My First Camera Book: A Bialosky & Friends Book

by Anne Kostick, Tedd Arnold (Illustrator)

A Bialosky & Friends Book, My First Camera Book is the perfect introduction, combining ABCs and activities with a kid-tested reusable camera just right for small hands. If Bialosky is 100% Loyal and True, his photographs are 100% Colorful and In Focus, and he shares all his secrets with illustrated, two-color, step-by-step instructions.

Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club. Suitable for ages 4-8. 552,000 copies in print.

13 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 1989

Reviews

[Abigail Bowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this essentially for free in an estate sale package deal with things I valued much more but thought it looked cute. Initially had my nephew in mind but I think after reading it I’ll keep it for my own future kids to force them into my hobbies. I’m a very recreational/amateur film photographer but think it has a lot of cool aspects that help anyone approach life better and this book did a really good job of teaching those aspects. It walks you through how to compose a photo (not being too close or too far), making sure you are still and get a photo of something you care about (important for film) and the photo assignments in the back are such a good idea, I may even do them myself!

A few other cute things I loved- it has a section for DIY ideas, like making a cardboard photo frame or a puzzle from your photos. And the last few pages can even act as a photo album, with spots to glue in their photos. I have no idea how much this originally cost (the book I have came with the camera included, never opened) but it seems like a really good deal if I can find the required 110 film. If not, and if anyone gets the book without the included camera, they still describe the basics of film photography in a great way and a cheap 35mm film camera would work just as well if you have a kiddo interested in these things.

[Anne Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is aimed at getting elementary to middle school children interested in photography. Originally, it came with a simple camera that the kids could use to take their own pictures. It covers all of the basics of photography and includes teaching basic composition of photographs: how to compose the photo to best display what the photographer wants to portray.

In an age of cell phones with cameras, this can still be a valuable book for teaching young people how to take a photograph rather than a snapshot.