Mama’s Belly by Kate Hosford Illustrated by Abigail Halpin

A very special thanks to Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sharing Mama’s Belly  with Beagles and Books. All opinions are my own.

There is no doubt that a new sibling can cause feelings of both excitement and apprehension.  Mama’s Belly tells the tender story of an inquisitive young girl who poses a variety of questions to her parents about her sister’s arrival.  The questions start simple.  “Does my sister know me already? “Will my sister have freckles?”  Mama explains that the baby already knows her sister’s voice. While the baby will not be born with freckles, her father thinks yes, perhaps after a few summers by the lake have passed.

As the young girl asks questions,  Halpin’s gorgeous illustrations not only depict her excitement in the present but also the girl’s visualizations of helping her baby sister learn to swim and take a bath in the future.  All of Halpin’s paintings warmly show how the girl’s parents have included her in preparing for her sister’s arrival.

Clutching her blanket, the questions turn more personal.   “When my sister comes, do I have to share my blanket?”  ‘Will your lap ever come back?” Mama assures the girl that her blanket will always be hers and suggests making another one together for her baby sister.  As for her lap, Mama tells her daughter it will return after her sister is born.

The young girl saves her most important question until the end. “When my sister comes will you still have enough love for both of us?   Gently holding her daughter’s face in her hands, Mama lovingly looks at her and says  “More than the all the stars in the sky.”

For any child preparing for a new sibling, Mama’s Belly is the perfect gift.  As a teacher, I also look forward to sharing Mama’s Belly with students.   Hosford has written a beautiful and touching story to remind us that a parent’s heart expands with each child, and there is always room to love everyone.

Mama’s Belly will be released on April 17,  2018.  For a sneak peek, view the trailer.