (I don't always love the B. Bears but I find them to be ridiculously effective with my kids)
- Big Ernie's New Home: A Story for Young Children Who Are Moving by Whitney Martin
Moving House (Usborne First Experiences) by Anne Civardi (same feelings about Usborne books as B. Bears but this one shows all the aspects of moving)
- A Kiss Goodbye by Audrey Penn (part of The Kissing Hand series)
- Moving Day (Katie Woo) by Fran Manushkin
- Moving to the Neighborhood by Alexander Cassel (this is a Daniel Tiger companion book so there's an episode that goes along with it -- Daniel Tiger has always been some kind of insane magic with my children, especially watching and reading)
I know we're all about books here but if you watch movies with your kiddo, Inside Out is also all about a kid moving and dealing with big change.
The Dress-up Box by Patrick Guest & Nathaniel Eckstrom is one we got from the library not too long ago about a family moving. It's Australian so not sure if it is available wherever you are, though.
"The Frolleys have to move from their beloved house at 32 Sunshine Avenue to a place with dripping taps, stinky carpets and ants.
But they have brought something with them that can turn any house into a home.
The Dress-Up Box is a story about childhood, belonging and the power of imagination.
Shortlisted for the 2019 CBCA Early Childhood Book of the Year and the 2019 Prime Minister's Literary Award"
Great list! I'm such a fan of Joanna Cole and will have to check out The New Baby at Your House for my niece. Her little brother is not such a new baby anymore but I'll bet the themes will still resonate!
THANK YOU for putting together this list!! Baby #2 is due in a few months and on my weekend to-do list was "find books about new babies" so perfect timing on this list.
I Love You, Blue Kangaroo! by Emma Chichester Clark is an Australian classic on the subject and it seems to available on US Amazon so I guess you can get it there as well. Blue Kangaroo is Lily's favorite/only toy. But then new toys start showing up and Blue Kangaroo worries there isn't room for him anymore....
When I First Met You, Blue Kangaroo (technically the 9th book in the series but, like a Hollywood reboot, is the "origin story" of Blue Kangaroo) covers similar ground and is about when her brother is born and she first gets Blue Kangaroo.
Great list, Sarah! When I was pregnant with my second, I would choke up (and sometimes full-on cry) when reading You Were the First by Patricia MacLachlan, the sweetest love letter to a firstborn. It doesn’t cover the nuts and bolts of having a new sibling, but it nails the emotional transition.
You Were My First guts me. I give it to all my friends who are expecting their second and I love the weepy text messages I receive afterwards
I need to read this!
Baby Tree looks so good! We don’t have a second but for some reason I still enjoy reading books about this season in a child’s life. It’s such an exciting (and scary) time all at once!
We’re all done too but whenever I’m cleaning out my shelves I can’t seem to get rid of mine either!
I love baby and sibling books!
Anything by Sophie Blackall wins in my book! (pardon the pun 😆) I recently recommended Baby Tree, too!
Agreed! Hello Lighthouse is an all time fav!
There’s Going to Be a Baby by John Birmingham and Helen Oxenbury has my fav illustrations maybe ever. It imagines the incoming baby as having all these ridiculous jobs (flipping pancakes, being a sea captain, zookeeping and banking) but also these truly beautiful scenes of the mom with the bigger kid as the seasons pass and her belly grows.
However the text needs some editing and could have been WAY more simple and straightforward but I honestly just did some editing while reading it to my littles since the illustrations were so captivating.
The Baby Tree cover ☺️
I love this list! So many good ones. If you have time, I'd love to submit a question for a future post. In a few weeks, my family will be embarking on a cross country move to be closer to family. I am seeking out books about moving to help my almost 4 year old with this big change. Any suggestions?? Thank you! <3
Hi Liz -
- The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain (I don't always love the B. Bears but I find them to be ridiculously effective with my kids)
- Big Ernie's New Home: A Story for Young Children Who Are Moving by Whitney Martin
Moving House (Usborne First Experiences) by Anne Civardi (same feelings about Usborne books as B. Bears but this one shows all the aspects of moving)
- A Kiss Goodbye by Audrey Penn (part of The Kissing Hand series)
- Moving Day (Katie Woo) by Fran Manushkin
- Moving to the Neighborhood by Alexander Cassel (this is a Daniel Tiger companion book so there's an episode that goes along with it -- Daniel Tiger has always been some kind of insane magic with my children, especially watching and reading)
Good luck with your move!
I know we're all about books here but if you watch movies with your kiddo, Inside Out is also all about a kid moving and dealing with big change.
The Dress-up Box by Patrick Guest & Nathaniel Eckstrom is one we got from the library not too long ago about a family moving. It's Australian so not sure if it is available wherever you are, though.
"The Frolleys have to move from their beloved house at 32 Sunshine Avenue to a place with dripping taps, stinky carpets and ants.
But they have brought something with them that can turn any house into a home.
The Dress-Up Box is a story about childhood, belonging and the power of imagination.
Shortlisted for the 2019 CBCA Early Childhood Book of the Year and the 2019 Prime Minister's Literary Award"
Ooooh, such a great point, Tran! Thanks for these suggestions.
Great list! I'm such a fan of Joanna Cole and will have to check out The New Baby at Your House for my niece. Her little brother is not such a new baby anymore but I'll bet the themes will still resonate!
We loved Phoebe and Digger by Tricia Springstubb!
THANK YOU for putting together this list!! Baby #2 is due in a few months and on my weekend to-do list was "find books about new babies" so perfect timing on this list.
So glad I could help!
I Love You, Blue Kangaroo! by Emma Chichester Clark is an Australian classic on the subject and it seems to available on US Amazon so I guess you can get it there as well. Blue Kangaroo is Lily's favorite/only toy. But then new toys start showing up and Blue Kangaroo worries there isn't room for him anymore....
When I First Met You, Blue Kangaroo (technically the 9th book in the series but, like a Hollywood reboot, is the "origin story" of Blue Kangaroo) covers similar ground and is about when her brother is born and she first gets Blue Kangaroo.