Baby's Firsts

Nancy Raines Day's spare, rhyming verse captures the milestones of a baby's first year with the feel of a genuine nursery rhyme — beginning with 'First cry. / First meal. / First burp. / Warm feel.' Michael Emberley's pencil-and-digital illustrations depict three racially diverse families with both mothers and fathers sharing care equally, which feels both natural and refreshing. What sets this board book apart is its honest portrayal of parents who are sometimes tired and exasperated — a welcome departure from idealized baby-book sentiment. Kirkus gave it a starred review, and it has earned enthusiastic word-of-mouth in new-parent circles. The one honest caveat is that the text is very spare, so parents who prefer more narrative in their read-alouds may want something alongside it. A lovely gift for new families.