Too Small for Honey Cake by Gill Lobel, illustrated by Sebastien Braun.

I know that there are many books about new siblings and how older siblings have to cope.  Even in this crowded field, this book is a warm charmer that should be noticed.  Little Fox is finding that Daddy Fox has almost no time for him because of the baby.  His father won’t look at his block tower, he sings the baby Little Fox’s special song, and the baby sleeps in Little Fox’s cradle.  It isn’t fair!  So Little Fox decides that he is not living there anymore and moves into the space under the stairs.  He stays there angry and saying mean things until his father finds a way to make peace with a bit of honey cake.

I enjoyed this story of a father dealing with children.  So often we have stories of inept fathers who have to be helped with childcare.  In this case we have a capable father who can bake too!  The illustrations are warm depictions of a safe and cozy home.  Little Fox’s insults about the baby are right on target for that age and will have preschoolers and Kindergarteners giggling.

Share this with children expecting a new sibling, but also share it for a depiction of a single parent story or just a great warm book about brothers.