Since the Baby Came: A Sibling’s Learning-to-Love Story in 16 Poems

Varied poetic forms—including a limerick, a roundel, and a villanelle—offer up a child’s first-person descriptions of adjusting to a new sibling. Long Bostrom kicks off the collection with a haiku about the initial announcement of a fetus in utero (“ ‘Surprise!’ Mama says./ ‘We are having a baby!’/ Nobody asked me”). Subsequent lines from the frank child narrator trace their baby brother’s arrival, and emotions that ensue and evolve as the older sibling becomes accustomed to being one of two: “The baby’s a strange little dude—/ his habits are truly quite rude.” Everyday domestic scenarios (a diaper change, a meal, bath time) feature throughout, while two poems (“Dear God” and “Jesus Was a Baby Too”) introduce a religious component to the book. Samuel’s unlined renderings, which portray a biracial-cued family whose children are depicted with brown skin, have a luminous softness that suits the text’s combination of playfulness and loving kindness. Back matter defines poem types used. Ages 3–7. (May)