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The First Days: A High-Contrast Book for Parents and Babies
24 pages, Board Book
Published June 3, 2025
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 12, 2025
I cannot recommend this book enough for any parents navigating those early days and weeks with a newborn in their lives.
Reading this in the early days of having my newborn at home gave release to some of the emotions that had been bottled up from the birth and following days. It put words to some of the feelings I had been having but didn’t know how to articulate to myself because of the exhaustion of the whole process and newfound lack of sleep. It provided a space to slow down with my baby and gave room to connect with her but also with my own emotions. Reading the first page even reminded me to slow down and take in the moment after such a full journey to get to where I now was, sitting with our baby in my arms reading a book together. A simple reminder to take in the moment of this dream come true.
The art on each page fully engaged my baby’s attention. With the turn of each page she was interested and curious of what she was seeing. It was special to watch her actually see and be drawn into the page in front of her. This in turn allows me as the reader to then fully take in the words on each page.
It is special to have a book to come back to that I know engages our baby’s attention, and also engages my own attention with what I am reading. Now that our little one has been with us for six months, each time we have read the book together over the course of that time, different pages and phrases have felt like a revelation of some of the feelings and experiences we have had together. The book is not “loud” with colors or busy pictures or rhyming schemes. But it is effective in engaging our little one’s attention with intentional art, and my own attention with intentional words that often give breath to my own feelings and emotions.
Reading this in the early days of having my newborn at home gave release to some of the emotions that had been bottled up from the birth and following days. It put words to some of the feelings I had been having but didn’t know how to articulate to myself because of the exhaustion of the whole process and newfound lack of sleep. It provided a space to slow down with my baby and gave room to connect with her but also with my own emotions. Reading the first page even reminded me to slow down and take in the moment after such a full journey to get to where I now was, sitting with our baby in my arms reading a book together. A simple reminder to take in the moment of this dream come true.
The art on each page fully engaged my baby’s attention. With the turn of each page she was interested and curious of what she was seeing. It was special to watch her actually see and be drawn into the page in front of her. This in turn allows me as the reader to then fully take in the words on each page.
It is special to have a book to come back to that I know engages our baby’s attention, and also engages my own attention with what I am reading. Now that our little one has been with us for six months, each time we have read the book together over the course of that time, different pages and phrases have felt like a revelation of some of the feelings and experiences we have had together. The book is not “loud” with colors or busy pictures or rhyming schemes. But it is effective in engaging our little one’s attention with intentional art, and my own attention with intentional words that often give breath to my own feelings and emotions.
June 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The First Days isn’t just a book—it was our first conversation.
In those fragile, sacred early days with my newborn, this book offered more than words and images—it offered presence. The high-contrast art held my baby’s gaze while the quiet, emotionally resonant text grounded me in the moment.
It doesn’t tell you what to do. It simply meets you where you are—with gentleness, with honesty, with love.
I’ve returned to it again and again, not just for my baby, but for me. It’s the book I now gift to every new parent I know. A companion, a keepsake, a reminder that we’re not alone.
The First Days isn’t just a book—it was our first conversation.
In those fragile, sacred early days with my newborn, this book offered more than words and images—it offered presence. The high-contrast art held my baby’s gaze while the quiet, emotionally resonant text grounded me in the moment.
It doesn’t tell you what to do. It simply meets you where you are—with gentleness, with honesty, with love.
I’ve returned to it again and again, not just for my baby, but for me. It’s the book I now gift to every new parent I know. A companion, a keepsake, a reminder that we’re not alone.
October 21, 2025
Okay yes, I wrote it. But honestly? I think it’s pretty great.
July 6, 2025
It’s been a while since I read a book written for babies using high contrast images, and I’ve never seen one written from the caregiver’s perspective, offering words of growth, love, and reassurance. This is a beautifully created book, perfect for laptime rocker readalouds with baby. It’s nourishing for baby’s eyes and brain and for the loving (and possibly sleepy) caregiver’s soul.
June 12, 2025
Rarely does a book speak so softly and still say so much—The First Days is that rare gift.
With starkly beautiful high-contrast art and words that feel like a gentle hand on your back, this book holds space for the sacred, disorienting, emotional whirlwind of early parenthood. I found myself tearing up on the very first page—not from sadness, but from recognition. This book sees you.
It’s not instructional. It doesn’t offer tips or timelines. Instead, it offers presence. And in those hazy, sleepless first days with a newborn, that’s everything.
I’ve gifted it already to two friends with new babies, and each time I do, it feels like I’m passing along something sacred.
Highly recommend for any new parent, baby shower gift, or anyone seeking a grounding reminder of what it means to be here, now, together.
With starkly beautiful high-contrast art and words that feel like a gentle hand on your back, this book holds space for the sacred, disorienting, emotional whirlwind of early parenthood. I found myself tearing up on the very first page—not from sadness, but from recognition. This book sees you.
It’s not instructional. It doesn’t offer tips or timelines. Instead, it offers presence. And in those hazy, sleepless first days with a newborn, that’s everything.
I’ve gifted it already to two friends with new babies, and each time I do, it feels like I’m passing along something sacred.
Highly recommend for any new parent, baby shower gift, or anyone seeking a grounding reminder of what it means to be here, now, together.
October 28, 2025
This is the perfect book for anyone with a new baby. Given babies can only see in black and white in the beginning, this gives them beautiful artwork to look at to help their development. But not only that, the parents can get something out of it too, with the wonderful language around those "first days" with their baby, and how precious they are. I'd highly recommend this as a baby shower gift, or something you buy for yourself and your baby in those first months together.
October 4, 2025
As someone who works in public libraries and thoroughly enjoys reading kids' books on my own time, The First Days includes so many of the things I love to find in a book: Engaging artwork, lyrical writing that makes me feel something, and content that can speak to people of all ages.
There is power in words. And parents and children alike can find solace and joy in the poetry that flows throughout this board book. A gentle reminder to parents to cherish those first days and the uncertainty that they bring, as well as wishes and hopes for children and their future.
I recommend this book to all, but especially caregivers and librarians looking to expand their collections.
There is power in words. And parents and children alike can find solace and joy in the poetry that flows throughout this board book. A gentle reminder to parents to cherish those first days and the uncertainty that they bring, as well as wishes and hopes for children and their future.
I recommend this book to all, but especially caregivers and librarians looking to expand their collections.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews