From an award-winning illustrator and children’s book author comes a touching, honest, and laugh-out-loud funny memoir about parenting, love, and the wonder of new life."I would have sooner been handed a bomb than a baby,” admits Elisha Cooper, early in his charming chronicle of his first year as a father. But that, like everything else, is about to change. Luckily, Cooper recorded it all: from playing Outkast’s “So Fresh, So Clean” as he changes his daughter's diaper, to having a romantic dinner at Chez Panisse with his wife–and baby. Cooper’s disarmingly beautiful essays about the perils and pleasures of parenthood will appeal to any reader, and especially all parents, no matter how old their children. He has done what every new parent is too busy, or too tired, to do—captured with grace the joys, fears, and stumbles of learning to raise a child for the first time.
Crawling: A Father's First Year
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In spite of all the fine children's books he'd written and illustrated (Magic Thinks Big; Dance!), Cooper always knew, deep down, that he didn't really like children "in person." Parents were worse. Parents were people who used to have interesting lives, but now spent their waking hours discussing how tired they were. Adults without children dined in marvelously relaxing restaurants; parents ate in horribly plastic places featuring "mac and cheese." The very act of becoming a parent—that "miracle" of his wife giving birth to Zoë—was frightening; as he said, "I'd call 911 but we're already in a hospital." In loosely chronological essays, Cooper describes his experiences taking Zoë to the local cafe, to playgrounds, to the petting farm or to "baby night" at the movies. Before long, he started to relax. He learned to give her diaper a surreptitious sniff and not make a big deal of it. Rather than complain about Zoë's outfits, he learned just to change them after his wife left for work. While he always found something new to worry about, he also realized it didn't matter, since he was so totally besotted with this dear child. With a delicious sense of humor and remarkably graceful phrasing, Cooper's journal is a gift to all new parents—especially the guys. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
“Hilarious and beautiful. . . . A new father finally understands what it's all about.”—Chicago Tribune“A bravely honest memoir of parenthood.”—The New York Times“Funny. . . . Cooper grows as fast emotionally as his daughter does physically.”—Los Angeles Times“Priceless. . . . Compelling and endearing. . . . A coming-of-age story that’s both hilarious and tender. . . . Knocks fatherhood off its pedestal while conveying the wonder of bringing another being into the world.” —Time Out Chicago
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More About the Author
Elisha is the award-winning author "Farm," "A Good Night Walk," and "Homer." "Beach" won the 2006 Society of Illustrators Gold Medal. "Dance!" was a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year. His adult books include "A Year in New York" and the memoir "Crawling: A Father's First Year." He lives with his family in New York.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Mr. Cooper has set down on paper a series of memorable vignettes that vividly recount his battles and struggles with--and total adoration of--his daughter (and the idea and reality of being a father). As a young father myself, I recognized many of his psychological struggles as my own (why must there be so much pink in a young girl's life?!). But the moments and descriptions I had not experienced were perhaps the most humorous and gut-wrenching.
This is a perfect book for anyone seeking insights into (or commiseration with) what a "modern" father must wrestle with on his becoming a parent as seen through the lens of a gifted writer.
This is a perfect book for anyone seeking insights into (or commiseration with) what a "modern" father must wrestle with on his becoming a parent as seen through the lens of a gifted writer.
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for the young father in all of us (even those w/o kids).
September 26, 2006
Format:Hardcover
Since I'm not a father, I don't really read fatherhood books. (I never had the impulse to pick up one of the comedian-penned works, which I imagine to be filled with funny observations like "and the baby threw up ALL OVER!" Ha. What a gas). But "Crawling" is different. It's written by a young father who also happens to be a children's book author and who, as far as I know, has never done stand-up. Additionally, I believe, this is his first real foray into the adult world. So, how well does he pull it off? Very well, I think (this from your childless reviewer).
Crawling is funny, extremely well-written, and--I loathe to use such a precious word--poingnant. What Cooper delivers to us is a glimpse of what it's like to be a young guy toting a baby through it's first year of life. This might sound ho-hum, but Cooper is pretty unflinching in his portrayal of himself, his peers, his family. Sometimes he's a good dad, sometimes he's not. He screws up in real ways (not what I imagine to be the comedians' screw ups--"the baby threw up ALL OVER, and I wiped it up with BURLAP." Har har har.) He's got more than a bit of the angry young man in him, which leads to problems with other adults on the planet (check out the chapters "A Bunny Orgy" and "In the Land of Mothers"). In the end, the book, more than anything else, feels real.
Full disclosure: I got this book because I'm familiar with the author's other works and know the author personally. (This shouldn't discredit the review, since I wouldn't have written anything if I didn't love the book). Had I not known him, however, I probably wouldn't have picked up Crawling any more than I'd have grabbed one of the comedian books from the Humor shelf. That said, I'm very happy that I did grab Crawling, or else I really would have missed out. As a young man myself (one who wants kids), this book truly spoke to me, despite my current dearth of progeny. And that's sayin' something.
Crawling is funny, extremely well-written, and--I loathe to use such a precious word--poingnant. What Cooper delivers to us is a glimpse of what it's like to be a young guy toting a baby through it's first year of life. This might sound ho-hum, but Cooper is pretty unflinching in his portrayal of himself, his peers, his family. Sometimes he's a good dad, sometimes he's not. He screws up in real ways (not what I imagine to be the comedians' screw ups--"the baby threw up ALL OVER, and I wiped it up with BURLAP." Har har har.) He's got more than a bit of the angry young man in him, which leads to problems with other adults on the planet (check out the chapters "A Bunny Orgy" and "In the Land of Mothers"). In the end, the book, more than anything else, feels real.
Full disclosure: I got this book because I'm familiar with the author's other works and know the author personally. (This shouldn't discredit the review, since I wouldn't have written anything if I didn't love the book). Had I not known him, however, I probably wouldn't have picked up Crawling any more than I'd have grabbed one of the comedian books from the Humor shelf. That said, I'm very happy that I did grab Crawling, or else I really would have missed out. As a young man myself (one who wants kids), this book truly spoke to me, despite my current dearth of progeny. And that's sayin' something.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Here's the thing: I'm a mother and I completely recognized myself in this book about fatherhood. Elisha Cooper's essays about his first year as a breastless parent is honest, hilarious, and insightful. I alternately laughed out loud (cliche though that may sound) and nodded my head vigorously with recognition. Cooper owns up to a short temper (check), to stealing time by dawdling on his solo errands (check) and to not changing his shirt during a cross-country drive (uh, well, maybe not...). But his attention to his daughter, to what she is thinking, feeling, and perceiving at every moment, and his articulate musings on her future and on his future with her make me want to be a better parent.
Crawling is for every potential father and mother who is apprehensive about maintaining his or her sense of self and privacy after the kid arrives. Which is to say, it's for all parents.
Crawling is for every potential father and mother who is apprehensive about maintaining his or her sense of self and privacy after the kid arrives. Which is to say, it's for all parents.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Relatable and sympathetic
Relatable and sympathetic, this memoir of a nervous guy becoming a nervous father is worth the read for any father (or mother) who has ever looked at their beautiful newborn infant... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mary Lavers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honestly Brave
This daddy's first year sags nowhere, neither in the beginning, the middle, nor at the end of his first year. Read more
Published on March 4, 2011 by RYCJ
4.0 out of 5 stars
The book I wish I'd had getting ready to be a dad
A great, easy read. Always honest. Sometimes funny. Sometimes crass. Really great. Wish I'd had this book when i was getting ready to be a dad myself, and getting stressed out... Read more
Published on April 14, 2010 by Stefan Lanfer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not just for Fathers
I bought this for my husband for our baby shower, and he has continued to enjoy reading it since our daughter has been born. The writing style is great - so enjoyable and funny. Read more
Published on August 4, 2009 by callan childs
4.0 out of 5 stars
A surprisingly fun and engaging read
My wife is due with our first (a girl!) October 4th of this year. We're six months in and the shopping for all the things we "need" has commenced. Read more
Published on July 6, 2008 by Jackson Clear
3.0 out of 5 stars
Too short, too bland
Each chapter is an anecdote from his girl's first year. It was interesting to read about someone else's perspective on this sort of life event, especially someone with such a... Read more
Published on May 22, 2008 by owookiee
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Bill Cosby "Fatherhood" for our generation
This would make a great gift for a new father. You might not have to be a father of young kids to appreciate it but, being one myself, I can attest that it helps. Read more
Published on March 28, 2008 by Alex Ruttenberg
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honest thoughts on Fatherhood
Elisha Cooper never wanted kids. Or at least he thought. Until he and his wife were expecting their daughter Zoe. And then life took a whole other turn--into parenthood. Read more
Published on February 13, 2008 by Bethany
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very witty, recommended quick read
This author combines his ideas and fears of fatherhood into an accessible, witty and humerous collection of anecdotal short stories.
Published on October 11, 2007 by Amie
5.0 out of 5 stars
This story will gladden your heart
For years, Elisha Cooper has illustrated and written delightful children's books. Ironically, his affinity for these works never translated to children. Read more
Published on October 2, 2007 by Armchair Interviews
