There is so much excitement when your family grows. Making the transition from single child to more can be a monumental change, especially for the soon-to-be-no-longer-only child. In my family, we joked that our second pregnancy was all about our older child, while they anticipated the new baby. There were lots of questions about how this happened, what would happen, how baby was doing, what baby was doing, and more.
Here are some of our favorite books for sharing with your child from pregnancy to becoming a big sibling. Click on the covers to go to our catalog and place a hold.
PREGNANCY OR HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!
Nine Months by Miranda Paul
Alternating panels show a family preparing for a new baby alongside the development of the baby.
Mommy, Mommy What’s In Your Tummy? by Sarah Simpson-Enock
With lift-the-flaps, the reader gets an inside peek at what is going on in mom’s every growing belly.
What Makes a Baby by Cory Silverberg
This might be the grooviest explanation – the colorful non-descript swirls providing a child-friendly guide to where babies come from.
How Big Is Our Baby? by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
A guide for big siblings on the month-by-month journey of the baby’s growth.
What’s In There? by Robie Harris
Harris is a pro at making difficult topics easy for both kids and adults to discuss!
Hello In There! by Jo Witek
A colorful and imaginative guide about what exactly is happening inside.
WAITING FOR BABY
You Were the First by Patricia MacLachlan
A reassuring title about the importance of being the first child and all the things about them that are special.
There’s Going to be a Baby by John Burningham
What will life be like after the baby arrives? Gentle writing paired with sweet illustrations.
One Special Day by Lola Schaefer
An imaginative big sibling waits for someone special to arrive.
Hey Baby, It’s Time to Come Out by Harriet Ziefert
Singing and reading to the baby in mom’s belly doesn’t seem to make it appear any faster.
Before You Were Born by Deborah Kerbel
A family waits for their new baby, while the wildlife around them welcomes their new babies.
Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson
Will the special bond between mom and the big kid go away when the baby arrives?
Will You Still Love Me? by Carol Roth
Animal mothers and a human mother reassure their children that they will always love them, even after a new baby arrives.
A Most Unusual Day by Sydra Mallery
Today’s the day that an adopted sibling arrives home.
WHAT ARE NEW BABIES LIKE?
Hey Baby by Andrea Pippins
Follow a babies day in this combo of real pictures and doodles.
Ready, Set…Baby! by Elizabeth Rusch
Big kids give the inside scoop on taking care of a new baby.
Look!: Babies From Head to Toe by Robie Harris
An adorable board book, great to share before and after baby is born.
I Am a Baby by Kathryn Allen
Photographs show different families and their babies enjoying the day.
Who? A Celebration of Babies by Robie Harris
An adorable board book about babies and those they love.
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox
A snuggly, rhyming romp celebrating babies.
You Are New by Lucy Knisley
A whole world of new is awaiting each new baby.
American Babies by the Global Fund for Children
Photographs of babies from across the country.
BEING A BIG SIBLING
We Are Brothers, We Are Friends by Alexandra Penfold
A big brother explains to his baby the adventures they will have because they are brothers and friends.
Real Sisters Pretend by Megan Dowd Lambert
One thing real sisters never have to pretend? Loving each other, even though others might not recognize they are real sisters since they are adopted and don’t look alike.
Lola Reads to Leo by Anna McQuinn
No matter what the baby is doing, Lola is ready to share a story with her new baby.
The New Small Person by Lauren Child
After being an only child, it’s sometimes hard to share and make room for a sibling.
I Am Helpful by Suzy Capozzi
Being a big sibling means special jobs that only they can do to help with a new baby.
Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke & Lauren Tobia
Life with two new babies is busy! Will there be time for Anna? How can she help?
My Brother the Duck by Pat Zietlow Miller
A young scientist is pretty sure the new baby is duck, but further experiments might be necessary.