On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman.

I am not a fan of most books that tell children about the day/night they were born and how special it was.  They tend to be overly sweet and to not capture the real amazing magic of birth.  So it wasn’t until I saw this book on several lists from independent booksellers as a top pick that I decided to take a look at it. 

It turns out that all of those independent booksellers are right.  This is a magical book with appeal to parents and children alike.  Filled with evocative paintings that create a mood of quiet amazement, the text tells children not of the fact that they were born, but about how unique and special they are. 

I shared this one in bed with my five-year-old son.  At the beginning of the book, it says ” There had never been anyone like you… ever in the world.”  He turned to me with a look of such wonder on his face and whispered, “Never?”  It was a moment of pure connection with the wonder of himself, a moment that every child should have. 

Take this one home to your little one or recommend it to families who adore reading bedtime stories.  It is one to be shared quietly and lovingly in parent-child pairs.  It would also make a fabulous gift for new babies or young children of any age.