A new sibling is exciting for adults and terrifying for toddlers. Their world just got rearranged. The person who gave them undivided attention now splits it with someone small and loud who can’t even hold a conversation.
A book about becoming a big brother or big sister, with their name and face in it, tells the older child something they desperately need to hear: you matter in this new family too. It’s not a fix for every hard feeling. But it’s a starting point, and often a surprisingly effective one.
Why personalised sibling books work
The child sees themselves in the story. Not a random character called “Big Brother Ben” or “Big Sister Bella.” Them. Their actual face being brave, being kind, being the hero of a transition that feels scary and confusing.
That distinction matters. Generic sibling books are fine. They normalise the experience and show the child that other kids go through the same thing. But a personalised book goes further. The child isn’t reading about someone else’s family. They’re reading about their own. Their name is on the cover. Their face is on every page. The baby might even have the right name.
Parents report kids asking to read their sibling book before the baby arrives and again after. Some children carry it around the house for weeks. It becomes a comfort object and a reference point: “In my book, I helped Mummy with the baby.” The story gives them a script for how this change can go well.
Published sibling books worth reading
Before we get into personalised options, these published books are genuinely good at helping children understand what a new sibling means. They’re widely available and well-reviewed.
“There’s a House Inside My Mummy” by Giles Andreae (ages 2 to 5). A rhyming picture book that explains pregnancy from the older child’s point of view. Light, funny, and reassuring. Good for the months before the baby arrives.
“I’m a Big Sister” / “I’m a Big Brother” by Joanna Cole (ages 2 to 5). Simple and direct. Covers what babies do (cry, sleep, need nappies) and what big siblings get to do that babies can’t. It validates the older child’s feelings without being preachy.
“The New Small Person” by Lauren Child (ages 3 to 6). Honest about the jealousy that comes with a new sibling. Elmore Green was perfectly happy being an only child, and then the New Small Person arrived and ruined everything. Until it didn’t. Great illustrations and a realistic emotional arc.
“Waiting for Baby” by Harriet Ziefert (ages 1 to 3). A lift-the-flap board book about waiting for a new baby to arrive. Perfect for very young toddlers who need something tactile and short. The interactive format keeps them engaged.
These books are a great starting point. But none of them star your child. That’s where personalised books come in.
Personalised sibling books compared
Several services offer personalised books about becoming a big brother or big sister. They range from simple name-swap templates to fully custom stories. Here’s how they compare.
| Service | Price | What they offer |
|---|---|---|
| Paper Lake | $69–$119 | Fully custom story about becoming a big brother or sister. Child's photo turned into illustrations. Choose your art style. Can include baby's name and specific family details. |
| Wonderbly | $40–$65 | Template "Big Brother" or "Big Sister" book. Child's name is inserted into a fixed story. No photo. Same plot for everyone. Nice illustrations. |
| Hooray Heroes | ~$73 | Template with hand-drawn avatar based on the child's appearance. Whole family can be included. Fixed storyline but the characters look like your family. |
The key difference is how deep the personalisation goes. Template books insert the child’s name into an existing story. Custom books build the story around the child’s actual situation.
Template vs custom for sibling books
Template sibling books tell a generic story about becoming a big brother or big sister. The child’s name is inserted, but the plot is the same for every family. The story covers the basics: a baby is coming, you’re going to be a great big sibling, here are some things you can help with.
Custom books let you address the specific situation your family is in. “Mum is having twins.” “The baby cries a lot and it’s scary.” “You have to share your room now.” “Dad has to go to work and it’s just you and Mum and the baby all day.”
If the child is handling the transition well and just needs a fun book about being a big kid, a template book does the job. If the child is struggling with something specific, a custom book is worth the extra cost. It meets them exactly where they are.
For more on this topic, see our full guide on template vs custom personalised books.
When to give the book
Before the baby arrives.A few weeks before is ideal. It gives the older child time to absorb the idea, ask questions, and read the book multiple times. The book becomes part of how they understand what’s about to happen.
After the baby arrives.If jealousy or regression appears (which is completely normal), a personalised book can help. It reframes the older child as the capable, important one. Some parents give the book as a “gift from the baby,” which works surprisingly well.
Both.Some parents order one book before the birth and a second one after, each with a different theme. The first focuses on what’s coming. The second addresses what life is actually like now. Two books might sound like a lot, but if the child is struggling, it’s a small investment for a big emotional payoff.
Tips for reading together
Read it with just the older child. Not with the baby present, not with other siblings. This is their book, their time. That matters more than you might think.
Let them hold the book and turn the pages. Let them point at things and talk about what they see. If they want to skip pages or go back to their favourite part, follow their lead.
Don’t lecture. Don’t use the book as a springboard for “and that’s why you need to be gentle with the baby.” Let the story do the work. It was written to carry the message so you don’t have to force it.
If they say “I don’t like the baby,” that’s OK. The book opened a conversation. That’s exactly what it was supposed to do. Acknowledge their feelings, keep reading if they want to, and come back to it tomorrow.
Getting it right
A personalised sibling book won’t solve every hard feeling about a new baby. But it does something important: it tells the older child that this family still revolves around them too. That they’re not being replaced. That being a big brother or big sister is something to be proud of.
Start with a published book if you want something quick and affordable. Add a personalised book if you want the child to see themselves in the story. And if the child is going through something specific, go custom. The extra detail is what turns a nice gift into something genuinely helpful.
At Paper Lake, you upload one photo, tell us about the new sibling, and we write a custom story about becoming the big kid. Every illustration is original. Every word is written for your family. Printed in Australia, delivered in 5 to 6 business days.