I'm Going to be a Big Sister

Amanda's mommy is pregnant and Amanda is going to be a big sister. In this story Amanda learns about preparing for the new baby's arrival and what it truly means to be a big sister. Winner of the iParenting Media Book Awards Best of 2007.

Customer Reviews:

this book is NOT graphic

By M. Beth Williams - November 1, 2008

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.

plusses and minuses

By L. Bestock - February 21, 2010

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... read more

A Perfect Book for New Siblings

By Georgia Montgomery "Educator" - September 6, 2006

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... read more