Example book

Mia and the New Baby

The baby cries, and everybody comes running. Mia has worked out that she is no longer the smallest — and this story lets her be cross about it before it lets her be proud.

Aged 3
Family
Woodland

Make one like this

Starring Mia

Pages from the book

Mia standing in a doorway watching the grown-ups gathered around baby Theo’s crib — The new baby was very small. The new baby was very, very loud. WAAAH, went the baby — and everybody came running. Mia stood in the doorway with her arms folded.

Dad and Mia sitting on the stairs together in the evening — “I liked it before,” said Mia. Dad sat down on the step beside her. “So did I,” he said. “And I love him. Both things can be true.” Mia thought about that for a whole entire minute.

Mia singing to baby Theo in his crib, Pickle the cat curled up nearby, warm lamplight — So Mia stood on her tiptoes and sang the song about the frog. The one only she knows. The one with the jumping bit. And the baby went quiet. And Pickle the cat opened one eye, very impressed indeed.

What made this book Mia’s

Everything on this list came from what a parent told us, and every one of them changed the story rather than decorating it.

Mia’s name, and the baby’s: Theo
The fact that Mia was not entirely delighted, said out loud
Her cat Pickle, who also disapproved
The one thing only Mia can do — the song that stops him crying

More example books

Emma and the Secret Dinosaur Garden

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Emma and the Secret Dinosaur Garden

A gate at the end of the garden that was not there yesterday.

Jack’s Magical Space Adventure

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Jack’s Magical Space Adventure

Bedtime is at seven. The moon is at eight.

Olivia and the Moonlight Unicorn

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Olivia and the Moonlight Unicorn

A bedtime story that ends with everybody asleep. Including the unicorn.