BABY'S FIRST HASHTAG

Here’s a book that is as much fun for the parents as it is for their infant or toddler.

“A is for #artisan…whatever that means. / B is for #beard…and two-hundred-buck jeans.” This abecedary presents hipster-themed words for each letter of the alphabet, with interesting photographs and entertaining rhyming couplets—one line for each letter, and one letter and photograph on each page. The words selected poke gentle fun at the vocabulary and lifestyle that are popular with a section of today’s young parents (“gluten,” “kale,” “followers,” “plaid,” “selfie”)…and soon to be familiar to their children as well. “M is for #manbun…somehow trendy still. / N is for #Netflix…you’re too young to ‘chill.’ ” Photographs show hipster parents, some with tattoos and/or long hair, with beards abounding. Although some of the photographs feature children and adults of color, well over half of them contain people with fair skin and fair hair, which diminishes the impact of this book. This is not written as a book for kids, although infants and toddlers will enjoy seeing the faces of people while sitting on the laps of their favorite adults, who will be chuckling or maybe even laughing out loud. And that is what the young toddler will remember—the contagious joy of the adult reading the book, linking reading to fun.

This gift book for babies and new parents will have both readers and listeners laughing.