Whatever the age of your children, relationships between siblings are a real roller coaster of emotions. The ongoing bickering, teasing, and wrestling for attention is enough to break even the most patient parent! Using books to invite conversation with your children about sibling relationships can be really helpful way to foster greater respect for, and understanding of, each other. This list of picture books exploring the important role of being a sister might just be the key to helping your children move from being the biggest of rivals to the best of friends.
1. I Am a Big Sister by Caroline Jayne Church is a lovely introduction for toddlers and preschoolers preparing to become big sisters, showing lots of different ways children can help to care for and love a new baby.
2. In Zoe’s Room (No Sisters Allowed!) by Bethanie Murguia, Queen Zoe is terribly dismayed when her parents decide she must share her kingdom (aka her bedroom) with her little sister, Addie. Unsurprisingly, things don’t go so well for the sisters until one night Zoe realizes that having her sister there mightn’t be such a bad thing at all.
3. Sheila Rae, the Brave by Kevin Henkes is the story of Sheila, who is very brave. Until one day she gets lost and it’s up to her little sister (who Sheila thinks is actually a scaredy-cat and not very brave at all!) to save the day.
4. Big Sister, Little Monster by Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum is the story of two sisters, Mia and Lucy. Lucy follows Mia everywhere and is always in her stuff, until one day Mia has had enough, calling Lucy a "little monster" and demanding she go away! When her sister does actually disappear, Mia discovers that she actually misses Lucy more than she ever imagined.
5. Little Miss, Big Sis by Amy Rosenthal explores the many different feelings and emotions a big sister feels as she welcomes and grows to love a new sibling — from before the baby is born right through to being the big sister of a toddler or preschooler.
6. A wonderful story of sibling love and forgiveness, Louise Loves Art by Kelly Light shares the story of Louise, an artist, who discovers that her little brother, Art, has used her greatest masterpiece, the centerpiece of her art show, as a canvas of his own!
7. Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman is not your typical tale of sibling rivalry. Dot’s mama and papa are besotted with the baby wolf who has been left on their doorstep but Dot is sure that he is planning to eat them all up! Her protests fall on deaf ears and Dot can never quite relax with a wolf as a sibling. Until one day Wolfie is threatened and Dot must save the day… and her brother.
And once you’re done reading, you can continue the conversation by inviting your child to share what they love most about their sister with this lovely "Dear Sister" printable.