First Night

by Harriet Ziefert

Although others participate by driving, riding and making music, Amanda Dade leads the parade to welcome the arrival of the New Year.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 1999

About the author

Harriet Ziefert grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Masters degree in Education from New York University.

For many years, Ziefert was an elementary school teacher. She taught most grades from kindergarten to fifth grade. "I liked it," she said, but she stopped teaching when she had her own sons. When her children were older, Ziefert wanted "a bigger arena" for her work. She went to work at a publishing company, Scholastic in New York City, developing materials for teacher's guides for kindergarten language arts and social studies programs.

"About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Amanda Dade leads the parade" in this rhyming New Year's picture-book from author Harriet Ziefert and illustrator S.D. Schindler. Although many other community members also take part, from Officer Dowd clearing the crowd to Mayor McSnorse riding a horse, the narrative continually reiterates that Amanda Dade is out in front with her baton, leading the entire parade...

Originally published in 1999 as First Night, and then reprinted in paperback in 2001 as Amanda Dade's New Year's Parade , this picture-book features a rhyming text with a repetitive sing-song structure, and striking artwork created using colored pencil and magic markers on midnight blue paper. Although not destined to become a personal favorite—somehow, I just can't seem to find a Solar New Year picture-book that I truly love—this would make a good read-aloud for a New Year's story time, and it is for that purpose that I would recommend it.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rhyming text describes events at a midnight New Year's Eve Parade. This works well for a similarly themed storytime.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may use this for storytime, as there seems to be a serious lack of NYE picture books, but I'm not wild about it.

[Sonja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great rhyming and beautiful illustrations.

[Miss Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

New Year parade with lots of rhyming.

[Denicemarcell]

Book in rhyme I can cope with as it is a picture book!

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

New Years celebration book. Similar in writing style to Old McDonald... one thing added to the line before.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age Range: 4 and up
Kindergarten-Grade 2