New babies can come with a whirlwind of emotions, including joy, elation, and even maybe even a little exhaustion. Adding a member to the family often includes a learning process for everyone, and the following recommendations can help folks of all ages prepare.
When Aidan Became a Brother, written by Kyle Lukoff and illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, follows a young boy as he prepares for the arrival of a new sibling. As a trans kid, Aidan knows how important it is to create a situation in which his new sibling can grow and thrive into whomever they are meant to be. For Aidan, this means doing things like picking a gender-neutral name and decorating a room that can reflect the baby as they grow up.
Despite his worries that everything needs to be perfect, Aidan’s mom reminds him of how much he taught his parents from a young age, and that listening and love are some of the most important ingredients.
For older kids, new babies may bring up questions about bodies and their mechanics. Sex is A Funny Word: A Book About Bodies, Feelings, and You by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth offers an informative look at gender, sexuality, and bodies. This reader-friendly comic encourages inquisitive conversation in a joyful celebration of bodies, boundaries, and relationships.
For young adult readers, Mari Costa’s Life of Melody explores co-parenting dynamics between a fairy godfather and a beast-man who find an abandoned human child in the woods and decide to raise her together in the human world.
The mix of fantasy and comedy will draw teens into this magical tale of affection, parenthood, and maybe even romance.
Once babies make their way into the physical universe, they are ready to explore the wondrous world of literature alongside us. Hey You! A Baby’s Day in Doodles by Andrea Pippins is perfect for the developing eyesight of infants with its contrasting colors and bold patterns.
Reading aloud to babies from an early age helps with language acquisition, especially books that focus on daily activities infants experience. Since this board book also combines colorful photographs of babies throughout their day, the book grows with baby as they begin to explore their world around them–and, everyone knows that babies love looking at other babies.
Reading together–no matter the age of your family members–is a bonding experience that creates joyful memories and positive associations. If picking the right book feels overwhelming, the children’s librarians at any New Orleans Public Library location are excellent resources to help you choose stimulating, developmentally-appropriate books for children at all stages of their growth.
Happy reading!
Hayley Morgenstern has worked for the New Orleans Public Library for three years as a children’s librarian. They currently work at Norman Mayer Library and have a specialty in queer and feminist children’s books.