On the Night You Were Born has touched the lives of more than 8 million people, from newborns and toddlers to parents and grandparents. A New York Times bestseller, On the Night You Were Born is sure to be a beloved addition to family libraries.
Heaven blew every trumpet and played every horn on the wonderful, marvelous night you were born. On the night you were born, the whole world came alive with thanksgiving. The moon stayed up till morning. The geese flew home to celebrate. Polar bears danced.
On the night you were born you brought wonder and magic to the world. Here is a book that celebrates you. It is meant to be carried wherever life takes you, over all the roads, through all the years. Because you are the one and only you, and always will be.
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2—Rhyming text extols and celebrates the uniqueness of a newborn. "Because there had never been anyone like you…ever in the world." As the news of the birth travels, creatures around the world celebrate. "When the polar bears heard, they danced until dawn." "…the geese flew home." "Heaven blew every trumpet…." The text sits on white pages opposite large, richly colored illustrations. The moon appears in all of the paintings—as reassuring as the text's sentiment. Golden musical notes float across the sky as white polar bears dance and giraffes sway to the sounds of the moon's saxophone. The dark blue night skies make a beautiful and dramatic setting for this special night. The painterly art and poetic quality of the text make this an attractive book. Parents and grandparents are most likely to appreciate it, but they will undoubtedly want to share it with a child.—Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
Review
"A beautiful tribute to the uniqueness of every child." -- Kirkus Reviews, October 2005
"This wonderfully simple profound message of self esteem is one which far too few of our children hear." -- Looking Glass Review, August 31, 2005
"Too often children are not told how special and wanted they are. This book is a must." -- Parenting and Living, September 7, 2005
From Publishers Weekly
The birth of a baby—"the one and only ever you"—causes jubilation throughout creation in this quietly celebratory picture book from newcomer Tillman. Polar bears dance, giraffes weave to the sound of brass horns, and "the moon smiled with such wonder/ that the stars peeked in to see you/ and the night wind whispered,/ 'Life will never be the same.' "
Tillman successfully sidesteps the soft-focus sappiness that can accompany this genre. Her writing has the authenticity of whispered conversation; occasionally, she pauses in her exaltations of the baby to address the subject directly: "I think I'll count to three so you can wiggle your toes for me." Her strong, assured paintings truly set this book apart. The pictures subtly radiate golden glints of moonlight, and her almost sculptural rendering style gives her characters a hefty physicality that counterbalances the ethereal sentiments being expressed. Although one suspects that grown-ups will be most taken with the topic and treatment, this is one of those rare baby books that should make both skeptics and sentimentalists of all ages happy. All ages.
From the Author
Too many children are unaware of their innate, immeasurable value. It is my dearest hope that this book will help give children a deep sense of their personal worth.
On the night you were born, the whole world came alive with thanksgiving. The moon stayed up till morning. The geese flew home to celebrate. Polar bears danced.
On the night you were born you brought wonder and magic to the world. Here is a book that celebrates you. It is meant to be carried wherever life takes you, over all the roads, through all the years.
Review
“This is one of those rare baby books that should make both skeptics and sentimentalists of all ages happy.” ―Publishers Weekly
“A beautiful tribute to the uniqueness of every child.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Many parents will welcome this opportunity to tell their children how special and loved they are.” ―Booklist
“Rhyming text extols and celebrates the uniqueness of a newborn.” ―School Library Journal
About the Author
Nancy Tillman is the author and illustrator of the New York Times best-selling picture book On the Night You Were Born and its companion journal, The Wonder of You: A Book for Celebrating Baby's First Year. Her other books include Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You, The Spirit of Christmas, and Tumford the Terrible. A former advertising executive, Tillman now writes and illustrates full-time. She lives in Tualatin, Oregon.
