Books about family changes: a new sibling, divorce and adoption
A new baby brother or sister, parents separating, an adoption story or a family that looks different from the ones in most books. These stories reassure children that families come in many shapes, and that love stays when everything else changes.
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Festival of Colors
by Surishtha Sehgal & Kabir Sehgal
Ages 3–6Indian author
Siblings Mintoo and Chintoo gather flowers, grind colours and share them with friends and neighbours as they get ready for Holi.
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Bracelets for Bina's Brothers
by Rajani LaRocca
Ages 4–8Indian author
Bina wants to make rakhi bracelets for her brothers but keeps running out of supplies, so she gets creative with what she has.
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Where Is Mr. Thookam?
by Anusha Veluswamy (illus. Janan Abir)
Ages 3–7Indian author🔍 Hard to find in India
Pattu wakes in the night to find Mr. Thookam (sleep) gone, and she and her Akka set out to find him. A funny, comforting story about night-time fears and the love between two sisters.
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Koobandhee: The Adventures of Bala and the Book-Barfing Monster
Ages 7–10Indian author
Bala's books are under threat: from a book-chewing baby sister, a strict school librarian, and Koobandhee, a one-eyed monster who barfs up books and blames Bala for her upset stomach. The second Bookasura adventure, full of word play and bookish jokes.
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I Want a Pet
Ages 5–7Indian author
Jasbir has always wanted a pet, not a sibling. Then one day a buffalo walks into his life and refuses to leave. A funny, warm Hook Book that bridges picture books and early chapter books, illustrated by Reshu Singh.
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I'm a Big Brother
by Joanna Cole
Ages 2–5
A boy welcomes the new baby home and learns all the ways he can help look after him. A reassuring book for new big brothers.
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The New Small Person
by Lauren Child
Ages 3–7
Elmore Green doesn't want to share his life with his new little brother, until the two of them find they have a lot in common.
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Big Red Lollipop
by Rukhsana Khan
Ages 4–7
Rubina has to bring her little sister to a birthday party, and it doesn't go well. An honest, funny story about sibling rivalry, fairness and forgiveness.
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Peter's Chair
Ages 3–5
Peter's old baby things are being painted pink for his new sister, and he decides to run away with his chair. A classic about adjusting to a new baby.
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My Upside Down World
by Ken Spillman
Ages 5–9
A girl wakes to find her world literally turned upside down by her brother. A layered story readable as sibling chaos or something larger.
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When Aidan Became a Brother
by Kyle Lukoff
Ages 4–8
Aidan transitioned before the baby arrived — so he helps his parents rethink the nursery they'd already set up. A sweet, matter-of-fact Stonewall Award winner.
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The Family Book
by Todd Parr
Ages 2–6
A bright, silly, reassuring look at all the different shapes families come in — big, small, same-sex parents, adoptive, single-parent — with one loving message: all families are special.
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Talking Is Not My Thing
by Rose Robbins
Ages 3–7
A lively picture book following a non-verbal autistic girl and her big brother through their busy day — full of energy, humor and a fresh way of seeing communication.
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Journey to Jo'burg
by Beverley Naidoo
Ages 9–12
Under apartheid South Africa, Naledi and her little brother walk and hitch their way to Johannesburg to find their mother when their baby sister falls gravely ill.
Heads-up: Racism & discrimination
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Dear Mr. Henshaw
by Beverly Cleary
Ages 8–11
Leigh Botts writes letters to his favourite author and keeps a diary to work through his parents' divorce and life as the new kid at school. Tender, funny, and real. Newbery Medal winner.
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Booked (Graphic Novel)
by Kwame Alexander & Dawud Anyabwile
Ages 10–13
Twelve-year-old Nick loves football more than anything, but a divorce, a crush and a bully get in the way — the Newbery winner's verse novel as a graphic novel.
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A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning
by Lemony Snicket
Ages 8–12
The three Baudelaire orphans outwit the dastardly Count Olaf in this darkly funny, word-loving first book of the series.
Heads-up: Death & grief
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The Hardy Boys: The Tower Treasure
by Franklin W. Dixon
Ages 8–12
Brothers Frank and Joe Hardy's first case: tracking a jewel thief and the treasure hidden in a mansion's tower.
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The London Eye Mystery
by Siobhan Dowd
Ages 9–13
Ted, whose brain works differently, and his sister Kat investigate when their cousin vanishes from a sealed London Eye pod — a warm, clever puzzle.
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From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E.L. Konigsburg
Ages 9–12
Claudia and her brother run away to live in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art — and get caught up in the mystery of an angel statue. Newbery Medal winner.
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The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones (Graphic Novel)
by Rick Riordan
Ages 9–13
Siblings Amy and Dan race around the world following clues to their family's secret — the graphic novel of the first 39 Clues book.
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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
by C.S. Lewis
Ages 8–12
Four siblings step through a wardrobe into Narnia, a land frozen in winter by the White Witch.
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Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark
by Mary Pope Osborne
Ages 6–9
Jack and Annie find a magic tree house full of books that whisks them back to the time of the dinosaurs. The first of a much-loved series.
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Our Lake
by Angie Kang
Ages 4–8
Two brothers take their first trip back to the lake without their father. A tender, quiet story about love, loss and the bond between siblings.
Heads-up: Death & grief
