HELLO BABY, IT'S ME, ALFIE

A child encounters big feelings in the weeks leading up to a new baby’s arrival.

As soon as Alfie learns that Baby is on the way, a conversation with this new friend begins. As weeks pass, the still-gestating Baby grows progressively larger and is compared to various fruits and veggies, like a “perfect plum” or a “cute cabbage.” Alfie tries to keep a positive outlook about the upcoming arrival, saying, “My heart is pretty big. / So I’m sure I’ll find space for you!” The child has other big feelings to share with Baby, too, like curiosity, love, fear, pride, disappointment, and anticipation. Lo’s artwork is soft and colorful, creating a cozy sense of home. Families welcoming rainbow babies (children born after a pregnancy loss or infant loss) may identify with the gentle textual and visual nods that reference rainbows. Aside from adorable Clive the dog, specific family roles, genders, or relationships aren’t explicitly named, giving a wide array of youngsters the opportunity to see themselves in this work. Hutchings has crafted a strong conversation starter for prospective big siblings; grown-ups will likely find guidance here, too, as they direct little ones to consider how Alfie might be feeling in a given situation—and how they in turn feel. Alfie is tan-skinned, and the friends who gather at the protagonist’s 4th birthday party are diverse.

A seriously sweet story and resource for adults to share with soon-to-be big siblings.