The Baby Sister

by Tomie dePaola

Tommy's so excited that his mom is having a baby, and he asks her for a baby sister with a red ribbon in her hair. But he didn't ask for stern Nana Fall-River to come while his mom is in the hospital. Tommy and Nana don't get along very well, but when little Maureen is born, all the trouble is forgotten.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Memoir, Biography, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Tomie dePaola (pronounced Tommy da-POW-la) was best known for his books for children.

He had a five-decade writing and illustrating career during which he published more than 270 books, including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, and Meet the Barkers.

Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure.

Reviews

[Malbadeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the few, if not only, books I found that introduced the topic of a new sibling in a favorable way. and ya, ya Of course Tomi DePaola is a genius story teller with his use of dialogue and folksy art work..but we already knew that. His anticipation of his baby sister is tangible but not syrupy and his honest assesment of how he felt about getting the wrong babysiter while his mom is in the hospital addresses some of the temporary discomforts without projecting it on to the baby.
I loved it because sometimes kids are actually excited about getting a sybling and not just jealous and fearful 100% of the time.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a delightful preview of things to come within five years of its publication, when author Tomie dePaola would begin fleshing out the stories of his childhood (including this one) in greater detail in the 26 Fairmount Avenue series.

The Baby Sister is told in fuller context in the book Here We All Are, and I would really recommend that book, as well as the entire 26 Fairmount Avenue series, to anyone who enjoys reading The Baby Sister. Little Tomie is living in the 1930s, so when his baby sister Maureen is born his mother is required to spend several days recuperating in the hospital, and Young Tomie isn't allowed to go see her or the baby. What makes matters worse for him is that his Nana Fall-River—who has a strict outlook on how boys should be raised and makes the ache that Tomie feels over not being with his mother feel even sharper—is staying with Tomie and his brother, to take care of them. Tomie becomes sadder and sadder until the day that he receives an unexpected visit from his mother, in a locale that the reader would least expect.

After having read so many books about Tomie dePaola's personal history, I really feel as if I am part of his family. It's difficult to fully explain, but I've become so familiar with his stories that I almost feel as if I witnessed them first-hand, and now enjoy hearing them retold by Tomie dePaola as the author he has come to be.

The Baby Sister is a real treat, and I would give it at least two stars.

[Rachel Auer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It's clearly a little story dedicated to the author's sister, but it just had no real substance. I felt like there was no story if that makes sense. Tommy wants a sister, his mom goes into labor, he's not allowed to see her for days, and when she comes home, he gets to hold her. Like that's pretty much it. The illustrations are nice and it's a fairly easy read for beginners looking to advance past early level reading, but that's about it.

[Courtney Barter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in my childhood. This book is amazing. I believe it would be wonderful to use for children whose parents are expecting a new baby. It gives the view of the way a family changes with a new baby. The artwork is beautiful in this book and makes me want to read it over and over again. Realistic Fiction.

[Kendall Peterson]

This book is considered realistic fiction because it is something that could happen in real life, but it is not based on a true story.
This book is about a young boy named Tommy and his family. Tommy and his family are expecting a baby sister. They spend a lot of time getting the new baby’s room ready and decorating it. When Tommy’s mom is getting closer to having his sister, Tommy’s mom and dad go to the hospital and Tommy’s Nana comes to watch him. Tommy is frustrated staying at home while his mom and dad are at the hospital. He is very eager to meet his new sibling and is not sure how much longer he can wait.
I thought this book was pretty good! I would recommend it as a book to give to a young child who is expecting a sibling. However, I would not recommend it as an interactive read aloud because it would be hard for students to stay engaged.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet story of a little boy waiting for his new baby sister or brother to be born. He very much wants a sister with a red bow in her hair. Even though his grandmother comes to stay with him and his dad, he is lonesome and misses his mother when she goes to the hospital. It is so hard to wait for her to come home with the baby. He is eager to know if his prayers were answered. Great illustrations.

[Somia Kassim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a boy Tommy and his mother. Tommy's mother is pregnant, and Tommy wishes to have a baby sister that plays with him. Tommy had a big brother and many family members, but he wanted a baby sister. So, his mother delivers a baby girl, and after putting the baby girl in his lap, Tommy's wish comes true.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mom is pregnant and Tomie wants a baby sister. The book is about all the waiting that happens and the anticipation that builds. The family gets the house ready for a new baby and Tomie dreams of a little sister.

The whole thing takes place in their house like a kid might experience. The mom goes to the hospital and the grandma comes to take care of Tomie and the kids. He misses his mom.

He's so excited to see his sister. It's very cute.

The artwork is warm and lovely. There is excitement in the mundanity of it all.

Kids expecting a new sibling might enjoy this.

[Liliana Carrizales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I choose this book and placed in realistic fiction shelve because it is an event that can happen to families since there is always new members of the family. It would be good to read to a child that her mother has a new baby in the way and show him that him/her is not alone.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a huge Tomie dePaola fan and this book was sweet, about a boy named Tommy whose awaiting his baby sister's birth. There's not much conflict, so that's where the lower score comes in, but the illustrations, if you like dePaola, are great. My score - 3/5

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really sweet but it didn't grab and hold my attention.

[Sarah Reiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

family, addition, sweet, love

[Molly Rhymer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical Fiction. A young boy hopes that his pregnant mom is having a girl, and he has to wait at home while she is in the hospital having the baby.

[Caitlyn Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful heartwarming choice for a children's book, as many children go through this in real life every day.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t really like reading this book. It was very long and the text was too simple. There was not much emotion or character development and the illustrations were a bit outdated.

[Raquel Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keywords:
-Siblings
-Red bow
-Mother
-Bother & sister love

[Jessica Avila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story about a little boy wanting a little sister

[Carmen Patino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby sister, excitement, sibling love.

[Tym · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt story about a young boy awaiting his sister’s birth and the challenges he faces while his mother is gone.

[Marisa Lightfoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful heartwarming choice for a children's book, as many children go through this in real life every day.

[Dr. Flippin's · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I rated this book a 5 because it is like when I met my baby sister. I would recommend this book to when I meet my baby sister."- Eyonnie Fenwrick

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an endearing story about author/illustrator Tomie’s excitement as a little boy preparing for his baby sister to be born

[Zazriel Andrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jjzk

[Grace Luedecke · Rating 4 out of 5]

moms pregnant, tommy stays w gma, enemies to friends, new baby!

[Michelle Castillo]

Family. Different personalities.

[Samantha Sharp]

Although Tommy has a big family, he wanted a baby sister with a red ribbon in her hair more than anything; and when this came true, he could barely wait to see his new sister when she and his mom came home from the hospital.

[Maddie Hiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction, family, tradition/ culture

[Makaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute story on how an older siblings acts sometimes.
Tommy's so excited that his mom is having a baby. He really wants a baby sister with a red ribbon in her hair. But he didn't ask for stern Nana Fall-River to come while his mom is in the hospital. Tommy and Nana don't get along very well, but when little Maureen (sister) is born, all the trouble is forgotten.

[Natalie Pope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book made me think of when my younger sister and brother were born. I was just as excited as Tomie and will always remember the experience. This story shows the bond of families and how they come to together to help one another and to celebrate. I greatly enjoyed reading the book and was kept engaged by the realistic illustrations and text. I felt like I could really relate to Tomie in the book and enjoyed seeing the outcome. I would recommend this book to young child who have a baby brother or sister or are expecting to have one, older people who have experienced having a younger sibling, or adults who are having children.

[Yajaira · Rating 5 out of 5]

loving, caring, sibling