Is this book too 'young' for a 4-year-old?

If they are reading it solo, yes. But if they are about to become a big sibling, the context makes it highly relevant. They'll likely enjoy 'teaching' the book to the baby later.

How long is the actual reading time?

It's a standard board book length—about 3 to 5 minutes depending on how long you spend hunting for the cat on each page.

Does it mention breastfeeding or bottle-feeding?

The book focuses on the general routine of eating and bathing rather than specific feeding methods, making it inclusive for most family structures.

Is the 'find the cat' game actually difficult?

Not for an adult, but for a 2-year-old, it's the perfect level of 'just hidden enough' to feel like a win when they point it out.

I'm a Baby! – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

I'm a Baby!

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2025

89%

WISE Score

A rhyming diaper-to-bedtime routine narrated by the baby itself, featuring a hidden cat to find on every page.

I'm a Baby!

book

2025

89%

WISE Score

A rhyming diaper-to-bedtime routine narrated by the baby itself, featuring a hidden cat to find on every page.

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Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased. As an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns from qualifying purchases, so if you buy a book or game through one of our links, we may earn a commission. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)

Screenwise Verdict

This is a quintessential 'bridge' book. If you have a second child on the way and a toddler who isn't quite sure what that means, this book does the heavy lifting of normalizing the baby's routine without being overly didactic.

It avoids the 'babies are boring' or 'babies are a nuisance' tropes often found in sibling books, choosing instead to focus on the simple, sensory rhythm of a baby's day. The rhyming is tight, the art is modern, and the cat-hunt provides just enough 'game' to make it a repeat favorite.

Age Fit

Perfect for the 1-to-4 crowd. It's short enough for a one-year-old's attention span but has enough detail for a four-year-old prepping for a new sibling.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It is a gentle, emotionally grounded look at a baby's daily routine, perfect for modeling a calm household environment for toddlers.

Imaginative

While a standard 'day in the life' story, the seek-and-find element with the recurring cat adds a layer of engagement beyond simple narration.

Safe

100

A physical board book for preschoolers has zero content risks or surprise mature themes.

Enriching

Excellent for building the language comprehension strands of literacy through rhyme and helping toddlers process the arrival of a new sibling.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Sibling prep that focuses on the baby's perspective, helping older toddlers understand what a new arrival actually does all day.
Interactive reading with a 'find the cat' game built into every spread to keep wandering toddler eyes on the page.
Rhyming text supports phonological awareness and makes the repetitive 'one more time' requests easier on the parents' brain.
Routine mapping helps kids visualize their own morning and evening transitions through a relatable character.

Conversation Starters

"Which part of the baby's day looks like your day?"
"Can you find the cat hiding in the bathroom?"
"What do you think the baby is thinking during the diaper change?"
"How can a big brother or sister help during bath time?"

Deep Dive

Building the Reading Rope

When we talk about literacy, we often obsess over decoding—the 'eyes on text' part. But as the Reading Rope framework shows us, language comprehension is just as vital. Reading a book like I'm a Baby! to a toddler isn't just a bedtime ritual; it's genuine literacy practice. The rhyming structure helps kids pick up on the sounds of language, while the narrative builds background knowledge about social structures and daily routines.

The Sibling Transition

Many 'new baby' books focus on the older sibling's feelings of displacement. Terry Pierce takes a different tack here by centering the baby's experience. By making the baby a character with a voice and a routine, it helps the older child view the new addition as a person rather than a disruption. It’s a subtle shift that works well for kids who are more task-oriented or who thrive on knowing what to expect next.

Compared to classics like The New Baby by Mercer Mayer, this feels more contemporary and less focused on the 'lessons' of being a big sibling, which can sometimes feel like a heavy burden for a three-year-old. It's just a story about a baby, a cat, and a day, which is exactly the level of intensity a toddler actually needs.

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