Merriam-Webster's 150 First Words

Welcome to Merriam-Webster Kids! Fall 2021 marks the debut of our new imprint that serves our mission to help kids better understand and communicate with the world around them through highly engaging content designed to foster a love of language and learning from an early age. Our list is small, yet focused; over time you will see it build across all categories and ages that serve ages 0-12 and the families, teachers, and librarians that support them.

Merriam-Webster is storming the category with a 150 first word board book experience grounded in the principles of child development. The interactive experience encourages toddlers' language learning through the repetition of simple words and phrases, using tried-and-true authoritative language technique, written by a speech-language pathologist. While most first words books list nouns, our book naturally weaves 150 words around everyday illustrations readers will recognize from their own daily routines. Along the border of each spread, we've included photographs of every illustrated item to encourage an additional search-and-find opportunity for parents and their babies. Hosted by nine ethnically-diverse babies, it's a search-and-find experience that will delight parents and caregivers.

Give toddlers the gift of language with words and short phrases to say all day long, ages 0-3. This engaging large-format board book encourages toddlers' language learning through the repetition of simple words and one-, two-, and three-word phrases for everyday objects and activities. Under speech development expert Claire Davis's sure hand, dressing, mealtime, playtime, bath time, and all the other routines of the day become opportunities for babies to learn new words and phrases.

• Author and speech-language pathologist Claire Davis uses tried-and-true, authoritative language based on the principles of child development. In a brief introduction, Davis coaches parents and other caregivers in her proven methods for getting babies talking.
• Features nine babies of different ethnic backgrounds and settings from around the world.
• Each spread includes photographs of babies and everyday objects alongside illustrated scenes showing them in action-creating a matching game on every page to allow more time for parents and babies to connect.

From the largest team of dictionary editors and writers in America, and one of the largest in the world, thank-you for supporting us and Merriam-Webster Kids.