BOOKS TO BORROW

The following book is available at many public libraries.

“Waiting for May” written and illustrated by Janet Morgan Stoeke, Dutton, 32 pages

Read aloud: age 4, 5 and older

Read yourself: age 7, 8 and older

A young boy eagerly anticipates the arrival of his sister. She is from China, and he and his parents must wait for many months until they can travel to China to adopt her and bring her home.

The boy tells the story from his perspective of their many preparations, discussions, what he is feeling, and the need to be patient. Finally the big day arrives, and the family travels to China to bring May home.

Sensitively written, this beautiful story portrays the anticipation and joy of adopting a new family member.

LIBRARIAN’S CHOICE

Library: Wheeler Library, 101 Main St., North Stonington

Library Director: Amy Kennedy

Choices this week: “Wise Child” by Monica Furlong; “The Year I Didn’t Go to School” by Giselle Potter; “Butterfly’s Treasure” by Schimm Schimmel

BOOKS TO BUY

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.

“Mission: New Baby” by Susan Hood, illustrated by Mary Lundquist, Random House, 2015, 32 pages, $16.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 4 to 7

Read yourself: age 7 and 8

“CONGRATULATIONS! Headquarters is about to get a brand-new recruit. Since you’re the BIG BROTHER or SISTER, your MISSION is to train the NEW kid on the team. It’s a BIG job. Are you ready?”

So begins this fun book about being an older sibling. From cracking codes (instructing the baby on animal sounds at the farm and which animal it comes from) to sharing intelligence (reading stories to the baby), testing disguises together (dress-up) and more, this amusing, thoughtful book is ultimately a genuinely good tool for the soon-to-be older sibling.

“Here She Is!” by Catherine Leblanc, illustrated by Eve Tharlet, minedition, 2015, 28 pages, $17.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 3 to 7

Read yourself: age 7 and 8

Little Bear is eager for the arrival of his new brother or sister and imagines the fun they will have playing together. When his baby sister Anna is born, Little Bear quickly realizes things in their family are different. Now that he isn’t Mama and Papa’s only child, he doesn’t receive all of their attention. As a matter of fact, both his parents seem overly occupied with Anna and her needs, and Little Bear doesn’t feel important anymore.

Little Bear can’t figure out what is so wildly special about Anna — she really can’t DO anything, including hold her own rattle! Lying next to her on the floor mat one day, Little Bear begins to have a change of heart and realizes part of his job as big brother is to teach Anna about his toys, stuffed animals, and the world as Little Bear knows it.

A lovely story with equally embraceable illustrations, this book captures some of the difficulties older siblings have when making room for a new child in the home.

kendal@sunlink.net