When fellow parents ask how I find time to read with a toddler at home — and now a newborn as well — I tell them I read what I love! It’s true that I read a lot, but sometimes life does get in the way. We welcomed baby No. 2 last month, and in the final lead-up to her arrival, I was a little too busy (and too tired!) to get much of my own reading done. Instead, here are two of our favorite picture books for getting siblings ready to welcome a new baby home.
“Maple” by Lori Nichols: In this sweet book, a little girl named Maple plays with the tree her parents planted before she was born. The arrival of a new sapling heralds the arrival of a new family member as well. Maple does her best to be a good big sister, sharing her beloved tree with the new baby.
“Nine Months” by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Jason Chin: We’ve read lots of books about where a baby comes from, and “Nine Months” is my favorite. Paul’s text is poetic but factual — “She has a face/she likes to move!” — and Chin’s bright, detailed illustrations provide plenty to talk about. Each two-page spread features the growing fetus on one side, and the family preparing (getting an ultrasound, building a crib, etc.) on the other. More detailed information in the back helps parents answer older kids’ questions.
