I'm a Big Brother

by Joanna Cole, Maxie Chambliss (Illustrator)

The author/artist creators of How I Was Adopted present this child's-eye view of family life, deftly describing the joy of welcoming a new sibling into the family. A companion volume to I'm a Big Sister.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Juvenile, Fiction, Self Help, Kids

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 25, 1997

About the author

Joanna Cole, who also wrote under the pseudonym B. J. Barnet, was an author of children’s books who teaches science.

She is most famous as the author of The Magic School Bus series of children's books. Joanna Cole wrote over 250 books ranging from her first book Cockroach to her famous series Magic School Bus.

Cole was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby East Orange. She loved science as a child, and had a teacher she says was a little like Ms. Frizzle. She attended the University of Massachusetts and Indiana University before graduating from the City College of New York with a B.A. in psychology. After some graduate education courses, she spent a year as a librarian in a Brooklyn elementary school. Cole subsequently became a letters correspondent at Newsweek, and then a senior editor for Doubleday Books for Young Readers.

Reviews

[Joe Krakovsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm just going to have to give this a 5 star review, and not just because I am a big brother.

Written for maybe a 3 or 4 year old, this handy little book is both entertainment and instructional material for a child. You may have talked about that bun in the oven, but until you bring it home it doesn't really registers with junior. This simple little book does a couple of things. You might be able to read it together because some words are repeated over and over. When the child sees them he can proudly recognize and say them out loud. The book also explains what to expect from a baby, such as you must be gentle with it and unlike a 'terrible two,' it cries for a reason. It also explains that the parents still love big brother and he is still special in a way as well.

That last sentence is so important and the reason for my 5 star. On the last page the author gives such valuable information for the parents pointing out that the older sibling must not feel left out. It is only natural that once the novelty wears off the older child may feel like the baby is getting all the attention. I can see this happening especially if big brother was the only child for awhile.

This is a short book. It took me longer to write the review than read it, and that was with repeated trips to the refrigerator. That said, it would be great for a bedtime story.

[سیده فاطمه مطهری · Rating 3 out of 5]

اگه بچه دارید و یه نوزاد جدید قراره وارد زندگیتون بشه، این مدل کتابها "من داداش بزرگترم" و " من خواهر بزرگترم" کمک میکنه به فرزند اولتون که این دنیای جدید رو از تو کتاب بیشتر بشناسه

[J9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for young kids about to have siblings. I bought this for my son when he was 3 and about to have twin brothers. It was a huge transition and this book helped. We put it down for awhile and then 2 yrs later we read it again. This time my son is 5 yrs old and read it on his own. Now he smiles as he talks about all the ways he's a big helper concerning his younger brothers. This book really makes him feel good about himself. Somewhere around a level 1 reader, it's too easy for him, but still has merit in addressing the whole family unit idea. It helps me to remember to bring it up every once in a while and ask how he's doing at the whole big brother thing. It's great for older siblings.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Identical to the big sister book.

2019 review: this was a nice, simple, and sweet read to share with my 3yo, who will soon be a big brother!

[Melissa Swistek · Rating 3 out of 5]

An early reader, this work focuses on the positives of having a new “big brother” role in the family. It also gently introduces the appropriate ways for young siblings to interact with a baby (having to ask permission to hold the baby, knowing that a baby is too young to play and share solid foods, etc.)

I liked that it also shared the ways in which it is special to not be a baby and the fun of being older. This is a helpful concept since we introduced a new baby to the family and my two year old is frequently wishing he could go back to being a baby himself.

[Harry Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

How great it is to be a big brother. This book got me excited for all this new job would entail and it’s right- I do love being a big brother because I can do so much and my baby is so cute to look at!

[Zedsdead · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I were several decades younger, this would have struck a chord with me.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I was looking for in a book like this. Positive and honest- so many books are about sibling rivalry, or just all the good things about babies. Very simplistic toddler appropriate language. Daddy is illustrated in a gender neutral enough way we can substitute Mama. Unnecessarily gendered, and feeding is only presented as a bottle.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

My uncle sent this to my son after we announced my pregnancy, and Kiddo loved it immediately. We've read it several times since, and I am struck each time how positively it presents the idea of becoming a big brother. Cole acknowledges that newborns don't do very much that's interesting at first, and that they're a lot of work, but she also shows how big brothers can be actively involved in helping.

What I like best is that the book reassures the child that he is no less important than before the baby was born; his parents will ALWAYS love him, and he will always be special. He was not replaced by this new baby! While I haven't had Baby #2 yet, it strikes me that those are very important ideas to convey to my son, especially at his young age, and it reminds me to constantly tell both children they are important and loved just for being who they are.

[Jaclyn Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I, personally, don't think the writing is so great, but my 2-year old loves this book and he is really the intended audience. I have about 4 weeks left until baby brother arrives, so it's the perfect time to start introducing these type of books to my son. He asks that we read the "big brother" book to him several times every night.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the author is also the author of The Magic School Bus books. So, I'm hoping this means he'll enjoy those books too when he is older!

[Haaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good for little kids. It has a repetitive dialogue that is good for younger kids. The two year old I read it too repeated what I said and pointed at the pictures.

It's also good for explaining the differences/ challenges of having a new baby around and the responsibilities of being an older sibling.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice simple book of a positive relationship a big brother has with a new baby. Very cute. I like that it touches on all the fun things that older kids can do that babies can't, to remind them that it's fun to be the big sibling!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great for little kids who are getting a new sibling for the first time. My 2.5 year old liked it and it helped him get excited for when our baby comes by also to see how he's big and can help out

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm a Big Brother" reads very much like "I'm a Big Sister."

Differences between these two books are minor. So I'll simply smile, award FIVE STARS, and head off to read my next book by talented Joanna Cole.

[Kathryn Atreides · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting the “you’re gonna be a big brother” conversation a few months before new baby arrives. We’ll see if it helps with the transition, but even if it doesn’t this will give him some idea of what being a big brother is like.

[Andrés · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems like a "just the facts, simply stated" book for a 2-3 year old big brother before or after baby's arrival. It talks about baby's needs, how brother can safely and helpfully interact with the baby, and how brother's identity changes yet stays the same after baby's arrival.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised that this was Alistair's favorite book about becoming a big brother before baby came. I feel like this book and Daniel Tiger helped prep him the most.

[JennyJo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book that covers the topic for a very young child, maybe up to 3 years old. We found it too simple for a 4-year-old.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an interesting read. I think it's a good book to read with a child especially when there is a younger one coming.

[Alireza Emami · Rating 4 out of 5]

وقتی داداشم به دنیا اومد یعنی تو 7 سالگی مامان این کتاب رو برام خوند
منم داداش بزرگترم

[K Morlando · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book to help boys prepare to become big brothers.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect book for the about-to-be big brother!

[Emily Dougherty]

o Grades PreK-1
o Contemporary realistic
o This book is a great book for a kid that is getting ready to be an older sibling and is having time coping with it. This book is so very sweet.

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple introduction to the sorts of things a big brother might do for a new baby and how that baby fits into the family.

[Cynthia Mumford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Big brother

Downloaded for when my four year old great grandson visits. The story is far too short. It's over before you've finished . Not worth the money.

[Little Owl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for showing R what having a baby in the house will be like.

[Jude]

John Steinbeck has been real quiet since Joanna Cole dropped this

[Amjad Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hhjm

[Richelle Starke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our two year old loves this book... Even more now that the baby has arrived!

[Audric the Illiterate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Babies, milk, and leaves. Life is good.