Since the Baby Came: A Sibling’s Learning-to-Love Story in 16 Poems

PreS-Gr 2–Sixteen short poems relate how a little girl gradually comes to accept and love her baby brother. When the newborn arrives, her hopes for a new playmate are dashed, and she misses being the sole focus of her parents’ attention. In “Dear God,” she seeks comfort in prayer, confiding: “Who knew that it could be such work/ To live with baby boys!” Cartoony, digital illustrations in warm hues detail her biracial family’s cheerful domestic chaos. Her new baby blues are leavened by humor, as shown in “Diaper Volcano” and “Suppertime,” where the facial expressions of her dog and stuffed animals mirror her reactions. She soon adjusts to her new role as big sister, proudly showing her baby brother to friends and listing the reasons why she loves him. The short poems feature simple wordplay, though forced rhymes and uneven cadences limit their read-aloud potential. Back matter includes a list of the various types of poems in the book, along with brief explanations of each type. Though predictable, this book gently validates the emotions children experience when a new sibling arrives and offers assurance that all will be well.