Baby Garfield: Year of Firsts

by Ben Clanton, Grace Ellis, Various

Meet the tiny troublemaker before he became the lasagna-loving legend in this accessible graphic novel anthology for young readers featuring a series of sweet and silly first milestones.

A baby’s big little moments are some of the most special and cherished experiences for doting parents—pet parents included! Join the sassy but oh-so-adorable baby Garfield in navigating a series of universal “firsts” like first word, first lasagna, first Monday, and the often overlooked, but just as moving milestone...first hairball!

Brimming with cattitude, this paw-sitively silly graphic novel anthology features eight standalone comics by a rotating cast of top-tier creators, including Ben Clanton (Narwhal & Jelly), Grace Ellis (Lumberjanes), Michael Northrop (Dear Justice League), and many more! Purrfect for Garfield-lovers, feline fanatics, young readers starting their comics journey, and graphic novel aficionados alike.

Collects Baby Garfield #1–4.

Genres: Graphic Novels

144 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 3, 2026

About the author

Ben Clanton is the author/illustrator of the Narwhal and Jelly series as well as a number of other books as IT CAME IN THE MAIL, MO'S MUSTACHE, and TATER TALES. When Ben isn't doodling up stories (and often when he is) he likes to cook, explore outdoors, and play basketball. Ben lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and kids. Find out more about Ben at www.benclanton.com.

Reviews

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars

Thank you to KaBOOM! for providing me with an arc.

This was a super cute collection of stories about baby Garfield and its perfect for younger readers or if you just want a cute short read about Garfield. This featured 8 standalone comics put into one anthology and was just a fun time. The art was super cute and its from many different comic creators all featuring Garfield. I recommend this if you just want a cute short graphic novel.

[Little Batties · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby Garfield: Year of Firsts is a cute graphic novel that follows the loveable feline in a year of all of his firsts, from his first taste of lasagna to his first bath, it was a creative twist to what one might normally see from this kitty. The author did a great job of capturing Garfield's attitude, and it made each chapter something special to see how he was as a kitten. It was a sweet rendition of this classic comic strip, and I'm left wanting to know what happens next for this little guy.

The only thing I'd change about the story itself is there had been a few more "firsts" in the story itself. I there were a few big ones that I think it could've benefitted from having (not spoiling what's not in there though). It just felt like it was missing a little bit more for baby Garfield, but the lack of these pieces didn't ruin the story; they'd just have been a nice addition to have too.

There are so many illustrators within this novel, so it makes sense that the styles are not going to be overly similar. Some of them felt more traditional to the original Garfield comics, while some made them seem more modern updated. Each artist took some creative liberties that are clear of their talent, but the lack of cohesiveness did make some of them stories a little harder to read than others. I'm still very appreciative of the talent, but I would prefer characters not to have such stark differences from one chapter to another; it throws off the story a bit because of it.

Anyone who is a Garfield fan has the potential to enjoy this book, but I think it depends on where your love for the fury feline came from in the first place. It feels more on par with the traditional comics of Garfield rather than any of the movies that have been made of this Monday hating, orange ball of fluff. I would still recommend it though, as it's a fun read, and I can see children who've never been exposed to Garfield falling in for this lasagna loving feline.

Thank you NetGalley and Boom! Studios for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & BOOM Studios for the free, pre-publication copy (ARC or Digital Review Copy) of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This day has gone from bad to spinach...It’s a cat-astrophe! Baby Garfield can’t be tamed and just needs his belly filled with lasagna and lasagna popcorn LOL!! What a fun time of first for Garfield and Jon to experience. Then the chaos ensues when Garfield meets Odie, their adventures after a scary movie viewing were hilarious! Poor Jon when he tries to give Garfield his first bath, who knew he would want to play with his rubber ducky for hours! And Jon should know better than to think any pan of lasagna is safe around his little furry feline! What a fun little walk down memory lane of when I used to read the Garfield comic strips in the Sunday newspaper and then press them into my silly puddy! All of the artwork is absolutely adorable, Baby Garfield is the cutest menace ever, but a special shout out to the artwork at the beginning of chapter six, eat your heart out Indy! I will definitely be gifting this book to a few good deserving kids, and some adults who still love to have some inner childhood glee infused into their very adult lives! Garfield will always be victorious when there is cheese at stake...and he will always bring a smile to my face but especially in this storyline, after all, he’s just a baby!

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

🧡 Baby Garfield: Year of Firsts — A Purr‑fectly Silly, Nostalgia‑Soaked Treat

Growing up, I adored Garfield — the sarcasm, the laziness, the lasagna‑first lifestyle. So getting to share baby Garfield with my own kids feels like passing down a family heirloom… if that heirloom had orange fur and a dramatic flair for Mondays.

This anthology is everything I hoped it would be:
bright, bouncy, mischievous, and packed with that classic Garfield humor — just shrunk down to kitten size. My kids were instantly hooked. Baby Garfield’s “firsts” are hilarious and weirdly relatable: first word, first lasagna, first Monday (a tragedy), and yes… the unforgettable first hairball.

What I love most is how creative and fresh this feels while still honoring the Garfield I grew up with. Each creator brings a new flavor, but the heart stays the same: Garfield is still a lovable menace with a talent for chaos and charm.

Now my kids get to fall in love with him the way I did — and I’m delighted we get to share this silly, lasagna‑loving little legend together.

A total delight for lifelong fans, tiny giggle‑machines, and anyone who treats lasagna like a love language.

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby Garfield-Year of Firsts — Read this together with my 10yo! …we both agree that it was a 5🌟 read, especially for Garfield lovers!

ARC Review of Advanced Copy Received from Author via NetGalley

Overall a very great book — one of our first graphic novels and we LOVED it!! 😻

📸 Graphics were cute - very detailed scenes that give an immersive experience! This helps in the graphic novel where you are making up for a lack of written words and telling the story visually as well! This would be an easy independent read for upper elementary ago (IMO), but we took turns reading!

❤️ It was fun going back to the beginning of Garfield’s story and seeing his character development and where everything really started, what has stayed the same, and what has evolved. You see, Jon being a victim of Garfield's antics from the start, the development of his lasagna love and hate for Mondays!

📖 I really liked the layout of the book and how the table of contents and end credits were listed like a "menu" - Very Garfield coded!

[Chili87 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply loved it! This super cute comic took me back to the nineties, where I first met the Garfield character created by Jim Davis. I remember having several Garfield stationery items, including a file folder, and I treasured them. I saw the cartoon as a child, later the movies, but I read several Garfield pocket books, and at one time the newspapers were also full of mini Garfield comics. I'm happy that I came across this edition on NetGalley.

I especially liked that we got to know Garfield's firsts through the eyes of several authors and artists. ^_^

I liked the first bath scene the most (Chapter 7), and the thunderstorm one (Chapter 6) but I smiled a lot at the rest too!

A must for Garfield fans, but if you love cats, Baby Garfield: Year of Firsts can also be a good pastime!

This comic anthology gets ★★★★★ from me! 😺



Thanks to NetGalley and KaBOOM! for the ARC copy!

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[Rebecca Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby Garfield was honestly adorable from beginning to end. It’s cute, funny, chaotic, and full of that classic Garfield humor, but with an even sweeter twist because baby Garfield is absolutely precious.
The illustrations are absolutely wonderful. They’re colorful, expressive, playful, and bring so much personality to every page. Each artist brought their own style to the stories while still keeping that cozy Garfield feel, and it made the whole book so fun to read.
My granddaughter loved it so much, which made the experience even sweeter, honestly. She was smiling and laughing the whole time, and it was such a fun book to enjoy together. It has that perfect mix of humor, warmth, and adorable chaos that works for both kids and adults.
This book just feels comforting and nostalgic in the best way possible. Such a sweet, wholesome, feel-good read and definitely a 5-star read for me.

[K. Amariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good beginners graphic novel. It's a collection of stories, like episodes, that are wonderfully true to the Garfield character without the more adult jokes some of the older shows have. It's Garfield for an older kid audience.
I gave it 4 stars because the characters look different from story to story due to art styles and a few of the pages are set up odd so it's hard to figure out which frame to read next even for adults.

My 7 year old's thoughts:
4 stars: I like it because I love Garfield and comics. (Would you read it by yourself?) Yes, but there's a lot of words I have to skip so I just look at the pictures. This chapter and this one are boring so I would not read those again.
They should make a tv episode of the thunderstorm chapter!

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't really read or watched Garfield all that much, so I had to read this one. It was adorable and Garfield of course loves his lasagne and his hate for Mondays is so understandable.

I liked the different short stories done by different artists. They all very much draw Garfield exactly like I know him and others that know him better do too from what I hear.

The only part that would need some improvement for me is the introductory text as well as the text at the end mentioning contributors. Due to the light colour on a light background I had a hard time deciphering the words. Overall a very nice introduction to the world of Garfield for new readers.

ARC provided by NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

[kieteldood · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a kid, I could not leave the library without grabbing a Garfield comic on my way out. Baby Garfield: Year of Firsts did a great job capturing the essence of Jim Davis’s original Garfield cartoons—classic Garfield shenanigans, but with more modern illustrations. I read this with my 10 and 7 year old and they were both howling in laughter from start to finish. A week later they are still quoting lines from “Baby Garfield’s First Hairball.” I loved sharing Garfield with them and would love to read more. My one critique is that I would prefer to have just one illustrator throughout the whole novel, but my kids liked having all of the different styles.
Review of ARC received from NetGalley

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable! I’ve been a fan of Garfield for over 25 years and never miss a strip. I really enjoyed the art style and the concept of seeing a peak into the early years of Garfield. The stories are funny, sweet, and are appropriate for young readers and adults alike. My only question was some inconsistencies if you know a lot of older Garf lore (like Odie orginally belonging to Lyman in the early years of the comics) but the stories are lovely even if it’s considered a separate Garfield universe.


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

[Manda Marigold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This comic collection follows Garfield through his year of kittenhood, hitting milestones like his first Monday, first lasagna, and so much more. 🐱🍝

Overall, I really enjoyed this comic collection. The art style is adorable, and I loved that Garfield’s classic snark, sass, and antics were present even in kittenhood. The overall feel of this comic is so warm and inviting, can’t wait for more! 💛

A huge thank you to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for access to this E-ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This children's comic book collects short stories about baby Garfield, with different contributors covering milestones like Garfield's first lasagna, or Garfield's first Monday. This book will appeal to Garfield fans, and will introduce them to a variety of authors whose other work they might enjoy as well. I personally found this book forgettable, but the origin stories will be fun for longtime fans, and for kids who love kittens.

I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Lauren Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the author for an ARC!

Baby Garfield: Year of Firsts is pure joy. Each story brings a fresh, funny take on Garfield’s early adventures, and the different creators keep it feeling playful and never repetitive. It’s cute, clever, and surprisingly heartwarming. The art is full of personality, and Baby Garfield is ridiculously lovable on every page. A quick, cozy read that leaves you smiling.

[Marybeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

LOVED reading this graphic novel about baby Garfield's adventures and how he came to be that fat cat we love. Same sass and attitude as adult Garfield but as a cute, adorable baby. It gives off reminiscing vibes as Garfield tells us about his babyhood. While it is geared towards children, I think adults would also appreciate the throw back. Quick read, but would definitely read it again!

[Tiffany Ahmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby Garfield: Year One is such a cute read. I honestly read it for my younger self. The stories are age-appropriate, fun, and full of the kind of humor kids will probably love.

I was a little thrown off by the huge variety of art styles all packed into one book, especially for younger readers, but it was still interesting seeing all the different takes on Garfield. Out of all of them, Taylor Esposito’s art was definitely my favorite.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely the cutest Garfield book ever! There are four different comic stories in this book, all about Baby Garfield's firsts. Great book for any age! I also liked how Odie was introduced and where the love of lasagna first began for Garfield. I hope there will be other comics like this in the future. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baby Garfield: Year of Firsts is a graphic novel that collects Baby Garfield issues 1-4 into one volume. The stories feature baby Garfield's firsts such as his first Monday, hairball, bath and so on. The art is adorable and the dialogue is fun and snarky. I think this would be good for kids or for adults who want a fun, quick read and a dose of nostalgia.
I received this book for free from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Ben A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arguably the best part of the most recent Garfield movie was the introduction of Baby Garfield and here we have an incredibly fun and cute anthology of eight stories by different creative teams. As with any anthology, the quality can vary but here all the stories were solid and I’m really hoping we get another volume soon.

Special Thanks to BOOM! Studios and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.

[Nitoy Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never have imagine Garfield illustrated outside of Jim Davis (which I grew up and loved) and it's highly appreciated. Also this is my first time to read Garfield in a more longer for other than the daily comic strip. This book gave it a fresh air on the character. However, the stories are hit or miss in my humor taste but the artworks are awesome here.

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: BABY GARFIELD

Who doesn't adore the Exemplar of Cattitude, snarky lasagna-aficionado Garfield and his feckless, well-intentioned human and canine sidekicks, Jon and Odie? Ever ponder what events molded this special personality? Enjoy eight episodes from various talented authors and illustrators who take us through Baby Garfield's Firsts: a non-stop laugh
-aloud chuckle-fest!

[Clem · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 8 years old son and I read this and he loved it. He wouldn't put it down and said the book was so good and funny. He was very excited to talk about all the silly situations Garfield found himself in. The illustrations are also very cute. It was a lovely book to read and talk about together. My son cannot wait to get a physical copy when it comes out!

[Kami Mauldin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby Garfield has the classic charm of OG (original Garfield) but with an extra amount of adorableness. Great for younger kids due to the adorable factor. My 5yo loved it as I read it to her. This would be a great comic-style book for kids just learning to read bigger books. Similar to dogman/cat kid style. My 5yo loved it and laughed a lot.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Javierthearcnovice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for this eARC via NetGalley.

This graphic novel instantly became a family favorite. I grew up with Garfield and enjoyed introducing my kids to baby Garfield. The illustrations are hilarious and the stories kept my kids laughing from chapter to chapter. If you’re a fan of Garfield, this is a must have for your home library.

[Kristen Barenthaler · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who grew up with Garfield comics, this is so adorable to see! The drawing styles are all so unique and engaging. The storylines are sweet and reminiscent of the original comics.

[Sameer Rajakumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun great easy read fur all ages , the only thing that’s different is the artwork but you can get use to it as you read this.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for this copy for reviewing.

This brought me back to being a kid and reading Garfield comics. I loved it! So much fun!

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent enough junior read concerning Garfield, where all eight stories are intended to be about the first something for the rotund feline. That's a tiny stretch for the first piece, which takes us back to a time when there was even less communication and understanding between Jon and Garfield, but it works when a debut hairball and the introduction of Odie come along to make more sense. The eight authors seem to get things to a more equal standard – the beach trip and the horror film night are less successful with the visuals than other entrants. But there's little wrong here, even if I was left with no impression that this would pull people into liking the mog. For fans and people tuned to his larks, this is probably four stars, though.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Copy...What can i say about kitten Garfield adventures? He is soooo cute and funny too to see the fat cat with attitude as a kitten with a growing appetite and attitude. Fun to see Jon younger and kiinnd of wide eyed too in context of his relationship with Garfield. How is one suppose to take care of a cat named Garfield indeed?

[ฅ^•⩊•^ฅ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby Garfield: Year of Firsts is such a fun and charming read. What really stood out to me was the variety of artists, each one brings their own style, and somehow they all work perfectly. Every story feels a little different, but they’re all equally cute and funny in their own way.

This is definitely a book made with kids in mind, and it really shines there. It’s playful, easy to follow, and full of that classic Garfield humor, but with an extra dose of sweetness.

Many of us grew up with Garfield, so it’s really nice to see a version that introduces him to a new generation. It’s their turn to meet this adorable, food-obsessed little creature and honestly, it’s hard not to love him all over again.