Books About Being a Big Brother or Big Sister
The best books for this transition admit that a new baby is a massive disruption, rather than just something to be happy about. If you have a toddler who might feel displaced, you need stories where the older child is allowed to feel frustrated. We’ve listed books by their specific purpose and estimated read-aloud time.
- Books on this list
- 8
- Shortest read
- 2.5 minutesI Am a Big Sister
- Longest read
- 11.5 minutesJulius, the Baby of the World
- Three minutes or under
- 2 of 8
Our top picks
Peter's ChairAges 3–5 · 4.5 min · 299 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4.5 minutes
- Words
- 299
- Sentences a page
- 2
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 2/5everyday words
- Age range
- 3–5
Why it worksPeter runs away with his old chair because it represents his own space in a house changing for a new baby. It's about the very real feelings of displacement and property that come with siblings.
Worth knowingWith its quiet, 1960s-era domestic details and slower pacing, this story requires an adult to slow down and take their time with it.
View the full book page
Julius, the Baby of the WorldAges 4–6 · 11.5 min · 1,087 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 11.5 minutes
- Words
- 1,087
- Sentences a page
- 3
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5survives a fortnight on repeat
- Vocabulary
- 4/5stretching
- Age range
- 4–6
Book features repeated refrain
Why it worksLilly is unapologetically difficult about a new baby, which makes her relatable to older siblings. They will recognize the contradiction of being "horrible" to a sibling while still feeling a sense of loyalty to them.
Worth knowingThe book treats Lilly's behavior as humorous rather than something to be punished, which may not sit well with every parent.
View the full book page
The New Small PersonAges 4–6 · 8.5 min · 752 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 8.5 minutes
- Words
- 752
- Sentences a page
- 2
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5survives a fortnight on repeat
- Vocabulary
- 3/5a few new words
- Age range
- 4–6
Why it worksWhen a new sibling arrives, Elmore Green finds his space invaded by someone who licks his sweets and touches his things. The story explores sibling resentment and the eventual, earned moment of connection.
Worth knowingElmore's resentment is a recurring theme throughout many spreads. Children under four might struggle to stay engaged before the story reaches its reconciliation.
View the full book page
Za-Za's Baby BrotherAges 2–4 · 3.5 min · 200 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3.5 minutes
- Words
- 200our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 2/5everyday words
- Age range
- 2–4
Book features repeated refrain
Why it worksZa-Za is bored, ignored, and cross because the baby is feeding again. The flat color keeps it cheerful while the text stays honest about how dull a newborn can feel to a toddler.
View the full book page
I'm a Big BrotherAges 2–4 · 4 min · 233 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4 minutes
- Words
- 233our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 2
- Re-read tolerance
- 2/5a few readings
- Vocabulary
- 2/5everyday words
- Age range
- 2–4
Why it worksThis is a factual, straightforward briefing on what a baby is like—crying, needing constant holding, and being unable to play. It’s a useful tool for the weeks before a birth because it avoids being a "story" in favor of accuracy.
Worth knowingIt lacks a plot and jokes, so it works well for a short window during a big life transition before being outgrown.
View the full book page
Compare every cover and read-aloud time
Open any book for its measurements, parent notes and things worth knowing, right here. Read-aloud times are estimates for an unhurried pace, including time for page-turning and looking at pictures. How Owl and Page estimates read-aloud time.
Book group 1 of 2
For kids who might feel angry or left out
- Za-Za's Baby BrotherAges 2–4 · 3.5 min · 200 wordsView full book page
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3.5 minutes
- Words
- 200our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 2/5everyday words
- Age range
- 2–4
Book features repeated refrain
Why it worksZa-Za is bored, ignored, and cross because the baby is feeding again. The flat color keeps it cheerful while the text stays honest about how dull a newborn can feel to a toddler.
View the full book page- Peter's ChairAges 3–5 · 4.5 min · 299 wordsView full book page
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4.5 minutes
- Words
- 299
- Sentences a page
- 2
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 2/5everyday words
- Age range
- 3–5
Why it worksPeter runs away with his old chair because it represents his own space in a house changing for a new baby. It's about the very real feelings of displacement and property that come with siblings.
Worth knowingWith its quiet, 1960s-era domestic details and slower pacing, this story requires an adult to slow down and take their time with it.
View the full book page- The New Small PersonAges 4–6 · 8.5 min · 752 wordsView full book page
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 8.5 minutes
- Words
- 752
- Sentences a page
- 2
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5survives a fortnight on repeat
- Vocabulary
- 3/5a few new words
- Age range
- 4–6
Why it worksWhen a new sibling arrives, Elmore Green finds his space invaded by someone who licks his sweets and touches his things. The story explores sibling resentment and the eventual, earned moment of connection.
Worth knowingElmore's resentment is a recurring theme throughout many spreads. Children under four might struggle to stay engaged before the story reaches its reconciliation.
View the full book page- Julius, the Baby of the WorldAges 4–6 · 11.5 min · 1,087 wordsView full book page
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 11.5 minutes
- Words
- 1,087
- Sentences a page
- 3
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5survives a fortnight on repeat
- Vocabulary
- 4/5stretching
- Age range
- 4–6
Book features repeated refrain
Why it worksLilly is unapologetically difficult about a new baby, which makes her relatable to older siblings. They will recognize the contradiction of being "horrible" to a sibling while still feeling a sense of loyalty to them.
Worth knowingThe book treats Lilly's behavior as humorous rather than something to be punished, which may not sit well with every parent.
View the full book page
Book group 2 of 2
Simple stories for before the baby arrives
I Am a Big SisterAges 2–3 · 2.5 min · 120 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 2.5 minutes
- Words
- 120our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 2/5a few readings
- Vocabulary
- 1/5plain words
- Age range
- 2–3
Book features rhymes · repeated refrain
Why it worksBoard pages and one short rhyming line per spread make it usable with the two-year-old who is about to be displaced but cannot sit through a story. It keeps saying 'I am' rather than 'you must', so it reads as a promotion.
View the full book page
Little Miss, Big SisAges 2–4 · 3 min · 135 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3 minutes
- Words
- 135our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 2/5everyday words
- Age range
- 2–4
Book features rhymes
Why it worksA handful of words per spread carry a whole year—bump, wait, arrive, crawl, walk. A toddler can follow the entire arc of a new baby in about a minute, which is exactly how much they can hold.
Worth knowingThis is more of a short gift book than a full story; don't count on it to cover a whole bedtime.
View the full book page- I'm a Big BrotherAges 2–4 · 4 min · 233 wordsView full book page
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4 minutes
- Words
- 233our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 2
- Re-read tolerance
- 2/5a few readings
- Vocabulary
- 2/5everyday words
- Age range
- 2–4
Why it worksThis is a factual, straightforward briefing on what a baby is like—crying, needing constant holding, and being unable to play. It’s a useful tool for the weeks before a birth because it avoids being a "story" in favor of accuracy.
Worth knowingIt lacks a plot and jokes, so it works well for a short window during a big life transition before being outgrown.
View the full book page
There's Going to Be a BabyAges 3–5 · 6 min · 406 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 6 minutes
- Words
- 406
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 2/5everyday words
- Age range
- 3–5
Book features repeated refrain · join-in questions
Why it worksA young boy wonders what the new baby will be—a cook, a gardener, or a sailor—and each guess leads to a full-page daydream. It turns the long wait of pregnancy into a series of imaginative adventures rather than something to dread.
Worth knowingWith 48 pages spread across a full pregnancy, this isn't meant for one sitting. It works best when read in small chunks over several weeks.
View the full book page
Questions parents ask
- When should we start reading big brother or big sister books?
- Start about a month or two before the birth and keep going. The most helpful books are often the ones you read after the baby is actually here, when the feelings of disappointment are real.