Baby's First Christmas

January 1, 2019
New babies don't know much about Christmas. This simple board book aims to correct that situation. The cover art of a smiling white snowman against a bright red background sporting a green-and-red stocking hat, scarf, and gloves invites readers in. Simple stock images, often of toys, one per page, highlight additional objects often associated with secular aspects of the holiday. Each item is shown in its most generic form, embossed and glossy against high-contrast backgrounds. Thankfully, not all the pictures are green and red. The first pages--of a snowflake and ornament--have blue and yellow backgrounds. The next two pictures, of a polar bear and penguin, are odd choices since they really have nothing to do with the holiday. A Christmas tree, angel, present, stocking, reindeer, and "santa" (the last printed in lowercase as if a generic) are more closely associated with the celebration. The angel is a knitted brown doll with a white handkerchief dress. The reindeer is a stuffed animal. Each object is clearly labeled, and an exclamation or question ("Look at her sparkly halo!") in a smaller font extends the conversation. The final spread reprises all the images except the snowman.An unremarkable but effective way to inculcate familiarity with standard Christmas iconography. (Board book. 6 mos.-2)

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