Sibling Stories for Back to School
Back to school season is full of fresh starts—new routines, new classrooms, and for many families, the challenge of juggling the needs of multiple children at once. This month’s caregiver book suggestions shine a light on siblings—the love, the rivalry, and everything in between. It’s easy to scroll through vacation photos and see nothing but smiles and family fun. But what we don’t see in those snapshots are the sibling squabbles happening behind the scenes. Maybe one child feels left out, another is desperate for attention, or everyone’s voice is competing to be heard. For caregivers, it can feel like being pulled in a million directions at once.
Books like Chooch Helped (Caldecott Medal Winner) and Looking for Bongo remind us that sibling dynamics are both normal and important. These stories spark meaningful conversations about empathy, teamwork, and finding balance within a family—big ideas that matter as children learn to share time, space, and attention at home and at school. As you help your family ease into routines this school year, these read-alouds can be a joyful way to connect, acknowledge the hard parts of sibling relationships, and celebrate the moments of care and cooperation too.
Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers
“A Cherokee girl introduces her younger brother to their family’s traditions-begrudgingly!- in this Caldecott Medal winning picture book written by Walter Awaard-winner Andrea L. Rogers and featuring gorgeous collage illustrations from debut artist Rebecca Lee Kunz.”
Looking for Bongo by Eric Velasquez
“Where could Bongo be? Help a young boy find his beloved toy—and figure out how he got lost to begin with. Eric Velasquez's detailed, expressive illustrations follow the boy's investigation throughout his home, giving a glimpse at a warm, multi-generational family.”
