MY FIRST 101 WORDS

A picture dictionary conveyed in a mix of stock photos and simple illustrations.

Each double-page spread organized by theme presents an abundance of captioned photos and a few illustrations to introduce youngsters to new words. Little ones can learn about the four seasons; animals found on farms, in zoos, and in homes; and various vehicles. The concluding “myself” spread, focused on feelings and body parts, spotlights five racially diverse infants and toddlers. Approximately eight or nine labelled images are featured on each of the thematic spreads, framed by brightly colored borders. Many of the objects selected are quite baby- and toddler-friendly, including the snowsuit, the stroller, and the sippy cup. A cutesy, cartoon image representing the theme appears on each spread with a speech bubble announcing the uniting concept; this is slightly jarring when paired with the hyper-realistic photos. The companion title, My First 101 Animals, follows the same pattern to depict animals grouped by their biomes, such as the jungle, grasslands, and desert, as well as pets, farm animals, and baby animals. There is a nice mix of the expected (a lion, a tiger, and a bear) and the downright obscure, at least for many American children (an emu and a quokka from Australia).

A clear but unremarkable first-words primer.