The best books about becoming a big brother or big sister

A baby is on the way. For parents this is often a very special time, but for a child it can be hard to understand everything that is about to happen.

A read-aloud book can help make the arrival of a little brother or sister more concrete. Reading a story together often sparks a conversation all by itself. What does a big brother actually do? How small is a baby? And what will you be able to do together later on?

That is why we have gathered a few lovely books that can help prepare your child for the arrival of a baby.

A personalized book in which your own child becomes the big brother or big sister

How special is it when your child sees themselves in the story? At BoekjesAtelier you can create a personalized book in which your child plays the lead. Not just with their name, but with a character that really looks like them.

This can be just the child in the story, or with a sidekick such as mum, dad, a brother, sister or a pet.

Counting down together with mum

In this book Julia discovers that a baby will soon be joining the family. She can hardly wait. In the meantime she practises playing very quietly and says sweet things to mum's belly.

When the baby finally arrives, Julia has brought a surprise: a teddy bear especially for her new little brother or sister. By the end of the story she is sure of one thing: she is going to be a wonderful big sister.

The story is built around small, recognizable moments: looking forward to the baby, practising in advance and discovering what it means to become a big sister. That is exactly what makes it so much fun and so relatable for young children.

Read: Becoming a big brother or sister

A book for two big brothers

In this book Liam and his little brother Eli hear that a baby sister is on the way. They can hardly wait. Liam especially has big plans: he wants to teach her to play football one day.

The brothers soon discover that, at first, a baby is far too small to kick a ball. Luckily they come up with something else. They make their sister the team mascot and give her a soft plush football as a present.

The story is about looking forward to the baby, making plans and discovering that you can be a loving big brother in small ways too. Those recognizable moments are exactly what makes it so much fun for young children.

Read: Personalized book with two characters

Other lovely read-aloud books about becoming a big brother or sister

Alongside a personalized book, there are also wonderful existing picture books that help prepare a child for a little brother or sister. The best choice mostly depends on your child: do they want to know what is happening in mum's belly, or do they need help imagining their new role at home?

• "What's in your tummy, mummy?" by Sam Lloyd — Lovely for curious toddlers who mainly have questions about mum's belly. The guessing-game story keeps the topic light and playful.
• "Bobbi becomes a big brother" — A short rhyming story full of recognizable situations. Helpful for toddlers who like repetition and happily ask for the same book again.
• "Karel becomes a big brother" by Liesbet Slegers — A clear picture book about what changes when a baby arrives. Especially useful for children who feel calmer with simple, concrete explanations.
• "Anna becomes a big sister" by Kathleen Amant — A recognizable story about everyday moments and feelings around a new baby. A good fit for toddlers and preschoolers who like seeing ordinary family situations in a book.
• "Miffy and the new baby" by Dick Bruna — Very simple and gentle. A sweet first introduction for young children who are not ready for a longer story yet.

Which book do you choose?

There is really no right or wrong. Choose the book that matches the question your child seems to be carrying right now.

• Lots of questions about pregnancy? Choose a book about mum's belly.
• Need for predictability? Choose a short, clear story with familiar daily situations.
• Proud of the new role? A book in which your own child becomes the big brother or big sister often lands especially well.
• Will more than one child become a big sibling? Choose a story where the bond between the children is part of the story too.

What we often notice at BoekjesAtelier is that the smallest details open the conversation. A child points at the belly in the illustration, asks whether the baby will cry, or suddenly thinks of a way they could help. Reading aloud then becomes less of an explanation and more of a calm moment to get used to what is coming together.

On top of that, it later becomes a lovely keepsake of the period in which your child became a big brother or big sister.