First Times

by Charles Ghigna, Lori Joy Smith (Illustrations)

Experience the adorable first adventures of childhood with this picture book from bestselling author Charles Ghigna and celebrated illustrator Lori Joy Smith. From the first slip down a slide to the first time picking out a book to read, this rollicking narrative takes readers on a journey of discovery into the memorable firsts in a child's world. A story that will be enjoyed by the whole family, from the youngest, eager to experience their own adventures, to the oldest, so proud to watch them grow.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2017

About the author

Charles Ghigna - Father Goose® lives in a treehouse in the middle of Alabama. He is the author of more than 100 books from Random House, Disney, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, Time Inc. and other publishers. He has written more than 5,000 poems for children and adults that have appeared in anthologies, newspapers and magazines ranging from The New Yorker and Harper’s to Highlights and Cricket magazines. He served as poet-in-residence and chair of creative writing at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, instructor of creative writing at Samford University, poetry editor of English Journal for the National Council of Teachers of English, and as a nationally syndicated poetry feature writer for Tribune Media Services. He speaks at schools, conferences, libraries, and literary events throughout the U.S. and overseas, and has read his poems at The Library of Congress, The John F. Kennedy Center, American Library in Paris, American School in Paris, and the International Schools of South America. For more information, visit his website at FatherGoose.com

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute illustrations and texting list a number of first a young child might experience. Ended a little abruptly for me and didn’t really wow me in general.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.Years ago, with Tot school in mind I discovered Charles Ghigna and his story Little Seeds. Today, I was able to read one of his newer selections in First Times . This is a book about all sorts of firsts and applicable for each of my children from my nearly nine-year-old daughter all the way to her eleven-month-old sister and the others in between. The illustrations are okay, but it is the words and the text that make this book a fantastic one to read aloud again and again.

I was blessed to read a digital Advanced Reading Copy on loan from the publisher. Opinions are honest and my own.
This review was originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very sweet, and I'm not even a parent. I think parents especially would really love this book. It would definitely be a good book to read with a child, because it could be a good memory conversation book ("Do you remember the first time YOU did this?").

[Casandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very simple rhyming book about growing up and doing new things.

[Margaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Canadian author, rhymes, about everyday things, and one of the main character's name is ENZO.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are lots of first times to celebrate, from first slide and swing to first butterfly, But the very best first time is the first time picking out your own book and reading it by yourself.

[Brooklyn || The Wild Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this picturebook. Not only are the colours bright and fun, but the rhyming story encourages pride in children for doing things for the first time. Also, the ending is the best ;)

[Mary Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute little book about a bunch of different "first times" for the children in the book.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Use at the beginning of the school year to talk about some of the first time adventures that will take place that year

[Jane Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was elated to review an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher because I so admire Charles Ghigna's work.

His upcoming book, First Times, illustrated by Lori Joy Smith, celebrates the many firsts that preschool children experience. The rhyming text makes reading aloud fun, and the cartoonish illustrations are just right for the preschool set. Even the font design helps tell the story. This is a happy book, people!

It begins:
First times are fun times!
From summer to spring.
My first slide down the slide
My first swing on the swing.

I read this book to my 4-year-old granddaughter. We talked about her "firsts" as we went along, including sliding, swinging, personal care, getting dressed, going shopping. These are everyday things that we grownups take for granted, but shouldn't.

First Times is a wonderful family book about growing up and being proud of every achievement. I highly recommend it.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute rhyming book. It talks about a bunch of first that are exciting duty children.

[Elizabeth]

Minh Lê‏'s "Best Picture Books of 2017" gave this an Honorable Mention for "Best Concept." I wouldn't go that far, though the through-line of first times is a neat concept and doesn't feel forced (nor do the rhymes).

I cringed at the illustration of a Black girl brushing her hair, because my impression is that African hair generally shouldn't be brushed with a standard white people brush like the one that child is holding. (I looked up the illustrator, and she definitely doesn't have African hair.) (I was also annoyed at the kids in a swimming pool with swim caps that didn't cover all their hair -- the Black girl especially. You're using swim caps incorrectly!)

I do like the gender equity of "The first time I help my father make dinner." (It's the girl helping but hey, even just text explicitly indicating a father making dinner is good.)