Sibling Stories: 26 Books That Celebrate Sib Bonds

“Just Like My Brother” by Gianna Marino 

Little Giraffe adores her big brother. As they play a game of hide-and-seek, Little Giraffe asks all the animals she encounters if they have seen her big brother. As she tells everyone about how wonderful he is, she starts to see that she is pretty great too. This is a very sweet story about siblings look up to — and out for — each other. 

“Peter’s Chair” by Ezra Jack Keats 

You know and love Peter from the award-winning classic “The Snowy Day,” but did you know he has a baby sister? In this sweet book Peter deals with strong feelings about having a new baby sister and all the changes that entails. This is a great book for a child preparing for a new siblings. 

“Harper Becomes a Big Sister” by Seamus Kirst

Picture books that help young children prepare for the arrival of a sibling make up their own genre. In this one, Harper is excited for the arrival of her new baby brother when Dad and Daddy decide to adopt. A sequel due out in September, “Real Siblings” shows siblings Harper and Wyatt as they figure out what it means to be related by adoption.

“Charlie and Lola” by Lauren Child

Like the Berenstain Bears (Stan and Jan Berenstain), human children Charlie and Lola share everyday adventures, but with more humor and spunk. Patient big brother Charlie always has time to show his clever little sister Lola the ropes — and sometimes gets schooled in the process. The British cartoon series is charming for all ages; Lauren Child’s picture books are perfect for an older sibling to read to a younger one. Thanks to “I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato,” we still eat moonsquirters at my house. 

“Ling & Ting” by Grace Lin

Ling and Ting are identical twins who do everything together, but who enjoy being not exactly the same, in award-winning children’s author Grace Lin’s charming illustrated series. Early readers who enjoy Ling and Ting can graduate to the “Pacy Lin” easy chapter books based loosely on Grace Lin’s own childhood as one of three sisters navigating multiple cultures in a Taiwanese-American family. 

“Sheila Rae, the Brave” by Kevin Henkes

Sheila Rae is the brave sister who doesn’t care about thunder or barking dogs. But when she gets lost taking a new route home from school, it’s her timid sister Louise who takes charge to get them home safely.

“A+ for Big Ben” by Sarah Ellis

Ben is the youngest of three, and can’t do all of the cool and important things his older brother and sister do. But they present him with a report card, grading Ben on the many things that little brothers do best. Available as a picture book and a board book.

Up next: Books for readers ages 6–12