Customer Reviews

I'm Going to Be a Big Sister!

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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

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.

I wish I'd had "I'm Going to be a Big Sister" before our second child was born. A well-written book, complete with colorful drawings, it covers everything from when to begin discussing the new baby to a catchy musical CD that will have your little one singing and dancing around. Brenda discusses the changes that will take place as the family gets ready for the new addition: toys and baby clothes will be unpacked, Mommy's belly will grow, and a simplistic explanation and drawing of how the baby will come out is even included. The issue of who will care for your daughter while Mom's in the hospital is addressed. And the announcement "You're a big sister" is the perfect way to start a loving sibling relationship where the emphasis is on how the older child has the important role of being a teacher to the new baby. Preparing, including, and empowering your older child will go a long way toward creating this positive goal.

If you want to help your daughter get ready for the changes to come in a thoughtful way and set the stage for a healthy relationship between your children, this book is a must read!

My six year old daughter enjoyed this book immensely. Reading the book with me, she feels included and enthusiastic. We have read it many, many times.

I was so pleased to find a book that addressed all the issues that I thought were important in a way that my daughter could understand and appreciate.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any family expecting a new sibling.

Thank you Brenda, for creating such a valuable resource for growing families and for initiating a fun way for children to express their own questions and imaginings about their new brothers and sisters.

I bought this book for my 21 month old who will be a big sister some time in the next month or so. It's a great book that explains in good detail what it really means to be a big sister. Some of the concepts are a little bit advanced for kids under two, but I would prefer to introduce things that my daughter will grow into vs. things she's already learned. I also bought a couple of other books that are more geared to her age level so between the three we've got opportunities to just look at pictures with brief text and we can read in more detail about what being a Big Sister entails.

The CD that comes with the book has a short, peppy song on it that reiterates what it means to be a big sister: "Watch me baby...this is how you walk...this is how you talk...this is how you sing...I will show you everything." We listened to it the other day and my daughter really enjoyed it and asked to hear it multiple times. Which could be a good or a bad thing, depending upon your tolerance for children's songs!

My mom gave this to my almost 2 year old daughter who will be a big sister in a few weeks. This was my least favorite of the books she sent - it is definitely geared towards an older child - lots of text on each page, much too much for a 2 yo attention span. I liked that it talked about becoming a big sister vs. already being one, but all in all, it is not mine or my daughter's favorite.

I bought this book for my 2 year old over 2 months ago and we have yet to get through it. She starts speeding through the pages about 4 pages in and just shuts the book at half way. My complaint is that there is no real storyline. It just jumps from page to page with random thoughts about what is happening with regard to the new baby coming and what should and shouldn't happen after the baby arrives. Here is my synopsis of the first 6ish pages..."Amanda likes to play these games, Amanda especially likes laying down with mommy, Amanda is noticing changes in mommy's belly, Amanda is noticing changes in baby clothes/toys being unpacked, when the baby comes careful of these dangerous toys, these other big and soft toys are safe..." This is not something engaging for a young toddler to follow. Also, there amount of text on each page (especially given lack of story) is too much for a young toddler.

I bought this beautifully illustrated book for a family friend while her mother was expecting. It was a huge hit! The pictures and text made for excellent conversation starters about what to expect from parents, her role as a big sister, safety tips and some great positive messages about the important jobs associated with being an older sibling. The accompanying CD was not quite as well received but made for a good one time listening activity.
The book ended up being packed in the hospital bag for the big day - a great sharing time for mom and daughter before the new addition arrived.

As a hospital Sibling Preparation instuctor I would like to say thank you to author Brenda Bercun. This book addresses the important issues involved when a child learns s/he is going have a new brother or sister. It helps prepare the child emotionally for the upcoming event. It discusses what will be the same and what will be different during pregnancy, hospitalization, and in the family. It outlines what the important role of the sibling is. The book includes a useful and fun CD to sing and dance to. This book may be used for all ages of siblings, divided into smaller portions or read as a whole. It allows you the parent to help your child know what to expect so s/he may feel positive and powerful in the new role as a Big Brother or Big Sister. Buy the book during pregnancy and enjoy! I love it. Thank you Brenda Bercun