Big Sisters Are the Best

New additions to a family may be hard for children to accept, and this simple story follows a young girl as she learns to love her new sibling and to help her parents care for "our baby.". . .The message here is positive, accentuated by the illustrations depicting rosy cheeks and smiling faces amid at atmosphere of trust, love, and acceptance. This would be a great title for anyone whose family is growing larger.

These two books are identical with the exception of the illustrations and a few word substitutions. The stories follow a preschooler who has just become an older sibling. The narrator tells what it is like to be a big brother or sister, explaining things like sleeping in a big bed versus a crib, that babies can be loud when they are hungry or when they need a new diaper, that you need to be quiet when they're asleep, and that you need to be gentle when you hug them. Manushkin also emphasizes that even older siblings aren't too big to be held on Mommy's lap or ride on Daddy's back and that having alone time with the parent is still especially important for them. . . .the books are excellent introductions to the topic and could be greatly utilized.