Welcome to the Big Kids Club: What Every Older Sibling Needs to Know!

by Chelsea Clinton, Tania de Regil (Illustrator)

A humorous book about what every older sibling needs to know, filled with information about the new baby at your house, from mom of three and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of She Persisted Chelsea Clinton.

Is there a new baby coming to your home? One that will sleep and cry and demand attention and…poop? Well, welcome to the Big Kids Club!

This book will teach you what every big kid needs to know about their baby: what your baby can see, why your baby cries, when your baby will be able to talk, how your baby knows you love them, and so much more (including why your baby poops so much!).

With artwork sure to cause big-kid-sized giggles, this book is perfect for any member or soon-to-be member of the Big Kids Club.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 13, 2022

About the author

Chelsea Clinton has always been interested in making the world a better place. When she was a child in Little Rock, Arkansas, one of her favorite books was 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth, and as a teenager in Washington, D.C., she led her school’s service club. While at Stanford, Chelsea worked as a reading and writing tutor and volunteered at the Children’s Hospital. Today, she is Vice Chair of the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation where she helps lead the work of the Foundation across its various initiatives, with a particular focus on work related to health, women and girls, creating service opportunities, and empowering the next generation of leaders. Chelsea holds a BA from Stanford University, an MPH from Columbia University, and an MPhil and doctorate degree in international relations from Oxford University. She lives in New York City with her husband, Marc, their daughter, Charlotte, their son, Aidan, and their dog Soren.

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

WELCOME TO THE BIG KIDS CLUB is a guide for younger children that are about to become big brothers and sisters. It teaches them what the new baby can and can't do and how to handle certain situations they may come across. Not leaving anything out, this book even dives into the different senses and what the baby can and can't see and hear.

The illustrations are vibrant and detailed and I love how they're the perfect depiction of a preschooler, attitude and all. There are limitations with new babies that preschoolers may have a hard time understanding, but the author goes into the "why" of things which is important for this age bracket. It's a great educational tool that all older siblings should have. Parents read baby books to prepare and it's about time we have something good for preschoolers who are about to become older siblings because their lives are about to change too.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this to children aged four and up who are about to become a big sister/brother and don't quite understand what that entails. This book will help prepare them for what's to come and is packed with so many facts that parents may not even think of addressing.

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new baby in the house is always hard, especially for an only child. This book is here to help. When getting ready to have my second child, I found these books very helpful. I will never forget when I brought my second home: my first didn't want to see me, he wanted to see "his baby". When my second baby would cry, my first would ask me if they needed a bottle or to change a diaper, and still to this day, comes and tells me if their brother needs something. I also feel like this preparation of my oldest has helped both of them have the great relationship that they still have, three years in. If anything, this can also help to teach your child empathy, curiosity in others, and responsibility of those needing help. I know first hand that all babies can be expensive, but I really feel this book is a great investment for your children's' relationship off to a great start and hopefully help them have a great sibling relationship for the rest of their lives.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Philomel Books through Edelweiss+.
Clinton shares information at a level for younger readers who will have lots of questions about a new sibling. I appreciate that she addresses so many questions and affirms babies of all sorts. She shares that not all babies can see or hear or walk, etc. as needed throughout the book. The illustrations support the text and, again, show all sorts of siblings connecting with each other.
This will make a fabulous gift to older siblings so they feel included in these transitions in their families.

[Andrew Dittmar · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her book about Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, the image Amy Chozick creates of Chelsea Clinton is an almost-robot with limited personality. I have watched her in interviews - she shows up on The View on a semi-regular basis - and that isn't the vibe one gets from watching her. Based on her picture books, though, I have to think there's some truth to Chozick's image.

This is a nice book. It isn't the work of a natural picture book author or children's storyteller.

But still worth reading.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though we all start out as babies, we don't remember what it's like (and that's probably for the best). This book explains what a new baby is going to be like to future older siblings. While the text acknowledges that some babies don't develop in a "normal" way (for example, they might not be able to hear ever) and that's okay, the illustrations don't specifically show any babies like that (but that might be hard to illustrate). Each spread answers a question that I'm sure any future sibling has wanted to know. Definitely a must read for future older siblings!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was an okay book. It kind of informed older siblings of what a new baby sibling would be like. I want to point out that babies can start hearing long before they are born, around 18 weeks of pregnancy. Our daughter knew our voices already when she was born and would snuggle in with us when we spoke to her.

[emyrose8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5- Great book for bigger kids adding a new sibling to the family. The book is formatted in a question/answer way, and the answers are pretty wordy, so not the best for a super young kid. 1st and 2nd grade maybe?

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Kelly]

I thought the questions were pretty straightforward but also included a couple I wouldn't have thought of right away. The answers were inclusive, and I liked the illustration style.

[Ms. Madalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not good for story time but would be a great resource for any newly minted "big sibling."

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A handbook for good siblings on how to treat their new baby.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of appropriate questions with good, well reasoned and diverse responses. This book will be my new baby gift for families who have older siblings who are welcoming a new baby to their homes!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a gift to give an older sibling of a newborn, look no further. This book answers some of the questions that an older sibling may have. Their parents may learn something new too.

[Great Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a new baby joining your family? This funny and fact filled book will teach you everything you need to know to prepare. A perfect gift to welcome soon-to-be siblings to The Big Kids Club! Reviewer #26