Waiting for Max A NICU Story by Emily Rosen

This gentle picture book offers families a tender window into the neonatal intensive care unit experience, told through the eyes of a big sister waiting for her baby brother to come home. Louise's imaginative journey helps explain the NICU environment—the beeping monitors, tiny hats, and dedicated nurses—in terms a young child can understand. The story validates the complex emotions siblings feel during this uncertain time, transforming medical uncertainty into a narrative of hope and family connection.

What makes this story particularly valuable is how it empowers young listeners with coping strategies through Louise's creative visualization, giving children a positive framework for their own waiting period. Families navigating premature birth or extended hospital stays will find this book an invaluable resource for explaining the situation to older siblings. The emotional resonance of this sibling perspective makes it a comforting read-aloud that acknowledges the difficulty of waiting while celebrating the strength of family bonds.