On the Night You Were Born

Why It's On Our Shelf

This book swings for the fences emotionally, and mostly connects. The language is poetic and celebrates the child's arrival as this cosmic event that the whole world noticed. It could be too much, but somehow it works because parents do feel that way when their child is born. The illustrations blend photography with painting in a dreamlike way that matches the emotional intensity of the text. It's the kind of book that makes parents tear up more than kids, honestly, but that's okay - kids feel the emotion even if they don't understand all the words. It's become a popular gift for new parents because it captures that overwhelming love that comes with a new baby.