The Baby Sister

The Baby Sister is a children's picture book written and illustrated by American artist Tomie DePaola. It was first published on June 21st 1999. The Baby Sister is part of the author's autobiographical series and tells the story of the birth of his younger sister, Maureen DePaola.
Story
Tomie has a mother and father named Florence ("Floss") and Joe DePaola, an older brother named Joseph who is nicknamed Buddy, and a dog named Tootsie. Tomie also has a grandfather, two grandmothers, and lots of aunts and uncles and cousins. One day Tomie's mother tells him that she is going have a baby. Tomie asks for a little sister with a red ribbon in her hair, to which his mother replies that they will have to wait and see. Tomie also asks his mother if he can draw pictures for the baby's nursery; she agrees, and Tomie draws some pictures. As the months pass, Tomie's mother's stomach grows bigger and bigger, and one night while Tomie and his brother Buddy are asleep their parents go to the hospital. Tomie has to stay with Nana Fall-River; he does not get along with her at first but they eventually make peace with each other. At the hospital, Tomie's mother asks his father to tell Tomie whether he has a new baby brother or a sister, and he promises he will. The next day Tomie's father wakes him up and tells him he has a baby sister. He says that Tomie's mother and the baby will be coming home in a few days. On Sunday, while Tomie's father goes to get his mother and new baby sister, all the family gather at the house. When Tomie's mother arrives home, Tomie hides behind the chair and surprises her when she walks in and asks where Tomie is. Nana Fall-River then takes the baby from Tomie's mother. She calls Tomie her friend and tells him to sit down so he can hold his new baby sister. Tomie sits in the chair and Nana places the bundle in his hand, and Tomie's baby sister Maureen with a red ribbon in her hair looks up at him, and Tomie is very happy.

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