Book Review: “First Day of Groot” (From the Team Who Created “Night Night Groot”)

Hi everyone!

I received the book First Day of Groot to review, it releases on July 2nd, 2019. This is from the same team who wrote and illustrated the popular Night Night Groot (Brendan Deneen and Cale Atkinson). About the book by Marvel Press, Marvel says, “In First Day of Groot, Groot’s learning that there’s a ‘first” for everything as he and Rocket set off across the universe learning new lessons, developing new skills, and making new memories, with new friends across the way'”. The 32-page hardcover book is geared towards preschool – kindergarten aged kids, and I think the appeal of the book won’t go too much older than that. If you take off the dust cover, the regular cover is totally different and includes a cassette tape that says “First Day of Groot Vol. 2” – so there are two terrific covers.

Illustrations copyright Marvel

Even though the book is called First Day of Groot, the pages features Rocket just as much. It is told in rhyme, which kids should like. For example, “Breakfast is the greatest meal of the day. It gives you the strength to run and play”. That is told while they are having breakfast with the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy team. Through the book, there are many Marvel characters including Captain Marvel – she helps with counting and spelling. And there are lessons to learn, including sharing and teamwork. I am not sure if most preschoolers know who Thanos is, but he does figure into the book also – that is the teamwork part.

Other Marvel friends shown in the book include Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Captain America, Spider-Man and many more. Even if young readers haven’t yet graduated to Marvel films, this is a fun introduction to Groot and Rocket and just a colorfully illustrated, entertaining book for young children that won’t take too long to read. I don’t think kids need to know who the characters are to enjoy it.  And adults (and some kids) will like seeing the wide variety of Marvel characters in the book.

With lessons to be learned and being an easy reading type book – one that can help kids learn to read with the rhyming style – I recommend First Day of Groot.

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