6 Kids’ Books on First-Time Experiences
The Kissing Hand
By Audrey Penn
(Tanglewood Press, $17, amazon.com)
Good for: Reassuring your child that you’re thinking of him when he heads off to school that first day―and giving him a trick (placing his mom-kissed palm to his cheek) for times he misses you.
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How to Be a Baby ... by Me, the Big Sister
By Sally Lloyd-Jones
(Random House Children’s Books, $16, bn.com)
Good for: Previewing the feeding, diapering, crying, and cooing that come with a new baby―and just how special it is to be the older (wiser!) sibling.
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When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death
By Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, $8, amazon.com)
Good for: Explaining why someone dies, the rituals that might take place, and pretty much everything else there is to know about death.
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The Tenth Good Thing About Barney
By Judith Viorst
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, $16, bn.com)
Good for: Helping children focus on the happy times with their deceased pets and teaching them that everyone has a different idea of heaven.
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Sam Is Not a Loser
By Thierry Robberecht
(Clarion Books, $12, amazon.com)
Good for: Teaching sportsmanship in different game situations and showing kids that playing and not winning is more fun than never playing at all.
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The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter
By Stan and Jan Berenstain
(Random House Children’s Books, $4, amazon.com)
Good for: Revealing just how much fun a night with a new baby-sitter can be, even if she seems really scary at first.