You Go First

by Ariel Bernstein, Marc Rosenthal (Illustrator)

Overview

In the spirit of Mo Willems and Ben Clanton, this “extremely funny and spot-on sensitive” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) picture book shows how a good friend can become even better by trying new things and putting others first.

Cat and Duck are very good friends and play together all the time, so when the new slide gets built, they can’t wait to try it out! Only, the slide is very big and curvy—what if it’s too big for Cat? As Cat and Duck move closer to the front of the line, Cat imagines everything that could go wrong until his worries start to rub off on Duck. Now Duck doesn’t want to go down the slide either.

Cat feels bad that Duck is missing out on the fun because of him. Can he find a way to make it right?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665911511
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date:	06/13/2023
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ariel Bernstein is the author of I Have a Balloon and Where Is My Balloon?, both illustrated by Scott Magoon, as well as We Love Fishing! and You Go First, both illustrated by Marc Rosenthal. I Have a Balloon received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, and it was a Junior Library Guild Selection. Where Is My Balloon? was a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and We Love Fishing! received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. You Go First was a Junior Library Guild Selection, named a Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, and received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. Ariel lives in New Jersey with her family. Learn more at ArielBernsteinBooks.com.

Marc Rosenthal is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of many books for children, including the Small Walt collection by Elizabeth Verdick, All You Need Is Love by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, I Must Have Bobo! by Eileen Rosenthal, We Love Fishing! and Mabel Wants a Friend by Ariel Bernstein, and Archie and the Pirates, which he wrote. He lives in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Learn more at Marc-Rosenthal.com.

Editorial Reviews

04/24/2023

There’s a new, taller, curvier slide on the playground, and close friends Cat and Duck have two very different feelings about it: Duck is outwardly eager, and Cat clearly is not, though the kitty doesn’t admit it. In the name of being “a very good friend,” Cat suggests that Duck consider the other playground options: “Duck, do you want to go on the swings first? Or in the sandbox? The sand is looking very sandy today.” Finally, after creating several delays, and insisting Duck don wholly unnecessary protective gear, Cat’s anxieties pour out. “Duck, I must warn you. If you go down that slide, you may fall! And scream! And cry!” Duck sadly acquiesces, “even if I was looking forward to it,” but the story keeps going, ending on a note of small triumph for both of the friends. In a second match-up from collaborators Bernstein and Rosenthal (We Love Fishing!), character-forward playground vignettes, rendered in sturdy pencil outlines and cheery digital color, are comically in sync with the interplay and mood of the deadpan, emotionally astute narration and dialogue. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Sean McCarthy, Sean McCarthy Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"Rosenthal’s pastel-hued, cartoon-style illustrations add warmth, humor, and nuance. Many books for young children explore conquering fear, but fewer contextualize how one’s fear can dampen someone else’s good time; this book adds something fresh to the shelf."

Horn Book Magazine

A CCBC 2024 Choices Picture Book

A 2024 Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended title

From the Publisher

09/29/2023

PreS-Gr 2—Cat and Duck, two very good friends, arrive at their neighborhood playground in hopes of riding the slide when they find a surprise: a new slide! With twists and turns, the new slide presents challenges to Cat, who tries hard to convince Duck that going down it is a terrible idea. Eventually, Cat realizes that part of being a good friend is encouraging bravery through new experiences. Bernstein's whimsical tale of learning through friendship combines beautifully with Rosenthal's cheery illustrations. VERDICT A charming view of friendship and encouragement to try new things. Recommended for early readers and social-emotional learning teachers.—Brittany McMahon

School Library Journal

★ 2023-03-14
Duck really wants to try out the new playground slide, but Cat keeps creating new ways to stop her.

Two simple statements on the verso of this book’s first spread set up the premise that Duck and Cat are close friends on their way to the playground to slide. Another full-page spread depicts a delightful, stylized playground populated by anthropomorphic animals, with bright-yellow, pink-ribboned Duck leading wide-eyed Cat across the foreground. But something is different today. Their usual slide has been replaced with a newer, bigger, curvier one. Expressive art with cleverly inserted dialogue shows how the new slide produces wildly different emotions in the friends: excitement in Duck, high anxiety in Cat. And with each page turn, Cat finds a way to postpone Duck’s trip down the slide. Little ones will giggle and nod knowingly as the unseen narrator continues to inform us that Cat is doing all this from friendship; the art and dialogue clearly show otherwise. Duck willingly submits to every ridiculous excuse—even donning goggles and a helmet—until Cat finally convinces her not to go down the slide. Will Cat learn a lesson about true friendship? Spoiler alert: of course, and brilliantly. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Both extremely funny and spot-on sensitive. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews