Crawling: A Father's First Year

by Elisha Cooper

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307387186
• ISBN13: 9780307387189
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A little gem by an anti-hero

As a mother of 2, I sort of dreaded reading "Crawling"- I could imagine the catalogue of 'firsts' for the novice dad before even cracking the cover. But when I did, I read the book cover to cover. Not only does Cooper avoid being trite, he manages to be honest, funny, shocking, reflective, infuriating and sympathetic. While few of us can relate to Cooper's lifestyle as an artist, the book has universal appeal. It's a pleasure to see parenting and Berkeley through the eyes of this anti-hero. A little gem!

Not Just for Fathers

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.

The other kind of parenting book (the one you'll finish happily!)

I had so much fun reading this! Cooper reminded me of a "This American Life" contributor--a touch of Sedaris, perhaps--only he's more curmudgeonly, athletic, and hetero. His thoughtful, hilarious quips (did he really just say that?) play well against the self-effacing, frank, and quiet insights of a dad slammed into his new identity of Parent. As a childless person, the majority of whose friends are all kid-ified, I sped through the chapters--each new anecdote would lift a whole new backpack full of my own fears of someday becoming a mom myself. Yes, Cooper tells us, you can have a child and still have selfish thoughts, make mistakes, and cling to what you enjoy about your life, and despite everything you will love so many unexpected things about this new person you have welcomed into your home. Parenthood can be a terrifying thing, but it's survivable. And funny. And full of warm moments. And, on top of it all, you can still down a forty with your pals here and there, or whatever your own guilty pleasure might be.

Cooper hit the nail on the head

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.

Great book for the young father in all of us (even those w/o kids).

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.