What is your favorite book for introducing a new baby into the family? This is probably the question I am asked most frequently, and, surprisingly, I never really had a great answer. There were books I really enjoyed on this topic, but there were never any I loved. The New Small Person, by Lauren Child, just changed that, and it will now be my go to book recommendation for any family expecting a second baby.
Being an only child, Elmore Green is accustomed to life as the center of his parents’ world. But when the new small person arrives – stealing attention from their parents, licking Elmore’s jelly beans, and knocking over Elmore’s things- Elmore is less than thrilled. Elmore wishes this new small person could just go back to where he came from, and what follows is a pitch perfect story of Elmore’s evolving relationship with this new baby.
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I love the way Child so deftly handles Elmore’s emotional transformation once his brother arrives. It’s one many of us have seen– watching first hand as our older child struggles to find his new place in the family, all the while grappling with feelings of jealousy, anger and even indifference before they become loving protectors of their new baby siblings. Elmore works through these emotions so organically and in such a relatable way, that even young kids will be able to identify with Elmore’s challenges. And the pay off- the way in which Elmore’s little brother comes to his rescue, which is the catalyst to Elmore’s gradual acceptance of his baby brother- is so sweet and emotionally resonant without being saccharine. Child just nails the evolution of the sibling relationship – and I couldn’t be more excited to have finally found the perfect book on this topic.
Want the book? Get it here! The New Small Person, by Lauren Child. *This is an affiliate link.
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