New Children’s Picture Book Illuminates the NICU Experience Through the Eyes of a Big Sister

A heartfelt story inspired by a mother’s real-life journey of love, patience, and hope.

One in ten babies in the U.S. will spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)—yet few children’s books explore this experience, especially from a sibling’s point of view. Waiting for Max: A NICU Story (The Collective Book Studio / October 21, 2025), written by debut author Emily Rosen and illustrated by Esther Diana, fills that gap with tenderness and imagination.

Readers meet Louise,

a spirited big sister eagerly awaiting her baby brother, Max. When Max is born early and must stay in the NICU, Louise uses her vivid imagination to make sense of the wait—and to dream up ways to help bring him home.

Inspired by Emily Rosen’s own experience with her son’s 16-day stay in the NICU, Waiting for Max is a deeply personal, yet widely relatable book for siblings, parents, and caregivers. It helps children understand and process what happens when a new baby needs extra care before joining the family at home.

“Every day during Max’s NICU stay, we brought a picture book to read to him,” Emily says. “It was one of the only ‘normal’ things we could do as new parents. But I struggled to find stories that reflected what we were going through. So, I decided to write one.”

With warmth and honesty, Waiting for Max offers comfort and connection to siblings, parents, and caregivers navigating uncertainty. Through Diana’s bright, cozy illustrations, young readers see that love and imagination can bridge even the hardest waits.

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