This Is the First Book I Will Read to You

by Francesco Sedita, Magenta Fox (Illustrator)

Overview

A new dad gets ready to share the love of reading with his baby for the first time, now available in board book!

It's baby's first story time, and a new dad is excited to read to his child. He's also a little nervous. Which book should he choose? And what if it doesn't settle the baby to sleep? After bath time, picking out pj's, and the perfect swaddle, it's time to cuddle up and read together. And begins the special journey that only starts when a book is opened. Father and baby are transported to the soothing world of their story, sharing the special love of reading together for the first time. Filled with both tenderness and wonder, This Is the First Book I Will Read to You is the ultimate baby shower gift for book-loving parents and their newest readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593692882
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	04/29/2025
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 6.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Francesco Sedita is the creator of the Miss Popularity book series, the Emmy-winning The Who Was? Show on Netflix, and many other books in his job at Penguin Young Readers. Follow Francesco on Instagram @Mr_Francesco.

Magenta Fox was born in southwest London in 1994. She studied English at the University of Exeter, and since moving back to London in 2015, she has been working as a children's book designer. These days she works freelance—illustrating, writing, and designing children's books from her flat in south London. Visit Magenta online a MagentaFoxIllustration.co.uk, or on Instagram @Madge_Fox.

Editorial Reviews

". . . new caregivers will readily absorb the themes and appreciate the encouragement to create shared reading time with even the youngest children." —Kirkus Reviews

"Sedita and Fox have created a wistful story reminiscent of many childhood favorites, but this time from a father’s perspective and including his future hopes of closeness with his child." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2023-02-08
A dad and a new baby quietly celebrate their first storytime.

This calming metanarrative gets right to the point. “I’ll put you in your softest pajamas,” narrates the father. He admits to being a little nervous about sharing “this moment that only you and I will be part of” as they go through the little one’s bedtime routine. Finally, it’s storytime, and this book comes to life—literally. Carrying the baby, the father wanders—through his thoughts and a gentle moonlit forest. There is no conflict or distraction, just “the click of this lamp, / the sounds of our house, / the touch of our hands.” This is a rare, matter-of-fact portrait of a father and child, with the father expressing some uncertainty but ultimately joyfully participating in tasks that have often been associated with mothers. The lack of action may lull some, but new caregivers will readily absorb the themes and appreciate the encouragement to create shared reading time with even the youngest children. Soothing blues and browns and ample use of negative space create a reassuring feel that fits in well with the book’s message. Both the father and the baby are tan-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

This one is mostly for the grown-ups, and that’s a good thing. (Picture book. 0-2)

Kirkus Reviews