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You Were the First

You Were the First
Written by Patricia MacLachlan
Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
Little, Brown, and Co., 2013. Unpaged picture book.

In the same sweet, nostalgic spirit of Love You Forever, this picture book follows a child's journey- not from babyhood to adulthood, but of their first-time adventures. A young couple experiences the wonder of their first baby's milestones, from first coos to first time throwing a ball. Stephanie Graegin's artwork is precious, with soft pastels that are just the right fit for such a gentle story. This perhaps verges on mushy, but has value as a comforting bedtime read. It would be a wonderful gift for a new brother or sister to remind them that, "You were the first," to ease their new-sibling woes.

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