First 100 Animals
The same photographic grid as First 100 Words but all animals, which is the category toddlers volunteer words for first—so this is usually the book that produces the first ten spoken nouns rather than the first ten recognised ones.
First 100 Animals by Roger Priddy is estimated to take about 2.5 minutes to read aloud (100 words, about 0 sentences a page), and it lands best with children aged 0-3.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 2.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Estimated word count
- 100Our estimate
- Sentences per page
- 0Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5repeat friendly
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 0-3Our editorial fit
Our review
This book uses a grid of photographic animal images to help toddlers build their vocabulary. It is specifically designed for the stage where children are beginning to name animals in their environment.
The use of real photos helps children connect the images directly to animals they might see in real life. It is a highly effective tool for encouraging early spoken language.
Before you buy it
Like the rest of this series, this is for naming objects rather than reading a story, and it loses its charm once they’ve mastered the words.
Themes
- animals
- photographs
- vocabulary
- first words
Books like First 100 Animals
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
First 100 Wordsabout 2.5 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Bright Baby Colorsabout 2 minutes estimated · 3/5 re-read
Dear Zooabout 3.5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Baby Touch and Feel: Animalsabout 3 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?about 3.5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read First 100 Animals aloud?
About 2.5 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 100. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is First 100 Animals actually for?
Ages 0-3 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 0 sentences a page and vocabulary at 2 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does First 100 Animals survive being read on repeat?
Yes. It survives a fortnight of nightly repeats, which is the real test.
Is First 100 Animals a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise First 100 Animals?
It can. It scores 4 out of 5 with us for holding up to repeat reading, and children tend to learn by heart the books they ask for most, even without a strong refrain.
Can a beginning reader read First 100 Animals on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 0 sentences a page and plain vocabulary (2 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
Is First 100 Animals part of a series?
Yes, it belongs to the Bright Baby series. It stands on its own, so you can start here without reading the others in order, then move to the rest if it lands.
What themes does First 100 Animals cover?
We tag it with animals, photographs, vocabulary and first words. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
