You and Me!/Tu y yo

New Baby

by Rachel Fuller

A new baby needs looking after all the time! It's the perfect opportunity for older siblings to enjoy how much more grown-up and independent they are. A new addition to any family is exciting, but the experience can also be worrying and confusing for siblings. Coping with the new situations and emotions that arise can be very challenging. This series of four board books deals with the anticipation of waiting for the new baby, the excitement of the arrival itself, and the beginnings of the special relationship that develops between siblings. The simple conversational text and lively illustrations are carefully designed to encourage further dialogue between reader and child.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

12 pages, Board book

First published April 6, 2006

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the board book version of this book, which is also in English and Spanish, a big brother must learn to get along with and accept his younger sibling, still a baby. Although some adults won't like the fact that not everything is peaches and cream between the youngsters, the fact that the older one gets annoyed at having his hair pulled or upset when others give more attention to the baby than him seems realistic to me. There are also plenty of harmonious scenes in which the two of them spend quality time together. It's nice to see the two of them sharing a book together on the final pages. This book is one of four focused on helping siblings come to understand the changes in their lives wrought by the arrival of a new family member. I'm sure titles like this one can ease the transition and make children feel okay when they experience some annoyance or confusion over the arrival of a baby.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is tough for a child to adjust to a new baby in the house. Most books about this show a seamless transition. This one differs as it shows the good times (baby laughing at the older sibling's dance, bathing together, reading together) and the not-so-good times (baby pulling sibling's hair, baby screaming, baby butting into playtime with a friend). As the day goes on, the siblings' bond begins to grow. The conversation is easy and natural for a child this age. Artwork is colorful and the style is very primitive, though full of action with just the right amount of things to see.

The fourth (and final) of the "New Baby" series of board books about a new baby in the household, it works well on its own. All are told in a bilingual format (English and Spanish). An excellent choice or the new older sibling!

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

My New Baby was great, but this one is only fine if you’re ok with spending most of story time talking about the older sibling’s bad attitude about the baby. I guess that’s still “preparation”, but I think it would be much better if your child is seeing how an older sibling /should/ behave and to think of that as normal or at least the goal. Yes, they will be annoyed by baby at some point, but that shouldn’t be the expectation.

[TFE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rephrased book a little and just labeled picture. Loved reading and stayed engaged, especially loved (and pointed to) each picture where babies had shirts off. (loves seeing tummies and belly buttons). Is especially good book for older sibling getting new baby sibling (would pair nicely with Caroline Jayne Church's "I'm a Big Sister/Brother"). This one shows realistic issues siblings have during first year.

[Sophia Kamelah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it. Bright colors and super cute story

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good intro to a new baby.

[Mise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that's entirely fine.

Has good sized images that can be used to show different interactions between siblings

[Missy Kirtley]

I don't like that the big brother gets angry at Baby. But other than that, I'm glad that my daughter has a chance to read books and look at pictures of other siblings' interactions, and to see that it's okay to have a wide spread of emotions where her little sister is concerned. She can get angry, and that's okay. She can be happy, and that's okay, too. It was fun to read with both girls, even though I know the little one simply liked the bright contrast in the pictures.

[Rosemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the other book in this series and this one is no exception! I especially love when baby pulls the siblings hair because that happens all the time in our family and I can show my son that its okay to say ouch! Living with a baby isn't easy and sometimes it's fun and sometimes the baby bugs the sibling - so it's a good representation of our life and our 2-1/2 yr old loves this book especially when I not only read it to him but use their names and explain the pages and emotions.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was helpful for talking to our daughter about becoming a big sister. Even after the baby was born, she still asks to read this book.

[TJE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good sibling book, rephrased and pointed at pictures a lot

Great for second time around when Tea was 3

[Terry]

See whywe love this series for toddlers in the Reading Tub review.