Getting Near to Baby explores sibling and parental grief caused by a baby's death. The story may be powerful for students who have experienced death in their own families. It examines the different responses to loss of a loved one and how individuals eventually come to accept this event. This novel can be used both on its own and in conjunction with other novels for young adults in order to give a well-rounded description of the ways in which this issue is dealt with by adults, adolescents, and young children.