About This Book
Reach for this book when you are preparing a high energy preschooler for the arrival of a new sibling and want to celebrate their big personality while modeling the shift toward gentleness. This story validates a child's natural exuberance and wild imagination while providing a clear framework for how those same qualities can be channeled into being a loving older brother. Spencer is a boy who is as strong as a bear and as wild as a tiger, but on one special day, he learns to be as quiet as a mouse and as gentle as a lamb. The book uses animal metaphors to bridge the gap between a child's energetic play and the delicate care a newborn requires. It is an excellent choice for parents who want to emphasize that becoming a big sibling doesn't mean losing your spark, it just means adding a new, softer layer to who you are.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book handles the transition to a new sibling in a purely secular and hopeful way. There is no jealousy depicted, which is a departure from many books in this genre that focus on sibling rivalry.
Ideal Reader
A 3 to 5 year old boy who is physically active and 'loud' by nature, whose parents are concerned about how his rough-and-tumble play style will translate to life with a fragile infant.
