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The New Normal
Baby Brother-Itis follows a four-year-old girl who is convinced she’s come down with something called Baby Brother-Itis and spirals into a flurry of imagination, questioning what it is, whether it’s contagious, and how her world will change. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Our children were my inspiration for Baby Brother-Itis. Our son was born early during my husband’s deployment with the U.S. Army. He was born with medical complications and required a lot of extra care. Our daughter never had to “compete” for our attention it was always hers alone. With a new baby in the house and only one parent caring for both children sadly, she was feeling the strain of our “new normal”.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wrote this story 25 years ago; and put it in a filing cabinet. Periodically throughout the years I would pull it out and read it to our children. We moved 21 times in 23 years with the Army and a lot changed within our family dynamics during that time. Initially we only had 2 biological children when I wrote this; and adopted 3 more children years later. I wanted to incorporate all 5 of the children in the book. Each page is actually one of our children, with their unique characteristics.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
The scene I had the most fun writing was where sister says all the baby does is “eat and sleep all day”. Our son the “baby” is now 28 and when he came home from a deployment with the U.S. Army, he reverted back to the baby and once again “eat and sleep” all day. I also love the illustrations on that page; Tullip Studio did an amazing job with the illustrations.
I find a problem with well-written stories in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned?
The question keeps coming up about another book for this story. It definitely has given me something to think about. I’m excited to say, I have been working on another book not associated with Baby Brother-Itis and hopefully it will be available later this year.
Author Links: Website | Instagram | YouTube
As her overactive imagination runs wild, she starts feeling left out, confused, and even jealous. She overhears a conversation about her “mysterious” illness, sparking a journey of self-discovery. But despite the changes, she slowly warms up to her little brother, realizing that love isn’t divided—it grows.
Baby Brother-Itis
Baby Brother-Itis by Mary Arnold delivers a delightful blend of humor and heart, capturing the emotional whirlwind a young girl experiences as she becomes a new big sister. Convinced she’s come down with something called “Baby Brother-Itis,” she spirals into a flurry of imagination, questioning what it is, whether it’s contagious, and how her world will change. With her parents now preoccupied with feeding, diaper-changing, or simply exhausted, she can’t help but feel a little forgotten.
As her story unfolds, the big sister’s perspective shifts. Slowly, and somewhat unexpectedly, she discovers that her baby brother isn’t a nuisance; he’s actually kind of sweet. And, to her surprise, she finds herself falling in love with him.
Arnold crafts a narrative that feels both fresh and familiar, echoing the inner thoughts of many children grappling with sibling transitions. The rhyming text adds a playful rhythm that makes reading aloud a joy while helping young readers develop phonemic awareness.
One standout moment comes when the big sister attempts to Google her “condition” on a tablet. Unable to spell it, the search becomes hilariously phonetic, “Bae-bee-bruh-thur-eye-tis.” It’s a clever, modern detail that will resonate with today’s tech-savvy kids and undoubtedly earn a chuckle from adults, too.
The illustrations burst with color and energy, perfectly complementing Arnold’s witty prose. Every page invites young readers to linger and explore, making the book as visually engaging as it is emotionally resonant.
Ideal for children anticipating or adjusting to a new sibling, Baby Brother-Itis validates their worries while gently guiding them toward empathy and acceptance. It’s not just a story, it’s a warm, reassuring embrace for big brothers and sisters in the making.
Pages: 36 | ASIN : B0DQ73K3X3
Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children: A Guide to Supporting Social-Emotional Development in Young Children
Navigating the challenges of parenting, with its myriad of decisions and approaches, can be daunting. Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children: A Guide to Supporting Social-Emotional Development in Young Children emerges as a comprehensive resource for parents, offering well-researched and diverse perspectives on child-rearing. The book’s strength lies in its multidisciplinary approach, drawing insights from education, child psychology, and mental health experts. This variety enriches the reader’s understanding of the subject matter.
The book’s structure is commendable, starting with a foundational explanation of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) before delving into detailed discussions. The topics are organized into units such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Each unit is further broken down into subtopics, offering depth and relatable examples. The clear, focused writing style of Joy LLC enhances the reader’s engagement, providing exhaustive research and insights relevant to every stage of a child’s development. Particularly noteworthy are the sections on social awareness and relationship skills. These topics address important traits like empathy and interpersonal communication, which are relevant not just for children but also for adults. The book’s approach to building self-confidence and addressing issues like peer pressure is both practical and insightful.
The inclusion of short dialogues and colorful illustrations is a thoughtful touch, breaking the monotony of text and adding context to the discussions. These elements and the book’s comprehensive coverage make it a valuable resource for parents, guardians, teachers, and anyone in a parenting role. Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children is recommended for its timeless wisdom and practical advice, making it a valuable guide for those raising school-aged children.
Pages: 80 | ASIN : B0CGTKVXN9
First Generation Father
![First Generation Father: How to Build a Healthy and Happy Home When You Come From a Broken One by [Anthony Blankenship]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41OHET5cN2L.jpg)
In First Generation Father: How to Build a Healthy and Happy Home When You Come From a Broken One, Anthony Blankenship displays his diverse writing skills. The author’s writing will have one virtually wear his shoes and experience the things he went through. Not only is he skilled with his narration, but he is also great when driving a point home. Anthony Blankenship will give stories and tales of his experiences, but at the end of the paragraph, there will be a life lesson or life hack that the author will have shared. Reading this book was a delight. It enables you to see life from the eyes of different people and helps you understand the different types of families that exist.
In the introduction, the author explains in detail what a first-generation father is. He explains that a first-generation father is any man who grew up without having to experience the love and guidance of a father. One thing I have to applaud Anthony Blankenship on is how great he is when explaining unfamiliar terms and new words. The author goes into detail and even gives examples whenever he talks of a subject or a term not many are familiar with. Reading about and understanding all the terms associated with broken unhappy homes, trauma, and childhood depression was interesting.
Anthony Blankenship’s story is not entirely sad. A huge part of his narration was agonizing but one could see the light at the end of the tunnel. The author writes extensively about his childhood and time growing up, talking about family members and everyone he interacted with. Reading about his past was intriguing. Anthony Blankenship is so good with his words that one can tell how emotional he was when going through the experiences and when recounting them. I appreciate the positive tone in the author’s text. Anthony Blankenship had a ray of hope and positivity even when talking about sad events. He has a way of encouraging his readers and people that may be going through the struggles he went through.
First Generation Father is a great book for fathers that want to be the best version of themselves and young men who are yet to experience fatherhood. There are tons of lessons for males and wise words that will guide them as they lead their homes. Every child deserves a happy home and as the author writes, no one should be stigmatized for coming from broken homes. There are a dozen lessons for both parents and children. The language used in the book is easy to understand and the stories told compellingly. First Generation Father is a nice quick read that will have you appreciate the work present fathers do.
Pages: 204 | ASIN: B08JNN82PP
LITERARY TITAN 