11 Great Books for Older Siblings

In the third book in the “Lola” series, Lola has a new baby brother and she’s set on “reading” a book to him. The family of color in this story is illustrated in acrylic paintings in such a sweet, loving way.

When Lola goes to meet her little brother at the hospital, she brings him a “soft book for his crib” and when she’s crying, she reads to him “to cheer him up.” This story does a great job at promoting both reading and becoming an older sibling. At the end of the day, Lola’s parents give her the gift of reading to her in the evening because she’s “the best big sister of all.”

A great choice for a toddler who’s about to become a big sister or brother, Waiting for Baby is a four-book series about a biracial family preparing for the arrival of a new baby. The watercolors and graphite outlines illustrate the range of feelings a toddler might feel, from excitement and anticipation to confusion. This series covers pregnancy, welcoming your sibling, and living together as a new family. The multiracial families on the pages feed the baby, get the baby to sleep, and sort hand-me-downs. There are also real-life scenarios such as a baby pulling her big sister’s hair.

This heartwarming picture book about an older brother looking forward to his baby brother being old enough to embark on imaginative adventures with him, is a touching read that your children will enjoy over and over again. The illustrations and storytelling here joyfully celebrate the very special bond that two brothers can have!  

The New Baby at Your House was first published in 1985, but the realistic photos of diverse families make this a great pick for young readers with new vocabulary words such as womb and umbilical cord, and picture of real babies with their older siblings. More than 40 full-color photographs illustrate a range of feelings, from big brothers and sisters who feel love one moment and jealousy the next.

Elmore Green is not very excited about welcoming a new baby brother, especially when he has to share his room and everything else. Then “it” licks his jelly-bean collection! Yes, Elmore feels so exiled that he refers to his new sibling as “it.” “Now Elmore couldn’t get away from it. It was always there, looking at him.” The playful mixed-media illustrations (in Child’s signature style from the “Charlie and Lola” series) show a black family and as the story moves along, Elmore opens up to loving his brother. “It was nice to have someone there in the dark when the scaries were around.”

Actress and autism spokesperson Robinson Peete collaborated with her daughter on this book based on Holly’s 10-year-old son, who has autism. Callie tells the story about her twin brother Charlie who was born two minutes before her. He plays the piano well and he can tell you everything about airplanes.

He also loves animals, especially their dog, Harriett. But sometimes it’s challenging for Charlie to communicate. “Charlie has autism. His brain works in a special way. It’s harder for him to make friends. Or show his true feelings. Or stay safe.” Charlie and Callie have such a special loving relationship, and as she says, ” “Charlie’s brain works in a special way… Charlie has autism. But autism doesn’t have Charlie.” This story of love, patience, and acceptance is such a helpful read for any family facing the challenges of autism.

Author-illustrator team Laura Numeroff and Lynn Munsinger show readers all the ways a brother can be super special, not just to his mom and dad, but also to his new sibling. He can push them on a swing, make music with them, and take them to the library. What Brothers Do Best is part of a series about all kinds of families, so there is one for sisters, too. The gentle sweetness of this book will remind a new sibling that even when a family changes, love is still all around them.

Children who are about to become the older sibling sometimes need a reminder that shows them that although a new baby is on the way, they are still unique, loved and irreplaceable. This picture book and cuddly koala plush combo was created just for that. Filled with parent and child activities including read aloud rhymes, drawings and prompts to work on together, this book is a perfect way to help future older siblings start looking forward to what’s to come.

This sweet book tells the story of a new older sister talking about all the many things that make being a big sister special (and there is also an equivalent for boys—I’m a Big Brother). I’m a Big Sister is especially lovely because it reminds children that in their parents’ hearts, nothing has changed. The adorable, accessible artwork is by Rosalinda Kightley.

The Big Sibling Book gives kids a chance to do all the things Mommy does for the new baby. It’s more of a scrapbook that helps the baby feel like “our” baby instead of “their” baby. And getting to that mentality can make all the difference in the world to a displaced older sib.

By far the oddest book on the list, this is the one for the older sibling with messy, complicated emotions (meaning: all of us). Ida is charged with watching her baby sister while her mother is busy missing their father. When her sister is kidnapped by goblins, Ida’s journey to get her back, which is full of both love and resentment, is a pretty accurate depiction of what it means to be a sibling.