First joys

With spare text and colorful illustrations, this sweet board book, translated from the French, portrays both animal and human versions of several "first joys of life" for babies and their family members. The appealing illustrations have a slightly vintage feel and tenderly portray the close family relationships. Each spread either contrasts or builds on a milestone of early life with one human and one animal illustration. For example, "appearing" features a swan cygnet hatching, while "hiding" shows a human infant playing hide-and-seek. Parents and other family members will enjoy reading about these special firsts with their own little ones.

Baby-Toddler--This heartwarming tribute to first experiences celebrates animals and humans alike. Each spread pairs an animal and a human enjoying a similar milestone. For example, the text "Enjoying the discovery/ of new foods" is accompanied by an image of a bird feeding her chicks a worm, while the next page depicts a young child messily eating with a spoon. With its soft palette and charming paper cutout illustrations, this gentle story is a great choice for bedtime reading. VERDICT A supplemental purchase for libraries.