Baby's Firsts

by Nancy Raines Day, Michael Emberley (Illustrator)

Endearing rhyming text highlights the developmental milestones babies encounter before their first birthday--crying, smiling, eating, teething, rolling, crawling, walking, and talking.

Join the celebration as three babies, encouraged by their families, grow more and more active, culminating in a birthday celebration for all the kids.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Storytime, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile

24 pages, Board book

Published May 17, 2022

About the author

Nancy Raines Day is the author of fourteen picture books. Her most recent are Applesauce Is Fun to Wear and Baby's Opposites. Her first children's book, The Lion's Whiskers: An Ethiopian Folktale, was a New York Times notable book of the year. She earned a BA in journalism from the University of Michigan and an MA in literacy journalism from Syracuse University. Having raised a son and a daughter, Day lives with her husband on St. Simons Island in Georgia.

Reviews

[meg]

there's no other way to describe this book of baby's first milestones than straight-up delightful. a wonderful read-aloud for baby storytimes, this book would also make a perfect gift for baby showers and first birthdays alike. and three cheers for the realistic representation of the ups and downs of life with a newborn, including post-baby bodies. so much love for this one <3 <3 <3

[Rebecca Davis]

A really sweet picture book of a baby's first year and milestones. I like how they included breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and dad as caregiver. Lots of diversity represented in the characters portrayed.

[Amy!]

So sweet, and I love the illustrations, though I would have liked to see an LGBTQ+ couple among the diversity of race and body shapes and sizes.

[Kelly]

Wonderful graduation from a board book, this is a quick little story of a baby's first events.

[Becky Carleton]

Unless you were a neurotic worrywart like I was when my daughter was this age, you'll enjoy this book. I spent way too much time reading about "developmental milestones" and how my kiddo was missing them. I wish this book had something in it to reassure other anxious parents that even if your baby doesn't walk by their first birthday, it's OK.

[Molly Cluff (Library!)]

This book feels more geared towards parents than children, showing lots of very realistic (and unglamorous) aspects of parenting (falling asleep while nursing, babies peeing in your face, etc). The illustration style is lovely and there are many touching moments, though!

[Ann]

ALL the cute. Really realistic (LOVE the breast feeding illustrations) and softly textured illustrations throughout with good racial diversity. Hints at a couple of single parent families but not explicitly and no explicitly clear LGBTQ+ families.

[Cheryl Gladfelter]

Sweet story that does baby milestones for the first year. Follows several families that seem to meet during baby registry to the first birthday. Lots of really lovely illustrations. My favorite is a picture of dad playing with baby while mom is sleeping.

[Tracie]

All about baby's first time doing many different things.

[Megan]

Absolutely precious.

[Miss Sarah]

One year in the life of a baby showcasing many different babies and their milestones. Toddler and up. Didn't always love the explicitness of the pictures.

[Alisha]

A baby's first year of firsts! Includes diverse babies, breast-feeding and male caregivers. Best for baby time or a 1st birthday present.

[Alyssa Mandell]

All the firsts that a parent and their child will experience together. A perfect book for storytime!

[Syntha Green]

Emberley's illustrations are lovely and diverse. The rhyming text is fun. Together they create a wonderful tribute to baby's first year.

[Felicia]

Cute rhyming story but while racially inclusive, there are no same-sex families.

[Sarah T.]

I love the diversity of the illustrations and how it doesn't shy away from realism. It's super cute and I think the mom's at my outreach storytime would really appreciate a book like this.

[Liz]

I tried this one out for Baby Laptime and it just isn't interactive enough. I'd hand this book off to toddlers or preschoolers who have questions about what babies do all day.

[Taryn]

Prepare to burst into tears by the end of the book if you read it to your child when he or she turns one!

[Jenn Kause]

super duper cute for storytime, celebrating all their firsts!

[Danielle T]

Very cute. Follows three babies from birth to their first year as they and their parents encounter a number of firsts, some of which H has done, some of which she has yet to do.

[TJE]

Not interested but cute book

[Bonnie]

Baby Storytime

[Kelly]

Simple book about exactly what the title says.