Firsts

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Includes Personalized Keepsake Page for Your Baby’s First Moments!

Poems Celebrating a Baby's Milestones

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Bruno Brogna

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Lee Wardlaw

For Mom— I loved being your first.

And for The Boy— My one and only.

I loved sharing your Firsts.

—L.W.

My Book of Firsts Text copyright © 2025 Lee Wardlaw Illustrations copyright © 2025 Bruno Brogna Published in 2025 by Red Comet Press, LLC, Brooklyn, NY The following poems have previously appeared in print as follows: “First Steps,” illustrated by Julie Paschis, Growing Tree/HarperFestival, 1999 “First Game” as Peek-a-Book, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, Dial/Penguin, 2003 “First Birthday,” with minor changes, as “Today’s the Day” in The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations by Sylvia Vardell & Janet Wong, Pomelo Books, 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024909395 ISBN (HB): 978-1-63655-129-6 ISBN (EBOOK): 978-1-63655-130-2 24 25 26 27 28 TLF 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition Manufactured in China using FSC paper Red Comet Press is distributed by ABRAMS, New York

RedCometPress.com .

Blurry faces, gazing eyes.

Murmured voices I recognize.

Mama’s here.

Daddy, too.

I don’t know the rest of you— but wrapped in softness, hugged and snug, I’m drowsy, cozy, safe— and loved.

My life’s begun so let’s get to it!

My first day . . .

OOPS! I slept through it!

Oh! Hello!

Who are you?

I’ve just arrived.

Are you new, too?

You don’t say much— or cry or fuss.

That’s fine, I’ll do it for both of us!

Soon lunch will arrive, I guarantee.

Would you like to wait with me?

The wait goes faster when there’s two . . .

May I rest my head on you?

When I wake up will you still be there?

My first friend— my Teddy Bear.

Fed and dressed in Monday best.

Time to go!

But Mama’s slow.

Checks her list for what she missed: Diapers.

Wipers.

Changing pad.

Rash cream.

Sunscreen.

In the bag!

Blanket.

Jacket.

First aid kit.

Flossy cap that Grandma knit.

Socks and booties.

Baby sling.

Burping cloth.

What else to bring?

Rattle.

Stroller.

Car seat.

Keys.

Extra clothes for emergencies.

Remember Bear!

He’s over there . . .

Cell phone.

Water.

Tasty snack.

Whew!

I think she’s finally packed!

My first outing—can’t be late.

My adoring fans await!

I’m achy, baby!

Fussy, grumpy.

Something in my mouth feels . . . bumpy.

Need to nibble, dribble, drool.

Gnaw a washcloth, wet and cool.

Bite Bear’s ear.

Chew a spoon.

Mama hums a soothing tune.

Icy ring numbs the gum.

Melts too soon.

Try—OW!—a thumb.

Munch the ducky in the bath.

Daddy’s story makes me laugh.

Feeling better ear to ear . . .

My first tooth at last— it’s HERE!

This isn’t milk!

But it’s milky.

Warm and creamy, smooth and silky.

It fills my ears!

It’s in my hair!

Gooey, gluey everywhere.

I don’t suck it.

Need to chew it.

Daddy laughs.

“More out than in!”

I give him a sticky grin.

Grab the spoon.

Here, let me do it!

Open-mouthed, I aim for more.

How ’bout that— plopped on the floor!

Bowl is empty.

Guess I’m finished.

I must admit I was suspicious— but my first cereal was delicious!

What is that?

Let me hold it!

I promise not to bend or fold it, bite it, tear it, lick or throw it.

Pink pig oinks.

Hen tut-tut-clucks.

Quack-quack-laugh, the daffy ducks.

Between my hands a perfect fit!

Where is Bear?

We both can sit and look at pictures inside of it:

Hey, wait— that’s ALL? Is that The End? My first book: Read it again!

Cows moo-MOOOOO out in a field . . .

With each page turned— one more revealed!

Peek-a-Book!

Who do you see?

Peek-a-Mom, Peek-a-Me!

Munch-a-Bunch.

What’s this green?

Peek-a-Yum, Peek-a-Bean!

Bubbly bath, a frog to float.

Peek-a-Duck, Peek-a-Boat.

Fluff of fur beneath the chair.

Peek-a-Paw, Peek-a-Bear!

Zip and snap my jammies snug.

Peek-a-Kiss, Peek-a-Hug.

Drowsy eyes in blankets deep.

Peek-a-Moon, Peek-a-Sleep.

Hand-in-paw, I climb with Bear.

Sitting tall, twirly chair.

Flap, snap!

Towel on our lap.

Lickety-split, scissors nip.

Snippety-do-dah, clickety-clip.

Scritch, scratch.

Tickle, twitch.

Prickly hair makes me itch.

Squirt, spritz.

Here comes the mist!

Scritchity, scratchity.

Hold still, please!

Ticklety, twitchity, here comes a . . .

SNEEZE! It’s the new me!

Dad and Bear clap.

Time to shop— maybe a new hat?

I’ve cried, sighed, gurgled, cooed.

Chortled, chuckled, grunted, howled.

Listen carefully— it’s time you heard

Wailed, flailed, peek-a-booed.

Babbled, gabbled, jabbered, mooed . . .

first

Squeaked, shrieked, squawked, and scowled.

but today I have a surprise for you!

my

word!

Creep, crawl.

Pull up tall.

Giggle, wiggle, waggle . . .

FALL! Clutch the table, tug up high.

Let’s give this another try.

Teeter, totter, step, step, dip bobble wobble step, step– TRIP!

Whoa, there!

Grab a chair.

Look who’s waiting with my Bear!

Swaying, straying, tip-tap beat.

Tiptoe, let’s go!

Be-bop feet!

Choo-choo chug across the rug.

My first steps to Mama’s hug!

Up early.

Family flurry.

Birthday song.

Sing along.

Bake a cake.

Decorate.

Candle glows.

Excitement grows— take a deep breath now and . . .

Guests arrive.

Come inside!

BLOW! Big kid clothes.

Let’s pose.

Sneak a lick.

Cameras click.

Flick the lighter.

Candle lit.

Hurry, Bear, Make a wish!

Oh, what fun!

I’m finally ONE. Another year of Firsts begun!

Name

First Birthday

First Book

First Outing

First Day Home

First Tooth

First Game

First Cereal

First Friend

First Haircut

First Steps

First Word

LEE WARDLAW is an award-winning children’s author best known for her poetry book Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku and its companion title Won Ton and Chopstick . Lee has two degrees in education and taught both elementary and preschool for several years before deciding to write full-time. She claims her first word was kitty. She is an active member of SCBWI and lives with her husband and cats in Santa Barbara, California. You can visit her at www.leewardlaw.com.

BRUNO BROGNA is an illustrator who specializes in creating characters for greeting cards and children’s books. He finds that traditional drawing in his sketchbook allows him to express his ideas quickly and directly, before completing the process on a computer using digital watercolor. Bruno Brogna can be found on Instagram and Flickr. He lives in Burnley in the north of England.

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A book of poems with a keepsake page to save your baby's milestones

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RedCometPress.com Cover art © 2025 Bruno Brogna • Printed in China

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9 781636 551296

51999

$19.99 US / $24.99 CN / £13.99 UK

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ISBN 978-1-63655-129-6