[.ca] Hi New Baby! (ISBN 0763618268)

From Amazon.co.uk:
Age 3 and over When a new baby arrives on the scene, every one is happy. Mum and Dad are over the moon, Granny has gone completely gaga--in fact anyone would think that that squishy, boring squawking little thing that everyone is suddenly so fond of is the best thing in the world. But of course, it isn't. And no matter how hard they try to say that being a "big" is a good thing, you know deep down that it really isn't and that the only thing that matters is being very small indeed... Hi, New Baby talks to children about what happens when a new sibling arrives on the scene and explores the thoughts and feelings of an older child as she gets to grips with this latest intrusion on her life. Nice touches (a delightfully wrinkled little nose the first time our young heroine sniffs a dirty nappy, the sheer horror at the amount of noise this new bundle can make) add to the realism of this attractive book, with its life-like illustrations and down-to-earth attitude, and the unusual use of the father's voice reminding the child how she felt when the baby just arrived adds to the warmth. Families faced with the arrival of a new baby could do much worse than pick up a copy of this book. --Susan Harrison

not what I thought:
I too loved Happy Birth Day, but this book just makes having a younger sibling seem like a negative experience. When I read it with my 3 yo I have to leave out parts that are too negative. The child in the book acts out badly in light of all the attention the new baby is getting...going as far as wearing baby's hat acting like a baby herself and competing for attention in bratty ways. I'm not saying this won't happen in my own family...but who wants to give their preschooler these ideas? Almost every page is a picture of the older child making a snotty face at the baby..even at the end..she never really accepts the new baby.

Hi New Harris and Emberley book:
Harris and Emberley have again joined forces to create a wonderful book. Hi New Baby helps parents and families adjust to a new baby with this up-close look from a not-so-sure- about-the -new-baby sibling. Emberley's soft illustrations capture those funny new born looks. A perfect new baby gift for the brothers and sisters at home. What a delightful series Harris and Emberley have provided to help educate our youngsters on sexuality and family life. THANKS!

Great to ease that adjustment!:
We received this as a gift for my 2 1/2 yr old daughter when our son was born. The pictures are beautiful and the story is so sweet. It definitely helped her with the adjustment of having him around. She really identified with the little girl in the book and still, a year later, she loves to read it. And I love it so much that I am giving it to friends expecting a second child!

Another overly negative book for new siblings:
Our family loves the book Happy Birth Day by the same author and illustrator, so I was delighted to see Hi New Baby! on the bookstore shelf -- it even features the same family as Happy Birth Day. However, when I read this book, I was very disappointed -- like too many other books in this genre, it dwells very heavily on the negative feelings an older child has about a new baby, and only on the last page is any positive feeling expressed. Of course it's important to acknowledge the negative feelings an older child will have -- but a book that presents a more balanced picture of feelings about new siblinghood, such as Joanna Cole's books I'm a Big Brother and I'm a Big Sister, or Martin Waddell's lovely book When the Teddy Bears Came, seems much more appropriate and comforting reading for siblings-to-be.

A reassuring book:
My son loved this book before his little sister was born, and now that she's a year old, we're still reading it. (We change genders for the baby.) It has helped him feel that it's okay to be the big boy and to feel gently superior because of it. I say gently because it's an age-specific superiority which he knows won't last once his sister gets bigger. We started reading it before he was potty trained, and I believe it helped him on that road, too, since using the potty is part of being "superior." :-) I like this book because it acknowledges the confusion, fear and anger that older siblings can have -- and it encourages a nice relationship with the younger sibling.