Baby's First Book

Seri Gajah Putih

by Garth Williams

Garth Williams writes and illustrates a sweet, simple book about all the things important to Baby: his bowl, his spoon, a bird singing outside the window, and of course, Teddy Bear! Our youngest readers will love poring over Williams's cozy, large-scale pictures.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Garth Montgomery Williams was an American artist who came to prominence in the American postwar era as an illustrator of children's books. Generations of children picture their favorite fictional characters as drawn by Garth Williams. Thus the unforgettable dapper mouse, Stuart Little, or the kindhearted spider, Charlotte and her pig friend, Wilbur. And many other animals (bears, dogs, kittens, crickets) fantastic creatures (elves, fairies) and children and grown-ups in books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, George Selden, Charlotte Zolotow, Else H. Minarik and many others. Garth Williams was also the writer of seven children's books, like Baby Farm Animals, but it is primarily as an illustrator that he will always be remembered. His most controversial book was Rabbit's Wedding, written and illustrated by him in 1958, for it stirred racial issues.

Reviews

[Jon]

Hildy would give it a 5, but I can't bring myself to mark it as perfect. Still, Williams really knows how to hit 'em where they live. The build starts with a china doll, then escalates with the sudden appearance of a kitty, a puppy, and balloons, then downshifts with a birthday cake and, quite anti-climactically, a paint set.

Still, a good time is had by all, and if the text doesn't quite reach the simplistic perfection of "Brown Bear," it still more than triumphs over Eric Carle's other work. You can fool all of the babies all of the time, seems to be Carle's hypothesis, as he attempts to dazzle the most virgin minds with the crudest of three-dimensional gimmickry. This would-be James Cameron of infant literature, this Pontius Pilate of innocent souls, this Benito Mussolini of the human spirit will one day pay for his bamboozlement of our most vulnerable citizenry. Carle -- the jig's up. You and your henchman Bill Martin Jr. will one day face a jury of parents and children whose consciousness will have finally been raised to see through your facade, into the very heart of your money-grubbing soul.

[Christine]

This Golden Book is so random storywise, dull in terms of drawings, and it just doesn't feel like what I know a Golden Book to be. It feels strange to have a book like this not have some sort of sensory experience because, as is, it doesn't hold my son's attention.

[Christopher]

A Golden Book from 1972 published the year before I was born, belonging to my older brother who was one year old. It’s about baby getting up in the morning and full of vibrant pictures. Cute and short, good for reading to baby.

[Karin]

3 stars because Allie liked the pictures but otherwise this seemed rather boring or pointless to me. I have such fond memories of my little golden books but this one just didn't live up to the great brand.

[Sadie B.]

As I read this book to my son, he enjoyed the pictures. Honestly, there wasn’t anything educational in it and rather boring.

[Danette]

2/15/23 Read with Charlotte

[Josiah]

This book is distinguished from most others of its type by the rich drawings of Garth Williams, drawings that really are as good as anything that I have ever seen in a picture book of this size and type, and by the totally wholesome nature of the story itself. I really am glad to see this Garth Williams entry still in print after all these years. It is my hope that new generations of young ones will come to appreciate this book as much or more than their parents, and grandparents, and beyond.
I would give one and a half stars to Baby's First Book.

[Margaret Chind]

I have really come to look forward to finding more Garth Williams LGBks but this one beyond it's great cover was disappointing. We read it on my Kindle Fire from the library READS program through overdrive and the words didn't quite match the photos and the story was abrupt. The toys and bed appeared to be for girl but the clothes a boy so I'm not quite sure who the child was and if they are three or really a baby.

[Exactingnemesis]

Wonderful read aloud. My Granddaughter Natalie loves to point at the objects named and kiss the kitten who woke up from his nap and the dolly who is looking in the mirror. Excellent "first" book very little text, lots of interaction.

[Sheri]

Loved by our family for its simplicity and illustrations. An easy alternative for the diaper bag when you don't feel like lugging around the weight of a board book.

[Mckinley]

Things pertaining to a baby. Not very imaginative or interesting.

[Kissian Ffrench]

I can't even open one of the books this app it hard

[Janice]

Very cute little book

[Adrienne]

Baby's First Book
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Strange little book that seems to lack a point other than being a book full of familiar things...

[Cathie Maud]

Very simple, with bright pictures. I personally want a baby book with a bit more words to it, but I suppose it's good for when they are starting to read for themselves.

[Pinky]

A book of firsts for baby.

[Katy Brandes]

Very sweet little birthday book.

[Jaime]

Sweet little book. One of the first I bought my firstborn!