First Friends

Join a childcare class during outside playtime as they discover the colors in the world around them! It's time to head outside to play and look at the colors around us! There's a red slide, black ants marching across the sand, and even brown mud pies. What other colors can you spot? • Introduces colors to toddlers • Shows a diverse cast of toddlers going through their daily routines at childcare • Last page encourages interactive learning with a seek-and-find of the colors featured throughout the book Join a childcare class during outside playtime as they discover the many colors around them! Mk Smith Despres is the author of the First Friends board book series, as well as Night Song and There's That Sun Again, and was named a 2024 Green Box Artist in Residence. Mk has worked as an educator for over 15 years with kids and adults with disabilities. They write, teach, and read lots of books with their family in western Massachusetts, USA. Libby Burns is an illustrator based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Originally from the East Coast, she graduated with a degree in communications and journalism before receiving a master's degree in editorial design. While her experience in writing and design cultivated a love for storytelling, she found her passion in illustration. She hopes her cheerful, bright, and playful style brings people joy. At childcare, let's play outside! How many colors can we find?

Join a childcare class during outside playtime as they discover the colours in the world around them! It's time to head outside to play and look at the colours around us! There's a red slide, black ants marching across the sand, and even brown mud pies. What other colours can you spot? • Introduces colours to toddlers • Shows a diverse cast of toddlers going through their daily routines at childcare • Last page encourages interactive learning with a seek-and-find of the colours featured throughout the book Join a childcare class during outside playtime as they discover the many colours around them! Mk Smith Despres is the author of the First Friends board book series, as well as Night Song and There's That Sun Again, and was named a 2024 Green Box Artist in Residence. Mk has worked as an educator for over 15 years with kids and adults with disabilities. They write, teach, and read lots of books with their family in western Massachusetts, USA. Libby Burns is an illustrator based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Originally from the East Coast, she graduated with a degree in communications and journalism before receiving a master's degree in editorial design. While her experience in writing and design cultivated a love for storytelling, she found her passion in illustration. She hopes her cheerful, bright, and playful style brings people joy. At childcare, let's play outside! How many colours can we find?

Join a class of kids at daycare as they find shapes all around the classroom! In our day care class, it's time to play. Let's find shapes along the way! There are triangles, squares, diamonds, and other shapes in the paintings, blocks, and dolls. What other shapes can you find? • Introduce early math and geometry concepts • Shows a diverse cast of toddlers during play time at a daycare • Seek-and-find shapes from the last page throughout the book Join a daycare class as they find shapes at play time - then clean up together and transition to circle time! Mk Smith Despres is the author of the First Friends board book series, as well as Night Song and There's That Sun Again, and was named a 2024 Green Box Artist in Residence. Mk has worked as an educator for over 15 years with kids and adults with disabilities. They write, teach, and read lots of books with their family in western Massachusetts, USA. MkSmithDespres.com Aya Watanabe is a Japanese illustrator who loves to explore imaginary worlds and to express her inner child through art. Creating fun content for kids is her passion. She lives and works in Tokyo, Japan, with her pet caterpillars. aw-illustrations.com

Join a childcare class as they get ready for naptime and learn about opposites! "It's time to rest," our teachers say. So let's stretch our arms high, then hang them low. Our mouths open to yawn, and eyes close to sleep. When we wake up, some of us are smiling and others frown. What other opposites will we learn as we go from one part of the day to the next? • Introduces opposites to toddlers • Shows a diverse cast of toddlers going through their daily routines at childcare • Last page encourages interactive learning of opposites Join a childcare class as they get ready for naptime and learn about opposites! Mk Smith Despres is the author of the First Friends board book series, as well as Night Song and There's That Sun Again, and was named a 2024 Green Box Artist in Residence. Mk has worked as an educator for over 15 years with kids and adults with disabilities. They write, teach, and read lots of books with their family in western Massachusetts, USA. Libby Burns is an illustrator based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Originally from the East Coast, she graduated with a degree in communications and journalism before receiving a master's degree in editorial design. While her experience in writing and design cultivated a love for storytelling, she found her passion in illustration. She hopes her cheerful, bright, and playful style brings people joy. Nap time with our childcare friends. Let's find opposites, start to end.

Join a daycare class as they count from 1 to 10 throughout the day! At drop off there's one kiss goodbye, one hug hello, and ten waves goodbye when it's time to go. Count through the day from playtime to naptime at daycare! • Introduces early math and counting concepts • Shows a diverse cast of toddlers going through their daily routines at daycare • Seek-and-and items through out the book from the last page Join a daycare class as they count from 1 to 10 throughout the day - then say goodbye at pickup time together! Mk Smith Despres is the author of the First Friends board book series, as well as Night Song and There's That Sun Again, and was named a 2024 Green Box Artist in Residence. Mk has worked as an educator for over 15 years with kids and adults with disabilities. They write, teach, and read lots of books with their family in western Massachusetts, USA. MkSmithDespres.com Aya Watanabe is a Japanese illustrator who loves to explore imaginary worlds and to express her inner child through art. Creating fun content for kids is her passion. She lives and works in Tokyo, Japan, with her pet caterpillars. aw-illustrations.com