Emily Winfield Martin makes paintings, books, and other things. When she was small, she spent every moment drawing, reading, dressing rabbits in fancy clothes, and having many peculiar daydreams. When she grew up, she began to illustrate those peculiar daydreams, and after college, she created a cottage industry called The Black Apple, which sells all manner of art and etceteras.
She works in a tiny nook of a studio filled with old children's books, wind-up toys, and stacks of fabric. Her work is inspired by fairy tales, music, myths, carnivals, children's books from the late 19th through mid 20th century, her favorite films, and autobiography.
She likes bears and sea monsters and seashell pink poppies. She lives and works among the giant fir trees of Portland, OR.
Open this book with some little people you love and dream a little dream. What wonderful things are in the future? Whimsical and calming, colorful illustrations spark the imagination. Little details like a tiny mouse band opposite a kid's band called "The Missing Teeth" will be noted over and over with delight. With a variety of ages and ethnicities represented, this will be one you find coming off the shelf regularly.
When I look at you And you look at me, I wonder what wonderful Things you will be.
If you are not yet familiar with Emily Winfield Martin’s books or illustrations, you should become so.
Filled with a whimsical and vintage-ethereal artistic style (if that’s not a style, it should be), Martin creates a love letter to the child reader and to the possibilities he or she will become. –Sara W.
Daddy read this book to me, and we were both left feeling a little meh about this book. It was just so-so. I expected a lot more from a book that’s been on the New York Times Bestselling Children’s Picture Book List for 116 weeks (yes over two years!!!!) Though I really did like the page with the red balloon on it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I think red might be becoming my favourite colour!
I loved this book. I read it today to my daughter and she was really fascinated by the beautiful illustrations. I loved the message telling her above anything to be kind and the rest will be okay. If she wants to be a doctor, great. If she wants to be an artist, wonderful. I really liked this book and look forward to reading it again to her as she gets older.
Open this book with some little people you love and dream a little dream. What wonderful things are in the future? Whimsical and calming, colorful illustrations spark the imagination. Little details like a tiny mouse band opposite a kid's band called "The Missing Teeth" will be noted over and over with delight. With a variety of ages and ethnicities represented, this will be one you find coming off the shelf regularly.
When I look at you And you look at me, I wonder what wonderful Things you will be.
Į mane žiūrėsi aš tave stebėsiu, kad ir kuo užaugsi, amžinai mylėsiu.
Kartais taip norisi paskaityti kažką tokio mielo, lengvo ir gražaus, o jeigu tai dar taip gražiai iliustruota... Baigdama metus, žinojau, kad nenoriu nieko sunkaus. Norisi kažko pozityvaus ir gražaus. Kažko tokio jaukaus... Ši knygelė tikrai puikiai įsipaišo prie knygų vaikučiams, prie tokių mielų, kaip "Mylėsiu, kad ir kas nutiktų" ar "Užmiršau pasakyti, kad myliu tave".
The Wonderful Things You Will Be (2015) by Emily Winfield Martin is the rare picture book that truly has something for everyone. This thoughtful, quiet story imagines all of the things little ones (both babies and bigger kids) will grow up to be including creative and clever as well as brave and bold.
Martin's rhyming text moves the narrative along with lyrical narration reminiscent of a poem or a lullaby. Although this book is an obvious choice for parents to read with their children, it can also work just as well in a story time program. The text is just a tad too long for a baby story time but I could see toddlers or school age children being drawn in by the bright colors and rhymes.
This picture book also add just the right touch of whimsy with subtle touches including children dressed as animals and other fantastical aspirations. Each page has ample white space for text combined with bright, colorful illustrations. The Wonderful Things You Will Be includes children from a variety of backgrounds as well as boys and girls. It also thoughtfully circumvents many gendered or cultural stereotypes to create sensitive depictions of each child.
The Wonderful Things You Will Be is a subtle, charming picture book sure to appeal to readers of all ages. A joy to read.
(Thanks to Stefani at Caught Read Handed for recommending this one to me!)
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
Here's your next go-to New Baby or shower gift. And you will be happy to give it. Emily Martin's retro-sweet style walks that perfect line - hipsters think it's hipster and grandmas think it's old-fashioned. Extra credit for babies on the endpapers and toddlers in superhero masks.
I loved the whimsical drawings and sweet loving message. The rhyme scheme varied, which is a personal pet peeve of mine, but otherwise a wonderful love lit book.
I am in huge danger of dehydrating after reading this. Is this one of the sweetest books ever or has becoming a mother turned me to mush? I just adored this.
What is such a simple concept and a thought that comes into every parent's mind, Emily Winfield Martin has turned into a celebration of children's natures and personalities. It is about becoming a parent and that amazing, intense and all-consuming love a parent feels for their child. It makes you wonder about the possibilities and really celebrate that unique unconditional love that you feel towards this little tiny human that has come into your life. I love to wonder what my children will be like as they grow; every parent does!
The illustrations are just beautiful, especially the babies! The whole aesthetic is elegant and bespoke, and I truly marvel at Martin's creativity. My family and I will treasure this book; it is utterly wonderful. Five stars +.
I stared at this book for several weeks because it was placed next to my hanging clothes bouquet and changing table.
My parents finally read it to me over the weekend, which was really fun. The author’s inspiring message brought my parents to tears. Literally.
The book’s excellent illustrations are both whimsical and relatively realistic with diverse depictions of children. Although smudged with MY PARENTS’ tears, the watercolor illustrations held up well.
I plan to read this book many more times. My dad also said he would engrave my name on the special flyleaf page—once he finds the right pen, he says. Sounds like he’s wanting to stall to me, which frankly tests my patience a bit.
Both the message and illustrations were on point. I am tempted to give this 5 Stars but the whole you can be anything you wanna be and then showing kids dressed as wolves and zebras just kind of freaks me out so I’m sticking with 4 Stars. Overall, would recommend and it seems age appropriate for a 3 year old.
Trying to meet my 2024 reading challenge. And read this one approximately 300 times in 2024, still 5⭐️. Counting it so I don’t fail the reading challenge. 😂