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In Thierry Robberecht's contribution to easing the new baby anxiety an older sibling may be feeling while their mother is pregnant, a five-year-old girl's birthday wish is "I want to back into your tummy." She imagines that floating like a fish inside Mommy will be relaxing ("I'll never have to get up early for school again") and fun:
"I'll be doing everything you're doing...I'll stay up as late as you, and I'll get to listen to all the grown-up talk. I'll even watch TV through your bellybutton!"
But the soon-to-be big sister's true motives are revealed when she imagines all the attention she'll get inside Mommy's tummy, saying "Grown-ups like babies in tummies more than they like five-year-old girls."
But even though the idea of passing spaghetti and meatball or strawberry ice cream cravings on to Mommy is appealing, there are downsides of which her mother reminds her - always having to go where Mommy's tummy goes, missing out on opening birthday presents and playing with friends.
After the party, when the little girl admits her fear that because he's so close to Mommy that he will be loved more than she, her mother reassures her with a hug - and the girl feels her brother move, as if he can't wait to come out and meet her.
Philippe Goossens' warm oil cartoon-ish illustrations are simple but expressive, underlining the love that is undeniably there between mother and daughter. Back into Mommy's Tummy is a reassuring story for older sibs whether or not they have already met their younger brothers or sisters; there
is nothing like a reminder of how things used to be, and how great they are now.
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Back into Mommy's Tummy