Includes Personalized Keepsake Page for Your Baby’s First Moments!
Lee Wardlaw Bruno Brogna Poems Celebrating a Baby's Milestones
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
Manufactured in China using FSC paper Red Comet Press is distributed by ABRAMS, New York
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.
I don’t suck it.
Need to chew it.
It fills my ears! It’s in my hair! Gooey, gluey everywhere.
Grab the spoon. Here, let me do it!
Open-mouthed, I aim for more. How ’bout that— plopped on the floor!
Daddy laughs. “More out than in!”
I give him a sticky grin.
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.
Between my hands a perfect fit!
Where is Bear?
We both can sit and look at pictures inside of it:
Pink pig oinks. Hen tut-tut-clucks.
Quack-quack-laugh, the daffy ducks.
Cows moo-MOOOOO out in a field . . .
With each page turned— one more revealed!
Hey, wait— that’s ALL?
Is that The End?
My first book: Read it again!
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. Wailed, flailed, peek-a-booed. Squeaked, shrieked, squawked, and scowled.
Chortled, chuckled, grunted, howled. Babbled, gabbled, jabbered, mooed . . . but today I have a surprise for you!
Listen carefully— it’s time you heard my first 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.
Bake a cake.
Decorate. Guests arrive.
Come inside!
Big kid clothes. Let’s pose.
Sneak a lick. Cameras click.
Flick the lighter. Candle lit.
Hurry, Bear, Make a wish!
Birthday song. Sing along.
Candle glows. Excitement grows— take a deep breath now and . . . BLOW!
Oh, what fun! I’m finally ONE. Another year of Firsts begun!
Name
First Day Home
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.
