A Baby's Coming to Your House!

Plot Summary

Get ready—a new baby is coming to your house, and there are going to be lots of changes. Mommy's stomach will get bigger, and there won't be as much room for you on her lap. But you can pat her tummy and feel when it moves in funny ways. The baby will sleep most of the time, and your mommy may tell you "Shhhh." Sometimes the baby will cry—loudly. That's just the way it says "Feed me!" or "Hold me!" or "Change my diaper." As a big brother or sister, you can help with many things and have fun teaching the baby everything you know.

Reviews

"In this smart, sassy preview of life with baby for the preschool set, Thomas serves up her home truths about new babies with a liberal dash of wry humor. She covers the gamut of babyhood, from Mommy's ever-expanding tummy to the mountains of paraphernalia required for one small being. The prose is snappy: brief no-nonsense sentences tell it like it is....Candid pictures of babies, small children, parents, and families of all combinations interacting together, reflecting the myriad emotions expressed, are alternately humorous and touching. The layout has plenty of eye-appeal, with the text appearing in brightly colored blocks surrounded by photographs of various sizes. Worldly-wise preschoolers will appreciate this honest appraisal of what is to come." Kirkus Reviews

"They're black, Asian, Hispanic, white: children of different backgrounds with something in common—a baby is coming to their house. Speaking right to young siblings-to-be and using a comforting refrain, Thomas talks honestly about the changes that are likely to take place—from the appearance of high chairs and messy diapers to sometimes crabby parents and less attention for older siblings. But the writer also offers plenty of reassurance: she tells kids that big brothers and sisters make wonderful teachers for little babies, and though there may no longer be room on Mommy's or Daddy's lap, there's still plenty of room in their arms. Futran's photos are great—affectionate, mostly natural, often funny family pictures with the warmth of a photo album." Booklist

"In a matter-of-fact tone, this tell-it-like-it-is text speaks directly to prospective older siblings. . . . This book will serve as a great springboard for a discussion of a child's individualized concern about what it means to be an older sibling." School Library Journal

"Make room on your parenting shelf for this addition to the 'new baby comes home' genre. Thomas' language is simple but not simplistic, and she keeps her audience firmly in mind when explaining the chronology of events that accompany the imminent arrival of a new sibling..." The Bulletin

Associated Keywords
new baby, sibling, siblings, family, babies, baby