8 Adorable Picture Books About New Babies

Adding a new member to the family is a beautiful thing, but it can also be a big adjustment. Kids and pets especially need some help adjusting to growing families. Here are some picture books about new babies and expanding families to help with the growing pains.

When my second daughter was born, my first child seemed indifferent to her. In fact, my first daughter didn’t care about the baby one way or another. The baby was simply “the baby” and our apartment was extra noisy, but that was all. No drama. No fuss.

Of course, I was pleased with this development. All the books I’d read said to prepare your older child for the impending arrival of a new bundle of joy that will steal all of mom’s time, attention, and love. I prided myself on being such a good mother that my toddler didn’t hate my newborn on sight.

While I was busy patting myself on the back, it never occurred to me that the jealousy might kick in later. But it did.

Right around the time baby #2 turned six months old and developed an interest in her older sister’s toys, that’s when my toddler decided she wasn’t so fond of her new sibling.

That’s also when I realized that maybe I hadn’t prepared my toddler as well as I thought. So I headed to the library to find some books about new babies and growing families.

Since then, I’ve continued to collect books about new babies because A) I like them, and B) I had a third daughter and was oh-so-glad to have books to read my older girls leading up to her arrival.

Whether you’re looking for books that deal with sibling jealousy or books that express nothing but love and positive vibes, these books will help.

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Adorable Picture Books About New Babies and Growing Families

Mama’s Belly by Kate Hosford, illustrated by Abigail Halpin

This is one of the most beautiful picture books about new babies I’ve ever read. Besides having the most gorgeous artwork on the planet (or maybe even the galaxy), it’s a baby-positive book. The older child and her parents spend the course of the book discussing the new baby, their hopes and dreams, and how happy they are to add another child to the family. Everything in this book is uplifting, sweet, and full of love. Add it to your own reading list and give it as a gift for a baby shower!

Love the artwork? Check out the illustrator’s Instagram account! 

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Mommy, Baby, and Me by Linda Elovitz Marshall

This book is told from the dog’s point of view and he talks about how all the changes in his life affect him. It’s so adorable. If you’re looking for books about new babies, pets, or expanding your family, this should be on your “to read” list. Older siblings will love watching the dog’s transformation from feeling displaced to figuring out how he fits into the growing family.

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How to Be a Baby…by Me, the Big Sister by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Sue Heap

I received this book as a gift just after my third daughter was born. It is SO funny and so cute. I read it to my older girls every day for weeks on end while we adjusted to having a new baby in the house. Pitch-perfect and hilarious, this book was just what my girls and I needed. If you’re looking for a good book to give to a family with a new baby, How to be a Baby is perfect.

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I Am the Boss of This Chair by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by Maris Morea

It’s easy to be the boss when you’re the only cat around. Oswald the cat isn’t thrilled when a new kitten shows up and uses his things without permission. This adorable book is for toddlers who need a reminder that life is more fun when they share their toys with a younger sibling. With bright, colorful illustrations and a sweet story, this book has quickly become a favorite in our family.

Love the artwork? Check out the illustrator’s Instagram account!

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Olive Marshmallow by Kate Saunders

Archie notices his mom’s tummy getting bigger, but when she tells him that he’ll have a new sister soon, he’s not sure how to feel about it. As soon as he lays eyes on the new pink marshmallow his mom brings home from the hospital, he falls in love with her. This is an adorable story about a growing family told from a toddler’s point of view. With the sweetest illustrations and pastel colors, you definitely need this on your list of picture books about new babies!

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Use Your Words, Sophie! by Rosemary Wells

Rosemary Wells’s sweet picture books are a favorite amongst preschool-age children. If you’re in the market for books about new babies and growing families, don’t leave this one off your list. It’s a charming story about the connection that exists between siblings almost instantly. I saw a similar connection between my kids when my third daughter was born and it’s wonderful to see it represented so well in a children’s book.

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Plenty of Love to Go Around by Emma Chichester Clark

This is another picture book about new pets and growing families told from the perspective of an animal. When Plum the dog’s family brings home a cat, he’s not pleased with the new development. Feeling threatened and left out, Plum decides to put the cat in her place. He soon learns that there’s plenty of love to go around.

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Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats

If you want some books about new babies that feature characters from classic children’s books, then this is a wonderful option. Peter is the star of The Snowy Day and returns in this story to decide how he’ll handle getting a new sibling. Even though growing up is hard, Peter learns that when you outgrow something, you pass it along to let someone else enjoy it.

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