What a Good Big Brother! by Diana Wright Landolf, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher.

So many new sibling books are about angst and worry.  This book doesn’t mention that at all.  Cameron loves his little baby sister, so he is eager to help stop her crying.  When his father changes Sadie’s diaper, Cameron helps by handing him wipes.  When Sadie is hungry, Cameron fetches the nursing pillow.  And when no one can get Sadie to stop crying, Cameron manages to get her settled by rubbing her tummy gently and kissing her toes.  It is a pleasure to see an older sibling not bubbling with jealousy, happily being included in the new routines, and able to solve a problem through loving contact. 

The text has a nice repetition, as Cameron wonders why Sadie is crying and then is asked to help out.  Cameron also kisses the baby’s toes often, his own personal way of relating with Sadie.  And mothers will be pleased because that is so often the safe spot for older siblings to shower with love.  The illustrations are a mix of collage and paintings that tell the story in paintings and then are reinforced by the collages.  The word kiss appears often in the background as well as other small words like nap.  On the pages where Sadie is crying, there are watery marks on the page and drops of color.  And there are also hand outlines and foot outlines as Sadie is being soothed.  Here the illustrations are a true extension of the story. 

Clever illustrations and a positive look at being an older sibling make this worth putting into every library collection.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.