Module 1: On the Night You Were Born

· Book cover image:

                                                                                                                                                          

· Book Summary:

On the Night You Were Born is a rhyming book about how special and unique every person is. The book describes in detail the whole world taking notice of the birth of a new baby, you. The first one to notice the wonderment of the birth is the moon. Each new page is something different acknowledging the marvelous birth and the moon is ever present with different looks on its face. The illustrations look like a collection of different formats and express the sentiment or depict what the story is unfolding in rhyme very vividly. The emotions are heartfelt in the words alone, yet the images add to the sentimentality of the prose.

· APA Reference of Book:

Tillman, N. (2006). On the night you were born. New York: Feiwel & Friends.

· Impressions:

I was amazed at how this book touched me. I had seen it before, but never really heard anything about it or even bothered to pick it up. I think the book cover just didn’t get my attention. The polar bears don’t look very crisp or clean, they look a bit off with their heads being a bit purple and their necks have a tinge of yellow. The music notes also did not do it for me. Luckily for me, I finally gave this book a chance.

The first page was an immediate attention grabber for me. The moon smiling, the night wind whispering, and never anyone like you ever being born were all pulling at the corners of my eyes. I didn’t believe this first page could have this impact on me. On page two I could not decide which one of my children or grandchildren’s names to say out loud before I turned the page. As I read the book for the first time I found myself turning the pages quickly to see what was reacting to the new birth next and how they were joining in the marvel of the new one. I had to slow myself down and actually go back and reread before I finished because I was not even looking at the pictures. I had totally missed the polar bears dancing the first time I read it. It is endearing how the world was happy, having celebrations, and feeling safe and close to home. 

What is the best part of the book to me is the lasting sensation of feeling and being loved. It leaves the reader with a warmth when they see and hear visual and auditory cues from the world and its inhabitants. The geese honking, the moon high in the sky in the morning, and even the sleeping polar bears at the zoo. All signs to remind you (us) that everywhere we see indications of how loved and special you (we) are. This “easy” picture book is an affirmation of how wonderfully magnificent you (we) all are.

· Professional Review:

Originally self-published, this debut from a new imprint celebrates the message that each child is a unique wonder: “Never before . . . has the world . . . known a you.” Like Debra Frasier’s On the Day You Were Born (1991), the text, directed straight to children, describes how the world, from the smallest ladybug to the sky’s smiling moon, welcomes its latest arrival: “You.” The computer-generated, collage artwork is sometimes blurry, and some of the compositions lack clear, dramatic shapes and figures that will pull a young audience. In addition, children may miss the symbolism in the images: musical notes meant to represent the sound of a child’s name, for example. Still, children will enjoy finding the reassuring face of the moon on each page, and the rhyming, rhythmic text includes lines that beg for participation: “The sound of your name is a magical one. Let’s say it out loud before we go on.” Many parents will welcome this opportunity to tell their children how special and loved they are. 

Engberg, G. (2006, December 1). On the night you were born. Booklist 103 (7). Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/On-the-Night-You-Were-Born-Nancy-Tillman/pid=1824244

· Library Uses:

Nancy Tillman’s book would be a good way to start the new school year. The student’s are new to the teacher and the teacher is new to them. After reading the story to them they could start a time line about the night they were born if they know anything. The librarian could help facilitate this by providing the classroom teachers with sites that have information about the days and years students were born such as: thepeoplehistory.com or farmersalmanac.com. The students would also ask their parents about the night/day they were born and start to fill in their time line or any other product the librarian or teacher would want the students to create about themselves. This would be a good way to start to know your students and it would create a sense of pride in the students to know that they are special and wonderfully unique.