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Baby's First Words

A toddler’s day provides the story arc of a board book that offers engagement, affirmation, and delight, showing a mixed-race, gay-parented family. “Good morning!” reads the primary text on the opening page spread. The colorful scene includes word labels for “baby” (the girl), “bed,” “blocks,” “clock,” “laugh” (she’s all smiles as she greets one of her dads), “woolly mammoth” (a stuffed animal), and more. Objects, actions and emotions are labeled throughout as the little girl gets dressed, plays outside, eats lunch, plays inside, and, over the course of the day, experiences a range of emotions, engages with a variety of vehicles, and encounters an array of animal toys before being given a bath and going to bed. The pleasing illustrations are punctuated by humor (e.g., the woolly mammoth is often shown doing something funny for a woolly mammoth—coloring with a crayon, brushing its teeth) and full of warmth. One dad, home with her throughout the day, is Black, the other is light-skinned, like the little girl. “Night night!” ©2017 Cooperative Children’s Book Center

Illustrated by Christiane Engel

CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 6 months-3 years
Age Range: Babies/Toddlers (birth – 3)
Format: Board book
Subjects: African Americans Families Fathers Gays LGBTQ+ Persons Routines
Diversity subject: Black/African LGBTQ Family

Publisher: Barefoot
Publish Year: 2017
Pages: 20
ISBN: 9781782853213

CCBC Location: Picture Book, Engel

Baby's First Words