Books for children with new siblings

I was exactly two years and three months old when my sister was born. I loved her straight away – something photos certainly support – from posing beside her cot to trying to involve her in elaborate games, there’s always a smile on my face. 

But even when things get off to a good start, becoming the oldest is a pretty big deal. A new baby means an extra person to love and have fun with, but it also brings change and responsibility – that’s a lot when you’re little yourself. 

A couple of years ago, I came across a series of sketches by illustrator Antonia Woodward. Two small characters – sometimes together, sometimes apart – perfectly capturing the joys and challenges of early siblinghood. 

The oldest child’s blend of confidence and vulnerability felt particularly familiar, so I sat down and wrote her a story. Joyful and warm, with a fair few spillages, Being the Biggest is a helping hand for any child expecting a new arrival or adjusting to life as a big sibling. 

Told through the eyes of an oldest child, our narrator eagerly embraces her new role as the family’s big kid. She helps, teaches and leads the way as she discovers the world with her little sibling. But as the first to start school, and with so much still to learn, being the biggest starts to feel tricky…

Fortunately, it turns out that grown-ups don’t always like being the biggest either, so Mum is the perfect person to help. With love, support and self-compassion, our big kid begins to understand that it’s okay to ask for help (and still feel small sometimes). 

There are many books about preparing for and meeting a new baby but fewer about what happens next. This is a selection of my favourite books for oldest siblings – I hope they bring you and your big kid comfort, connection and joy. 

Happily, the formidable Lauren Child lends her signature wit and warmth to this subject in The New Small Person. Here we meet Elmer, who’s pretty happy being his parents’ only child, after all, ​“it’s nice to be the funniest, cleverest, most adorable person someone has even seen”, right? 

But when a new baby arrives, things take a turn for the worse. It cries, knocks things over, only watches baby shows (so boring) and commands LOTS of attention. Fortunately, as time progresses and a friendship blooms, Elmer realises that having a sibling might not be that bad after all… 

If the charming title isn’t enough to convince you, know that it’s packed with laughs, warmth and lots of jellybeans. 

With outrageously cute characters and a fun rhyming text, I instantly loved this book and reckon much younger big kids will too. Buffalo Fluffalo is having a lovely time, until he’s interrupted by a rather loud and whiny cry – ‘“What could that be?” huffed tired old Fluffalo. ​“I’ve said it before – I’ve had enuffalo!”’.

But when he meets the source of all this wailing, even sceptical Fluffalo has to admit that the culprit (appropriately named Puffalo) is a tiny bit cute. Having Puffalo tag along does bring change, but as they get to know each other, Fluffalo decides that life is definitely sweeter with this little fluff ball around. 

A companion to the must-read modern classic Here We Are, this is a baby book for the whole family to enjoy. With fun and heartfelt prompts, once complete, this book offers new humans a personalised guide to life on Earth. 

And who better to explain our planet’s strange ways than another recent newbie – their big sibling! With space to draw, collect trinkets and stick photos, this is the perfect book to complete with an eldest child across their sibling’s early years. 

Notably it doesn’t include a family tree, but instead has a spread entitled ​“Your People: Here are some of the people who love you”, enabling families of all shapes and sizes to record and share their memories. 

Like all good children’s books, this one is deceptively profound. Playful artwork and bouncy rhyme create a world full of whimsy, but the story than unfolds addresses a very human fear – being replaced. 

When little yak Gertie learns that she’s going to be a big sister, she’s super excited. From her wool comb to her special collection of pinecones – ​“I’ll be the BEST SHARER of all sister yaks”, she declares. But when Gertie realises she’ll also have to share her Mummy, she wonders if Mum’s heart will be big enough for two… Luckily, after sharing her worries, Mum helps Gertie see that love has no limits. 

And if you’re looking for a book for your youngest, check out the first book in this delightful series, The Littlest Yak. 

This book isn’t specifically about siblings or being the biggest, but it is about feelings, and being a big kid definitely brings up lots of those. I could sing from the rooftops about how much I love this magical hotel and its kind manager, who makes ​“room for all feelings, no matter how difficult they might be”. It’s a masterclass in metaphor and definitely a story to grow with a child. 

It isn’t written by a mental health professional, so do approach it with that knowledge, but if you’re looking for a way to start important conversations, this whimsical and sensitive journey into the mind is a worthy addition to any bookshelf. 

Being the Biggest, written by Molly Mead and illustrated by Antonia Woodward, is out now.