Evan Early

For siblings the happy anticipation of the birth of a new brother or sister can turn to worry and confusion when the baby is born prematurely This is the set-up for the new childrenxs book Evan Early Natalie the bookxs narrator has just become a big sister and the story begins with her proudly announcing I have a new brother His name is Evan Earl But he doesnxt live with us not yet She cleverly nicknames him Evan Early because he arrived too soon Through Nataliexs experiences this comforting story helps young children understand and cope with the uncertainties surrounding the birth of a premature sibling One of the first questions for many children is How long before the baby comes home To help ease Nataliexs mind her father gives her a calendar to color in the days as they wait Like most premature babies Evanxs first home is the hospital NICU a busy sometimes scary place where Natalie has to learn the proper procedures for visiting her brother--washing hands with soap and water wearing a gown to cover her clothesx-and wonders what all the machines and wires do Natalie also experiences many emotional ups and downs along the way She becomes hurt and angry because her parents seem preoccupied with Evan and spend so much time at the hospital But when her mom tells her that Evan will need lots of extra help to grow and get strong her anger subsides and she begins to feel protective of her baby brother again Evan Early with its expressive illustrations and realistic storyline offers young readers a comparison to their own familyxs experience A set of questions and answers on prematurity at the end of the book lends additional support This story is sure to be popular with siblings and their parents and recommended by neonatal nurses and pediatricians and social workers.