I'm Going to Be a Big Sister! [Hardcover]

Brenda Bercun (Author), Sue Gross (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2007 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: K and up

These colorful tales are designed to help prepare older siblings for the arrival of a new baby brother or sister. By providing discussion prompts, these books help give parents the language needed to speak to their older children in a way that is supportive, complimentary, and caring. Through a variety of descriptions—from which toys are safe for babies and which are dangerous, to the importance of hand washing and picking up the baby only when a grown up is there to help—Sam and Amanda learn what it means to be a big brother or sister. A discussion about the real-life issue of parents' temporary absence while at the hospital prepares youngsters for what might otherwise be a confusing and frightening time. The books' handy tip sheets succinctly detail hints for supporting the older child, and the accompanying musical CD contains upbeat and catchy tunes that emphasize the special bond between brothers and sisters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent tool for both parent and child for dealing with one of the most challenging developmental stages, another sibling."  —Don Elium, author, Raising a Son; Raising a Daughter; Raising a Teenager; and Raising a Family

"As a hospital perinatal and health educator, issues about siblings often come up in the course of classes I teach. I'm so relieved to finally have such a wonderful book to recommend to them."  —Georgia Montgomery, CD, CCE, LE BLS, www.marinbirthingandparenting.com

"The quality of the book is terrific, very well done. The book is very clear and thorough in its explanation."  —Parental Wisdom

About the Author

Brenda Bercun is a clinical nurse specialist in child and family mental health, a pediatric nurse-practitioner, and a mother of two. She lives in Larkspur, California. Sue Gross is an illustrator and printmaker. She lives in Carnelain Bay, California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 33 pages
• Publisher: Nurturing Your Children Press (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097671986X
• ISBN-13: 978-0976719861
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 10.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Family Life > New Baby

More About the Author

Brenda Bercun is Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Child and Family Mental Health as well as mommy of two.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this book is NOT graphic, November 1, 2008

By 

M. Beth Williams (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I'm Going to Be a Big Sister! (Hardcover)

I just had to respond and say I'm very disappointed to read that a few reviewers found this book "graphic." There is one page in the book that shows a mommy's belly (really mostly a profile view) with a uterus and a baby inside. There is a very vague line that is supposedly the "birth canal" and the line goes off into ambiguousness since the legs are profile. The text says nothing except that baby is in mommy's uterus and when it gets too big for the uterus, it comes out the birth canal. I find it disturbing how strong of a reaction this has gotten by readers. Why is the female anatomy so shameful? Regardless, the detail is so vague, that I'm sure if someone is disturbed by it, there are easy ways to brush off this conversation. I have decided to raise my daughter to know and understand her body, not to treat the subject in a shameful dirty way. This book is beautifully and tastefully done. Please don't strike it from your list because of these reviews.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Book for New Siblings, September 6, 2006

By 

Georgia Montgomery "Educator" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I'm Going to Be a Big Sister! (Hardcover)

As a hospital Perinatal and Health Educator I come across many pregnant couples, and issues about siblings often come up in the course of classes I teach. I'm so pleased to finally have such a wonderful book to recommend to them. In these books, the language in conversations between parent and child is wonderful for parents to model, so that they can take cues for healthy interaction around pregnancy and delivery. Explanations of the birth process seem to be just the right amount of information, and the language, although clinically accurate, is in my opinion not in the least offensive to even the most delicate sensibilities. Suggestions such as gentle touch, safe toys, sharing and teaching the newborn sibling are very thoughtfully phrased. Discussion about the real-life issue of parents leaving for the hospital and being absent for a period of time, including what who will care for them, helps prepare youngsters for what might otherwise be a confusing and frightening time. The images are engaging and colorful, and give the child an opportunity to use the pictures as metaphors for their own imagination in "thought balloons" (such as the couple in the hospital holding the baby and telling the child on the phone about the birth of the baby). The announcement "You're a big sister/brother" is a perfect way to let the child know the baby has been born, and to help the child celebrate with the parents, at the same time making him or her feel included and important. What a lovely way to help set up families for future healthy sibling relationships. I'm so pleased that this book is finally available!

Georgia Montgomery CD, CCE, LE, BLS

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars plusses and minuses, February 21, 2010

By 

L. Bestock (Providence, RI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I'm Going to Be a Big Sister! (Hardcover)

My 3 year old daughter loves this book, and it has definitely been a staple as we've been preparing for the birth of her sister. So, overall, I must rate it positively. I disagree with other reviews that call it too graphic; it covers the biological basics very basically and uses quite neutral language (so birth canal - we've told my daughter that the baby will come out of my vagina because that is a term she knows, but obviously there are widely different levels of comfort with this and I feel the book does a good job walking a middle line). On the negative side, it's not particularly well written and there are some fairly annoying gender stereotypes scattered throughout. So mom does all the housework and dad comes home from work. And Amanda looks forward to putting on make-up with grandma when her parents are at the hospital. Again, this is going to be fine for some parents and not fine for others, but I am far more bothered by my 3 year old thinking playing with makeup is OK than I am with her using anatomically specific terms for a biological process. In sum, it is a useful but far from perfect book. And the final answer must be that books in general, and this one in specific, will help you start conversations with your older child or children about coming siblings, but it's up to you to craft that conversation into one that fits with your family situation and sense of appropriateness.