Book Description

Warm, loving pictures accompany this upbeat look at how a family grows when a new baby comes home. A companion volume to I'm a Big Brother. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

"Big Sister" Endures
We received this book shortly after our son was born, and our 2-1/2 year old daughter loved it right away. She still asks to read it, 7 months later. She loves being a big sister, and the book reinforces it in a very positive way. She identifies with the character, down to wanting to get hair bows just like in the illustrations. We like that it is gender-specific as to the "big" sibling, but not the baby.

Great book for toddlers
My daughter is 26 months old and we are expecting our second child in another month. She immediately took to the book and has asked to have it read to her almost everyday. Before this book, we would talk to my daughter about the baby, but we weren't sure how much was sinking in. This book has really helped! After just a couple of weeks, my daughter is much more focused on the baby, and talks about how certain things will be for the baby, such as the infant seat, bouncy chair, pacifier, things like that. She also wants to see my belly all the time and will act like she is feeding the baby, or she will give the baby hugs and kisses. It is very cute, and it really seems like she understands a lot more what to expect when the baby comes. I am sure there are other good books out there, but this one seems especially appropriate for kids in the 1 to 3 year old range. It is straightforward and not too complicated, and has good illustrations. I highly recommend this book!

Nice book with one drawback
I bought this book when my son was born for my 2 year old daugther after reading all the good reviews. I like it a lot - except for the bottle feeding reference. As a breastfeeding mom I would have preferred it if the author simply left feeding out. There are plenty of other things that a big sister can do.

Good, even for young sister-to-be
Our daughter was 17-months-old when she became a big sister, and this book was the only one out there that helped her understand the concept of having a little sister.
It is written very simply, talking about what the little girl can do and how she is a big girl. It talks also about the baby and what the baby can do, what the baby needs, etc. It is very reassuring, I think, to the older child that they are still loved because they are special.
The drawings are very cute and appealing to my daughter - she loves to see the big sister and the baby, the dolls and bears, and the mommy and daddy.
I think it really helped her understand the concept and I would really recommend it for any age!

What a wonderful book
We got this for our daughter (2 1/2) to let her know she's going to be a big sister, and SHE LOVES IT. It has QUICKLY become her favorite book and like to repeat the big kid things she can do. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who's going to have a new big sister in the house! ... Read more

Book Description

The author/artist creators of How I Was Adopted present this child's-eye view of family life, deftly describing the joy of welcoming a new sibling into the family. A companion volume to I'm a Big Sister. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Good for older toddlers, preschoolers
I bought this book to help my almost-three-years-old son adjust to the idea of a new baby brother or sister. He loves it and asks to read it about four times a day. The text is easy to understand. It explains some of babies' limitations ("Too little to walk. Too little to talk.") and also talks about why babies cry, etc. The illustrations are really sweet and everyone is smiling, even the kitty cat.

The one thing I don't like about this book is that it assumes the mom will be bottlefeeding. There are bottles in several pictures (one shows the brother giving a bottle). Since we breastfeed, I would have preferred a book where the mother nurses the baby. However, this hurdle was easily overcome by some quick mommy text improvisation. ("Babies like to nurse," instead of "Babies like to drink milk"). All in all, it's a great sibling book and one I don't hesitate to recommend.

What a great little book!
I bought this book for my 6 year old son just before the birth of his brother. We loved it! It is short for kids who need an introduction but might not want to dwell on the subject, very positive about all the family relationships - especially about being a sibling, friendly and engaging. The reason I really like the Big Brother/Big Sister difference is that the sibling-to-be spends a couple of months hearing that he or she will be a brother or sister and this book follows right along! I did enjoy the breastfeeding illustration, unobstrusive and just as easily a cuddling illustration, which is something many books skip right over. If there was anything disappointing about the book it's the fact that our Big Brother had no interest in looking at it once the baby was here. But, hey, why should I be upset with a book for answering all my son's questions so soon and so easily? ... it was well worth what he got out of it for 3 weeks' worth of reading. I recommend this book highly!

a nice preparation for the new baby
My 18 mo son will sit and listen to this book, and it's the most I get to discuss the "new baby" with him. If I try to point to the new crib, or my burgeoning belly, he just says "no baby" and goes back to his cars and trucks. I agree that the book should have a nursing mother, in this breastfeeding age, or at least say "some babies have Mommy's milk and some babies have milk from bottles," or whatever. But I like that the little boy in the book is unflaggingly positive about his new sibling, and how much his parents still love him.

Great book for Big Brothers
We bought this book to help my son get ready for his little sister's arrival. It has simple text and really highlights on the differences in big kids vs babies. Gets him excited about the big kid things he already gets to do without wanting to regress. I also liked the way the book touches on the nurturing side of the big brother and the parents towards both children. The pages are a little thicker if you have a toddler prone to ripping pages, mine hasn't yet. They are holding up well. A great book that is asked for atleast twice a day by my son! I recommend it.

a much-requested story
this book is one of the favorite stories of our 18-month-old, so much so that we're able to quote the story during regular conversations during the day. we have yet to find out how well this book does for preparing our son for his little brother, but at least he knows that there are some things that big kids can do that babies cannot. i like the fact that the book emphasizes that a big brother can be very helpful with the new baby and is still very loved by his parents. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This book really helped my toddler understand...
This book really helped my toddler understand what was going to happen. He was only 23 months when his little sister was born so his language skills weren't very developed. In the last few months of my pregnancy he would look at this book over and over and over again and you could see understanding dawning on his little face. On day, he was "reading" it and then, all of a sudden, dropped it, ran over to me, and gave me a really big hug. I think that was his moment of truth, lol. Two thumbs up!

Respectful and Realistic
We loved that this book depicted relationships in a respectful and realistic manner. The older boy helps out Mum and Dad, plays alone with baby, has time playing quietly by himself and at the end of the day when baby is in bed, has some quality time alone with Mum and Dad reading a book. We also liked how Dad is actively involved eg he cooks dinner while Mum nurses baby.

Although it had no words, our 1.5 year old twins loved pointing out and naming objects that they knew and of telling us what was happening. For example:
"poo" (baby getting nappy/diaper changed)
"wah, wah" (baby crying)
"shh" (baby sleeping)

We got a number of new baby books, some good some not. This is one that we'd recommend.

Great book for siblings to make up their own stories!
My son loves to look at the pictures & make up stories about his new baby sister. The only problem with it is it's difficult to make up a story for him when you have new-mommy brain and have been up all night with a new baby. ;o) ... Read more

Book Description

In this tender sequel to the New York Times bestseller and children's classic, The Kissing Hand, Audrey Penn provides parents with another tale of love and reassurance to share with their children. Chester Raccoon has a baby brother--and the baby is a bit more than Chester had bargained for. "Please can we give him back?" he begs Mrs. Raccoon, to no avail. The last straw is when Chester sees his mother give his baby brother a kissing hand--his kissing hand, Chester thinks. His mother assuages his fears with her own special brand of wisdom, finding just the right way to let Chester know that he is deeply loved. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A delightful story about raccoons and love.
As a book reviewer for Funseeker's Radio Network I come across a lot of delightful children's book, but this one has to be in the top ten. A mother raccoon has two cubs, with Chester being the older. His mother gives him a kiss in his hand, a "kissing hand" and he is delighted, until he sees her give one to his baby brother. His mother lets him know that he is loved just as much as his brother and that she has enough love for both of them. The illustrations by Barbara Leonard Gibson are some of the best I have seen and remind me of Harry, my own pet raccoon I had when I was younger. This book needs to be bought in pairs, one for the adult buying it and one or more for the children who will love the story and the message it gives. ... Read more

Book Description

In this well-loved Little Critter picture book, our funny younghero has to get used to a new baby sister. What a problem. The baby doesn't payattention when Little Critter reads to her. She cries when he makes silly faces.And she can't understand the jokes he tells. It's seems like an impossible task,but Little Critter finally figures out what you CAN do with a new baby -- andbecomes a very good brother. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A great book for the Big Brother/Sister
This is such a cute book...I found it when looking for some book to get for my son to help him get ready for the arrival of his little sister...what I really liked was how it explained how the baby wouldn't be able to really do anything right away...that was very helpful because of course my son who is 2 thought that his sister would be able to play with him and everything right away...but after reading his books he realized she was going to be a little baby and wouldn't be able to do everything he wanted...he is now very excited for his sister to get here and he loves reading it...he now likes to read it to us...definatly a perfect book for either the Big Brother or the Bid Sister.

The Best I've Found
After looking at many different books to prepare my 2 year old daughter for a new brother, this was the best one! It didn't get into where babies come from, but more about what a sibling can do with a new baby and what to expect.

Perfect for young toddlers
We got this book for our 15 month old when we found out we were having another baby. He absolutely loves this book! He carries it around and even sleeps with it in his crib. Even though he's really young, he is very careful with the thin pages. This book is great!

Such a great book for preparing child for new baby!
My son is 16 months old and he loves this book! It has been so helpful in trying to prepare him for becoming a big brother. Even though he is young, we are able to tell him about what babies can and cannot do so he will be ready when his brother arrives. I think out of all the books we bought, we will be able to reinforce more about babies with this book than any of the others. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who needs to prepare a child for a new siblings arrival!

Great for young kids expecting a new sibling
I bought this book and two others in an attempt to prepare my son for the birth of his sister. He was 22 months when she was born. The other books ordered were too sophisticated for him. This book was a hit - he requested it every night before and after she was born. I liked that it used short simple language to explain what it would be like with the baby around and gave ideas to the older sibling for ways to play with the new baby. The "What to Expect" book and Calliou's book were both not as good. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

My nephew loves it!
I sent this book to my nephew after his little brother was born. He was so excited to fill in the pages. He is so proud to be a big brother. A great gift to send along to the older sibling when you're also sending a new baby gift. New babies tend to get all the attention and the older kid get lost in the excitement.

Great gift for any sibling
I bought this book for my daughter before our son was born. It was a great way to get her involved and excited about the arrival of her new brother. It also gave me and my daughter an opportunity to do something together as some of the activities necessitate parental supervision. I'd recommend it to anyone expecting a new addition to the family. -Norma Rems

Buy this book!
I bought this book for my seven year old daughter. It is such a wonderful little book for her to work on. She loves her baby brother and has had a ball working on this kid-friendly book. I also liked how it has sections that she fills out about herself, so she feels special too. This book would also work for a younger child with an adult helping them. If you have an older child and a new baby I highly recommend buying this book for your older child. It will be a wonderful family keepsake for both older child and baby!!!!!

Great book for New brothers and sisters
My son just loves this new book. This book is great for younger kids as it is geared toward them. There are lots of boxes they can check all by themselves if they are unable to write yet. This books also asks them many questions about themselves, which helps them to feel important too. There are also pages where they can compare themselves to the new baby; such as tracing each of their feet and comparing them. There is also some humorous and silly questions too (My son loved these the best). I would highly recommend this book to anyone that has an older child excepting a new baby in their family.

my daughter loves this book!
my daughter loves this book. she is 9 years old, and with a new baby i wanted to give her a job to do to make her feel important. i looked and looked for something like this. when i got it i put her in charge of recording my new son's babyhood hehe, she loves to do it and everytime he does a first she is off to write it down. not only does it make her feel special and important, i dont have to go fill out a page in a baby book everytime i see my baby do something new. i can sit back and enjoy his accomplishment. a great book for any older sibling (and his/her mom too) ... Read more

Book Description

A sequel to God Gave Us You , God Gave Us Two playfully affirms a child's uniqueness and place in the family and helps little ones accept, appreciate, and love their new siblings.

Now that Mama polar bear has another baby in her tummy, Little Cub is bursting with curiosity."Why do we need a new baby?" she asks."If we don't like the new baby, can we send it back?"

Gently and lovingly, Mama and Papa assure their firstborn that the new baby is a gift from God they want very much, just as Little Cub was--and still is. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Soothing book to love for your child expecting a sibling
I saw this at a baby shower and had to have it! The illustrations are wonderful, and the book combines a little religion and a wonderful way for parents to explain the blessing of a second (or third...) sibling. We have enjoyed this book very much. ... Read more

Book Description

It's natural for children to be concerned about the arrival of a new baby at their house. Most big brothers and sisters feel loving and tender one minute, angry or jealous the next. With over forty vivid full-color photographs and a clear, supportive text by award-winning author Joanna Cole, this revised edition of a much-loved classic will prepare children for the ups and downs of having a new baby in the house.

"Should help small children sort out and deal with the turbulent mixed feelings that assail them when a new baby comes home." --Benjamin Spock, MD., author of Baby and Child Care

... Read more

Reviews (3)

The best book for upset siblings
I read this book many many times to my children as they expected new siblings (we have three kids). Now I am buying it for my nephew. The reason this book is different from other "New Baby" books is that it gives young children a voice for the often strong negative feelings of having a new sibling. Young kids, preschoolers and younger, can't put words to their emotions. This book shows young children who are angry at their new baby brother or sister, feel they are being abandoned by their parents, feel ignored, feel they don't get any attention anymore, can't stand the sound of crying, hate the smell of diapers that need changing, and more. Your child may not tell you he/she feels these things, but believe me, they all do.
Many parents think that if they keep telling their older child how wonderful the new baby is, and what a big boy/girl their older child is, and "be nice to your new baby," that it will sink in. Well it doesn't work. Older kids are very hurt/threatened/scared but the entry of a new baby in the home. Many liken it to the feelings a woman would have in her husband came home one evening with a new, younger wife and said, "Look what I brought you! Don't worry, I will still love you, even though I love my new wife very much, and I will still have time for you, even though I won't have as much. I want you to love my new wife just like I do, and help her out, because you are older and can do more." HA! Once a young child can see that he/she is not alone in having negative feelings, and can put words to those emotions, they can work on them, explain them to you, and believe it or not, they tend to abate.

Exceelent book
We bought this for our daughter (along with the author's book "I'm going to be a big sister") and our daughter loves it. She loves looking at the photos of older siblings interacting with their newborn siblings. In fact, our daughter already wants to be involved with changing the diaper and giving baths.

Lets see how she feels in a few years when her sibling is three and follows her everywhere.

Good for younger children, too!
I bought this book for my 2 year old as we prepared for his new sibling. Some of the text is a bit too much for such a young child, but the photos lend themselves to telling a story that children of any age can understand. He liked to see the pictures of tiny babies, and also liked to hear how the older children felt about the babies. I think this book really helped him to know what to expect. We have lots of "new baby" books, but I feel this one is superior - photographs rather than illustrations really help young children know what to expect. ... Read more

Book Description

The riotously funny Lilly, last seen in Chester's Way (Greenwillow), thinks her new baby brother, Julius, is disgusting--if he was a number, he would be zero. But when Cousin Garland dares to criticize Julius, Lilly bullies her into loudly admiring Julius as the baby of the world.Lilly knows her baby brother is nothing but dreadful--until she claims him for her own. "Henkes displays a deep understanding of sibling rivalry and a child's fragile self-esteem....Lilly is a superb and timely heroine."--Publishers Weekly. " ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Sweet Baby Julius
DO NOT be scared of the previous reviewers silly fears about "bad words" in this book. You don't have to be a genius to see that this is a positive book, with an extremely positive message about babies. Plus, it is Kevin Henkes, and he writes books that kids love, I know, I'm a teacher and if you want your kids to love books, buy them books like this. It's great, and the illustrations are adorable.

When my son was born, we recited parts of this book to him..
...in the NICU. "But his parents loved him. They kissed his wet pink nose, they admired his small black eyes, and they stroked his sweet white fur." Our four-year-old nephew wanted us to name the baby Julius (and we have tee-shirts personalized with Julius, though his name is Jake). We love this book SOOOOO much, and we give it often as a gift. It's a pleasure to read over and over again. "Kiss! Admire! Stroke!"

Julius, the Baby of the World
Lilly, an active mouse, stars in Julius, the Baby of the World, by Kevin Henkes.

It stars Lilly who loves Julius. But when he is born she hates him. She hates how her parents kiss his wet pink nose and how they stroke his soft white fur and admire his small black eyes. Lilly has to share her room. They want Julius to grow up big and strong like Lilly. But when her parents aren't looking, Lilly has her own ideas. Lilly's parents are doubtful about leaving them together alone. Lilly scares him and ignores him. Lilly spends more time in the uncooperative chair. Lilly hates him, but her parents love him. She warns her friends about him and other people.

My opinion is if you like a nice humored book with good pictures, this is your book. I love the way the colors work together. So go...get Julius, the Baby of the World.

I wouldn't have bought this if I'd read it first
Maybe this book would be a good thing for an older child who could understand that the behavior described in the book might be meant as something funny and not be OK to try, but I don't plan to read it to my 2 1/2 year old. It features a big sister who is having a tough adjustment to a new little brother (so far so good), but it goes into descriptions of a degree of negativity and acting out that I am not really looking to introduce my child to or read about over and over. The new big sister is pictured leaning over the baby's crib saying: "I hate you. You're ugly." In our family, we just don't talk to each other like that. The girl makes up a story for her brother in which she says he is a germ, a zero, like dust under the bed, like dirt...If my child had come up with doing this sort of thing on her own, I'd have to think hard about whether reading a story like this would be helpful. Since she hasn't come up with this kind of behavior, I don't really want to plant the seeds by reading this together. I thought Susan Winter's A Baby Just Like Me was much better, and my daughter loves that book. I also liked Geraldine's Baby Brother.

Hilarious, charming and a little educational thrown in
One of only a very few children's books that is laugh-out-loud funny for adults. For the kids, the pictures are colorful and charming (as are all Kevin Henkes illustrations) and the lesson in sibling jealously is a good one. I buy this book for all my little friends who are expecting their first younger brother or sister. A gem among the wonderful collection of Kevin Henkes books. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful book to personalize for your child
My 20-month old daughter loves this book, as do I. The illustrations are beautiful and allow you to tell the story however you choose (there is no text). It's a great way to personalize the "expecting a new baby" story. We talk about our doctor, our favorite toy store, our grandma coming to visit, ect. It's also fun to hear how Dad tells the story. A great book for toddlers who will soon be big brothers or sisters.

Don't Waste Your Money
I purchased this book to read to my 2 1/2 year old daughter as part of preparing her for an addition to the family. My daughter loves books and I enjoy reading them to her. The reading level is listed as Baby-Preschool and I was curious to see how the author would write about such a sensitve subject so that children of a young age would understand. To my surprise, I quickly realized that the "author" chose not to deal with the subject at all and the book consists only of pictures. While its easy enough for a parent to make up a story using the illustrations, there are so many other books out there that have illustrations AND pictures that I would suggest spending your money elsewhere. I also bought Our New Baby by Beth Atchison which I was very happy with. However, if you're considering buying that book please be advised that there are references to God, so if you're not a Christian it might not be for you. ... Read more

Book Description

Max does everything he can think of to encourage his new sibling to be born. He talks to his mommy's tummy, sings to it, plays his drum for it, but nothing seems to work. Max is convinced that this baby will never arrive ... until the day finally comes when Daddy takes Mommy to the hospital.

Harriet Ziefert has written a delightful story about the anticipation of a new arrival. Expectant parents will want to read it with their children, and soon-to-be older siblings are sure to identify with Max. Best of all, there's a gift in the back of the book for the big brother or sister to give to the new baby: a nursery door hanger with two important messages: "Shhhh! Baby sleeping" and "Come in! Baby awake."
... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great for Toddlers!
It can be very difficult to find a book that discusses the "waiting" process before a new sibling arrives in a family. It is even more difficult to find a book that will keep the attention of a 2 1/2 year old. This book covers all of these obstacles and my son LOVES it!

This book discusses a boy named Max waiting for his new sibling to arrive (sister). He does all sorts of things to get the baby's attention inside his mommy's tummy. You can be creative in the way you read this book to your child ,and he/she will find even more enjoyment in the inside cover pages that show the year before the baby is born, and the year after the baby is born.

This book was worth every penny I spent for it!

Amazing and sweet story.
This is a wonderful story, especially for the 3-5 year olds. Max's sweet and emotional style helped my son cope with his own feelings while waiting for his baby sister to come. This is a MUST HAVE book for expecting moms with a preschooler in tow. Then, after this one...you must get Harriet Ziefert's Talk Baby!

My 3 -and-1/2-year-old son loves this book!
We're expecting our second child in a few months, and my son (3 and 1/2) loves the idea that he is going to be a "big brother." This book really highlights some of the feelings he's got -- even though our delivery is months away, not days. We especially like the pages printed on the inside-front and inside-rear covers, which show vignettes from the year in which the baby is born (including full term of pregnancy) and the year after the baby is born. Every time we sit down to read this book, we end up having a half-hour conversation about how my son is going to be such a big helper when the baby comes.

Great story!
I bought this book for my 2 1/2 year old nephew when we found out he is going to be a big brother (of course, the fact that his name is Max clinched the sale!). This book is his current favorite...he knows it by heart and likes to "read" it on his own or to others. The story is written in the third person, but at a level that he can understand and relate to. My nephew especailly loves to look at the pictures in the front and back cover (which depict the year leading up to the baby's birth and the year following the baby's birth) and the two pages where Max does special things with his parents (ride his bike, play ball, go on a long walk, etc.) My next purchase will be a story about living with a new baby, since this one was such a big hit!

Hurry Up, Baby!
My mother gave this book to my 3 year old daughter when she started to become very impatient for her new little brother to arrive. It is a fun story about how Max deals with his frustration that his new baby sister is taking her time in being born. He even tries a little reverse psychology! My daughter loved this book, and still wants to read it even though her "new baby" brother is now 6 months old! ... Read more

Book Description

Every night, while tucking in their three cubs, Mommy and Daddy Bear tell them they're the most wonderful baby bears in the whole wide world. But one day the three little bears start to wonder: How do Mommy and Daddy know this is true? And even more worrisome to each sibling: What if my parents like my brother or sister better than me?

From the team who brought us the beloved children's classic Guess How Much I Love You comes a tale that answers a timeless question with the ultimate reassurance - and offers the perfect way for parents to remind their own little cubs how very much each one is loved. ... Read more

Book Description

In this first counting book, Max trades his house with 2 chimneys, 3 soldiers, 4 bears, and all the rest of his toys for Ruby's 1 lovely doll, Emily. A fair exchange!Rosemary Wells's original four Max Board Books, published in 1979 by Dial and followed by an additional four in 1985, were the first high-quality board books in the U.S. and became immediate classics. Total sales of the eight books were over 1.2 million! But more important, they have been loved by millions of children. For the next generation Rosemary Wells has now completely re-illustrated all eight delightful Max books in her bold, new full-color style. These wonderful stories with real characters are funnier than ever. They are terrific first books, especially with the increased focus on the importance of reading to babies and toddlers, a cause that Mrs. Wells has been wholeheartedly promoting for several years with her The Most Important 20 Minutes of Your Day reading program and now the Prescription for Reading Initiative. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Max must be 3
Because my []son does the same exact things. Sherbert in the tub, favorite shirts, worm cakes...he does it all. This book is a fantastic buy for your [] boy or girl.

cute counting book with abrupt ending
Max wants Ruby's doll, Emily, but Ruby will not part with her. Max has a house with 2 chimneys, 3 soldiers, 4 bears, etc. but all he wants is Emily.

This is a cute counting book, especially for fans of this charming brother-sister bunny duo. But the ending is rather abrupt and always leaves my child wondering what happens next.

Great Book!
This a good book for any child of all ages to read. I am only 15 and I love Max. I watch the show whenever I can. I am proof that you can never be too old for things that are considered to be only for children. Parents or relatives that have or know a child, this is a very good book that is funny and has good pictures.

wonderful on many levels
My 13-month-old son has loved the pictures in this book since he was a tiny infant. He still loves the book. The story is very sweet, and it quite stands alone - unlike some other counting books, which have no "plot" aside from the numbers. I also appreciate that the boy-rabbit Max is shown to want a doll and that his sister (ultimately) thinks Max's trucks, soldiers, etc. are desirable toys.

I love to give this book as a new-baby gift. It is a delight!

Max's Toys
Our son Max loves to help the bunny Max count his toys. The illustrations catch his attention, and he enjoys finding the different toys in the pile on the last page. ... Read more

Book Description

Now in paperback, a picture book, told from a child's perspective, about what to expect when Mom's expecting.

... Read more

Reviews (13)

A lovely book.
Sometimes when shopping for childrens' books online, it's hard to know what a book will really be like (though reviews help). This book I saw in a bookstore and I was captivated by it -- it's not sentimental or sappy but by the time I finished reading it I was extremely moved, even a bit teary. As other reviewers have noted it covers different aspects of prenatal preparations, baby growth, baby care, etc., but it also manages very subtly to encompass some of the emotions (in parents as well as siblings) around the arrival of a new baby. It has a somewhat larger format and wonderfully simple yet expressive illustrations. My son (who just turned four) loves it, and I think it makes him feel good about the prospect of being a big brother (the sibling in the story is a boy, but the book is written in such a way that girls would be able to relate to it, too). After all, it is the big brother who plays a pivotal role in helping to soothe the baby at the end of the story!

Hello Baby by Lizzy Rockwell
My 6 year old son loved this book. We read it practically every night while we were expecting our second baby. He loved to compare what stage of development our baby was in based on the fetal development chart in the book. It's a wonderful, lighthearted story that really helped him get excited about having a new baby in the house.

Great Book
We got this for our 2 1/2 year old, as we are expecting our 2nd soon. We read this book to him every night and he has memorized it. I thought the concepts in the book might be a bit to difficult for him to understand, but he gets it and is eagerly anticipating the arrival of his new baby sister.

Fantastic story and pictures
This is my favorite book of this genre and recommend it to anyone with a new baby coming. We own 6 different "new baby" books and this is the best because it touches on all aspects of the baby-to-come (it ends when the new baby is only days old). There are illustrations of the mom/older brother at the OB's office, of an embryo and fetus development, of the family going through old baby clothes to prepare for the arrival of #2, of waiting at home w/Grandma while mom & dad go to the hospital, of visiting at the hospital, Dad bathing the baby at home, mom breastfeeding, and of a crying baby, among other illustrations. My daughter wanted to read this book several times daily for months before my son was born. She still loves hearing the book read to her and will read it to her stuffed animals, too, 8 months after my son was born. (My kids are 26 months apart.)

* A Beautiful Book *
I have to hold back the tears when I read this book to my son who is almost 4 and expecting his baby brother in a few weeks. It is so helpfull for a child his age to see the trip to the midwife, using the doplar to hear the hearbeat, feeling baby move in mommys tummy, seeing a growth chart showing baby's growth in a very accurate way for a child his age. I love the picture where they take out all of his old clothes and get them ready for the sibling. Also when the dad and son give the new baby a bath together - it is so touching. I can not highly recommend this book enough especially for an older child that can appreciate the complexity of what is really happening to his family. ... Read more

Book Description

Everybody loves Max and Ruby-and what toddler could resist these adorable shaped board books? Cut in the shape of Rosemary Wells's beloved bunny siblings and filled with simple text and colorful illustrations on every page, these two books are guaranteed to delight the very youngest Max and Ruby fans, who can now follow the bunnies' adventures on daily television. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

More Max Mischief
What should one eat for breakfast? Ask Ruby, wise for her seven years. But three year old Max doesn't want to eat healthy - bring on the ice cream! Anyone who has dealt with headstrong toddlers can relate to Ruby's woes. While Rosemary Wells never shows the parents of these delightful bunny siblings, their sweet, indulgent Grandma appears as Max's partner in crime. The Max and Ruby books are such a hit in our house that my 3.5-year-old daughter renamed her younger sister "Max"- and she answers to it! While we saw this particular story first on TV's Nick Jr., both my girls request the book version over and over. I also recommend the new book Ruby's Tea for Two. ... Read more

Book Description

Who comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve to bring presents to good little bunnies? Santa Claus, that's who! And Max wants to stay up and see him. Max's bossy, older sister Ruby doesn't want him to stay awake, but, as always, irrepressible Max has other ideas. He sneaks downstairs to wait for Santa...with unexpected results!

"Wells' pudgy bunnies and delightfully understated story will inspire year-round cravings for candy canes."-Publishers Weekly ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Max is at it again!!
A great book for Max and Ruby fans! It's not too long with just a few sentences on each page and the illustrations are great! It holds my 3 year olds attention all the way through and even gives the parents a chuckle when Max comes back with his own answer of "Because!!" (I'm sure that's just payback for all the times our kids have to hear that answer!) I highly recommend this book!

Max Enchants Again
We absolutely love the Max & Ruby books. Max's Christmas was one of last year's gifts to my toddler munchkins. They love it and they just can't get enough of Max and his bossy-but-loving sister, Ruby. Max's Christmas takes Max through the Christmas Eve bedtime preparations, with Ruby helping him brush his teeth and put on pajamas. "Why?" asks Max. "Because," says Ruby. Max wants to know why he can't stay up to see Santa and, after Ruby puts him to bed, he decides to take his blanket downstairs and just see for himself. Max falls asleep, Santa comes down the chimney (Santa is a bunny, of course), and Max wakes up. Santa tells Max to go back to sleep. Max asks, "Why?" Santa replies, "Because!"

Kids love this book because they identify so completely with Max, even kids who don't have bossy big sisters. Max's adventures mirror those of all little children who are trying to figure out their often confusing world. ... A full Max & Ruby library is one of the best ongoing gifts for pre-school children.

I love Max!
Rosemary Wells' Max and Ruby books are the best books for small children of all time, and Max's Christmas is the best of the best. The focus of the book is Max asking his older sister Ruby a thousand questions about Santa Claus that she can not answer (until, an exasperated Ruby finally screams BECAUSE! and refuses to answer any more questions). If you've dealt with any 2 to 4 year old at Christmas time, this will seem so real you won't be able to keep a straight face. It's just a pure delight.

The illustrations are more detailed, and the colors more interesting than in the Max board books. It's done in a way that the pictures all look bathed in candlelight, which creates a perfect atmosphere for the book. That's one of the things that makes this book even better than the other books in the series.

The recommendations for this book say it is for toddlers to pre-school children, but my kids continued to love it and want to hear it every year until they were about eight. My son loved it so much that I have him on tape reciting it by heart at age three.

If you have little ones to read to at Christmas, this is a must-have!

Max's Santa FAQ
It's Christmas, and Ruby is trying to get her little brother Max ready for bed, and answer his questions about Santa. See what happens when Max has to see for himself. Fun book, because most of Max's dialog is made up of the questions toddler's ask 1,000 times a day, especially: "Why?"! ... Read more

Book Description

Katy Thatcher was the bright and curious daughter of the town doctor. She was fascinated by her father's work, and even as a child she knew that she too wanted to be a doctor. She wanted to know about people. Perhaps it was this, her insatiable curiosity, or simply the charm of Jacob's gentle intimacy with animals large and small, that fueled their friendship. Although Jacob never spoke to her or even looked at her directly, Katy grew to understand him from the moments they spent together quietly singing to the horses. She knew there was meaning in the sounds he made and purpose behind his movements. So when events took an unexpected and tragic turn, it was Katy alone who could unravel the mystery of what had occurred, and why. A two-time recipient of the prestigious Newbery Medal, acclaimed author Lois Lowry presents a sensitive and moving story of a wide-eyed young girl growing up at the beginning of the twentieth century and the influence of the farm community around her. Through Katy's eyes, readers can see the human face so often hidden under modern psychological terminology and experience for themselves the haunting impact of her friendship with the silent boy. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Great nostalgia! Not suitable for young children.
This was one of the books on my eleven-year-old's school book list and the synopsis sounded interesting so I bought it.Good thing I read it first.I don't think it is appropriate reading material for an 11 year old, but will be great for her in a few years.There are definitely some "grown-up" issues in the book.These issues are written through the innocent child eyes of main character, Katy.It is interesting to think of how an adult would have perceived the issues differently and more judgmentally.

The book is told by Katy about her childhood and about her friend Jacob.Katy seems to understand Jacob (who seems to be autistic) better then most.Her father, the town doctor, is a gentle, caring man who treats everyone with respect and also seems to understand Jacob.The ending of the book is heart-wrenching but is perfect for the story.

This book made me want to live in a simpler time and place and made me nostalgic for my own childhood!

Good Stuff
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.I never would have guessed the ending.The way the book was written kept my attention from beginning to end.I enjoyed the point of view given to us from the little girl's innocent point of view.I would recomend this book to any of my friends.

Through the eyes of an innocent child...
I enjoyed how this book was written.With the chapters divided into months you are able to follow the life of Katy throughout this life changing year.I teach fourth grade and many of the girls in my class would enjoy this book.They love to read historical fiction.The character Katy spans from age six to nine years old. The students in my classroom are nine and ten year olds so they will be able to relate to the playfull and innocents of the character.Katy teaches us a life lesson about friendship.She befriends the boy that everyone sees as different, but she sees as a friend.She builds this bong with Jacob throughout the book.From a teacher standpoint I like this aspect of the book.I often see chidren stray away from children that are different or challenged. I have not read another book that teaches family and friend relationships through the eyes of a child.Katy teaches us the importance of these close relationships.

Lowry gives spice to a long ago time and place
When you start reading about Katy Thatcher, she might remind you a little bit of another long ago American girl, Laura Ingalls.Like Laura, Katy has a nascent kindness and innocence and a particular way of accepting life around her for what it is, neither good nor bad, just life.Like Laura, Katy has a strong, direct and healthy relationship with her father, here a small town doctor instead of the homesteader that Pa Ingalls had to be to fit in with his time and place.But if Ingalls had been a doctor, he might well have been like Dr. Thatcher.Into their lives comes--the silent boy.

The silent boy isn't silent because of shyness, though Katy is especially kind to him because of her innate goodness and feeling that he might respond to her overtures and break through his reserve.He has some sort of autism which, as Dr. Thatcher observes, is like nature, neither good nor bad, just a fact to be reckoned with.(Medical science wasn't as developed back then as it is today, as the now grown old Katy realizes from her present day perspective.)

It's a touching tale of growing up, and of failure to grow.And it's also sort of brutal and chilling.

Outstanding!
I loved this book. Like Katy, I am also a doctors daughter and that is why I first read it. But when I finished it, it had me pondering over the powerful message and the beautifully crafted relashionship between Jacob and Katy. All the charachters have a sense of reality and deepness and this book had just the right amounts of innocence,realiy, and hope, just like The Giver and Gathering Blue. ... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com

In Jonathan London’s latest picture book about the only too human Froggy (following Froggy’s First Kiss, Froggy Goes to School, and others), our floppy-footed hero experiences yet another first: a new sibling. Froggy waits eagerly for his brother to be born. When Pollywogilina ("you can call her Polly for short") finally arrives, Froggy gets over his disappointment at her gender, but quickly loses patience with her inability to do anything. He wants to teach her how to jump off a swing, bounce on a pogo stick, and catch flies with her tongue. "But Polly was too little." Will she ever be big enough to play?

Wise older siblings will be happy to inform Froggy that yes, one day Polly will be bigger and ready to be bossed around. Only children (or young amphibians) who are expecting younger siblings will be intrigued at the process of becoming a big brother or sister, and may even learn a little about patience in the process. And everyone will love watching Froggy's green cheeks turn red when his first diapering job doesn't quite do the trick! Frank Remkiewicz's cheerful illustrations capture the ups and downs of those early days with a squalling baby in the house--and an antsy big brother waiting for the fun to begin. (Ages 2 to 6) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more