#blogbookaday: First Laugh Welcome, Baby!
Summary:
“The First Laugh Ceremony is a celebration held to welcome a new member of the community. As everyone–from Baby’s nima(mom) to nadi (big sister) to cheii (grandfather)–tries to elicit the joyous sound from Baby, readers are introduced to details about Navajo life and the Navajo names for family members. Back matter includes information about other cultural ceremonies that welcome new babies and children, including man yue celebration (China), sanskaras (Hindu) and aquiqa (Muslim).” (Taken from Goodreads)
Review:
In the Navajo tradition, the whole family spends time with a new baby trying to be the first one to get the baby to laugh. When that happens they host a First Laugh Ceremony where the baby is celebrated and welcomed as a new member of the community. In this story the baby’s family all try to get the little one to laugh, eventually grandfather gets the baby to laugh out loud and the next spread shows a celebration with friends and family.
Personal Reaction:
This is a cultural ceremony that I was unfamiliar with before reading this story and found it not only very interesting but also so important as it shows a Native American celebration that you see very little of in children’s literature. The authors also provided readers with welcoming ceremonies hosted around the world and in other religions and cultures making this not only informative but even more diverse.
Title: First Laugh Welcome, Baby!
Author: Rose Ann Tahe and Nancy Bo Flood
Illustrator: Jonathan Nelson
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing
Publication Date: August 14, 2018
This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!
