The New Baby – Lie Dirkx

 The New Baby – Lie Dirkx, Cicada Books Limited, 9781908714909, c2015, 2021

Format: Paperback

Rating:  1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5

Genre: Picture Book/Activity Book

 What did you like about the book? This is a wonderful activity book for a young child who is expecting a new sibling. This book does feature a mother having a child, not an adoption situation. Throughout the book, the reader sees how a fetus is developing beginning at three months. As the baby develops, the book provides activities for the sibling in preparation for the new arrival. This begins with simple activities such as determining what season the baby will be born, what the baby might look like, and the child’s family tree. There are illustrations to color and even a place to put the child’s own baby picture. As the fetus develops (as seen in illustrations throughout the book) the book turns toward more practical matters such as what clothes the baby will need and what items the mother should pack in her suitcase for the hospital stay. 

There are two sections I really enjoy in this book. One was all about how the sibling can help with the new baby and this includes getting a pacifier, playing peek-a-boo and pushing the stroller, to name a few. All of these suggestions are illustrations that the sibling can color. Another section explains that the baby will not be able to do many things and then asks the sibling to color the pictures of things they can do. This includes running fast, kicking a ball, coloring, and dancing. I think both of these sections are a great way to make an older sibling feel important–especially during a time when a lot of attention will be given to a new baby.

Anything you did not like about the book. I would like this book so much more if it could be used for families adopting a new baby as well. Some of this book can be used for that purpose, but not other sections.

To whom would you recommend this book? This book would work best with a new sibling maybe over the age of three.

Who should buy this book? Because this is an activity (one use) book, I would not recommend this purchase for public or school library use, however, I would highly recommend this for parents to purchase if they are expecting a baby and want to prepare an older sibling.

Where would you shelve it? I would not shelve it in a library.

 Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No, not for library use, but definitely for personal use or recommendation to patrons expecting a new baby.

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Kristin Guay, former youth services librarian.

Date of review: February 28, 2021