2013, Juvenile Fiction
WISE Score
A suit-wearing infant treats his parents like unpaid interns in this visual-gag-heavy picture book about the chaos of a new sibling.
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Forget the DreamWorks movie franchise for a second—this original picture book is a much tighter, smarter piece of work. It’s a 30-page sprint of corporate satire disguised as a bedtime story, and it works because every parent has felt like an unpaid intern to a six-month-old at 3:00 AM.
It is the rare 'gift book' that actually gets read. If you’re prepping a kid for a new sibling, or just want something that isn't a generic rhyming slog, this is a top-tier pick.
Best for the 2 to 6 crowd. Toddlers love the silly baby pictures, and preschoolers will get a kick out of the 'boss' behavior, especially if they have a younger sibling.
It centers on the family dynamic and the reality of how a new baby upends a household. It is sweet at its core, acknowledging parental exhaustion with a wink.
The central metaphor—a baby as a demanding corporate executive—is clever, visually hilarious, and perfectly executed through the illustrations.
It is a gentle picture book with zero scary content or inappropriate themes. The only 'danger' is a toddler learning new ways to be demanding.
Excellent for helping older siblings process the 'takeover' of a new baby using humor rather than jealousy. It builds empathy for parents, too.
Most picture books about new babies are either overly sentimental or a bit too 'educational.' The Boss Baby takes a different route: it treats the arrival of a newborn like a corporate merger where the smallest person has all the leverage. Marla Frazee’s illustrations are the star here. Seeing a baby in a tie carrying a briefcase while demanding a 'made-to-order' bottle is a visual gag that doesn't get old.
If your kid has seen the Netflix show or the movies, they might expect a high-stakes spy thriller with secret baby organizations. The book is much simpler and, frankly, better. It’s a grounded (but funny) look at how a baby changes the atmospheric pressure of a home. There are no talking babies or secret formulas—just a kid who clearly runs the show.
For a 'big sibling' who feels like their world has been upended, this book is a great way to laugh at the absurdity of it all. It validates their feeling that the baby is a bit of a tyrant, but does it in a way that remains affectionate. It's a quick read, but the details in the background—the exhausted parents, the 'executive gym' (a play mat)—reward a second and third look.
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