When You Were Born

Emma Dodd's Love You Books

by Emma Dodd

A loving celebration of all kinds of babies.

What does a new baby’s arrival mean to his or her parents? We find out as we travel around the world, meeting an adorable baby seal, baby elephant, and baby person!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Family, Love, Fiction

24 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2013

About the author

Emma Dodd Author/Illustrator

Emma was brought up in Guildford, Surrey, in a family of artists and from as far back as she can remember she has wanted to be an illustrator.
Emma studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Central Saint Martin's School of Art and has worked extensively in advertising, editorial and book illustration.
She was nominated for the Booktrust Early Years Award in 2006 for her book "What Pet to Get" and in 2009 for "Miaow said the Cow"
Emma lives in Surrey with her husband and two children, who provide inspiration for her work, and their Jack Russel Terrier, Bart, who keeps her fit. She likes to spend any spare time in North Cornwall, surfing and walking in all weathers.

Reviews

[Dream.M]

um Himmels Willen , Schenk mir dieses Buch zum Geburtstag.

[Camille]

Apparently, it is put-the-cutest-books-ever on my desk week, because this is cute book #2 and it is only Tuesday. I think Dodd's illustrations are so beautiful. The spread with the seals on the beach, is just breathtaking. And the words are really sweet, to boot!

[Maggie KutsBorg]

If you want to watch a pregnant lady cry, watch her read this book.

[Rose Rosetree]

So far, every book I've read by Emma Dodd reads like a trip to a candy store -- a religious, or spiritual, or simply very sentimental, candy story.

Specifically, this book presents a heroic mythology about how, apparently, the entire universe paused to acknowledge the birth of the baby in this story. And by implication, this miracle child is much like the youngster who is being read this story.

Personally, I like to make a distinction between objective reality and subjective reality. In my experience, the birth of a baby --and raising of the child -- is hugely important... subjectively... for those who love that child.

However, that's quite different from what author Emma Dodd proclaims in this book, as if objectively, such as, "When you were born the grass waved."

But it takes all kinds to make a world of Goodreaders. In honor of Dodd's intended audience, though, FIVE STARS.

I'll add a bit more personal comment below.

[Kristi]

This would be a great book for parents to read to their baby/babies. It is really sweet and has a rhyming element throughout the text, making for a lyrical flow of words. The animals are large and brightly colored, featuring different habitats and seasons. It should be noted that the human family at the end is of the book is white/Caucasian. Thank you to Templar Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

[Janet]

This is a 2020 reissue of a 2013 title by Dodd in a larger format than most board books.
I had not previously read this title.
It focuses on the joy of several sets of animal parents as well as a human family being joyful because of the birth of a baby.

[Jessica]

So precious. Narrated from the perspective of moms and dads, at first we see Mom and Dad animals with their babies. Then at the end, we see a human mom and dad with their baby. I loved the illustrations.

[Melody]

Lovely. Another good book for new parents.

[Jenna Mills]

Super sweet like all of hers

[Jennifer]

Cute, knockout illustrations! I wish the parents weren’t all white at the end.

[Evelynne]

Beautiful illustrations and story!

[Ice 9]

http://letterstocassiandotherfolks.bl...

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams]

An amazingly gentle book that reminds us how much joy we brought to our parents when we were born. What a beautiful book to read to your little one.

[Diana]

very sweet board book. shows different animal babies and parents. "when you were born, the rain stopped...the sun came out, and the sky turned blue" has a human baby and parents at the end.

[Kimberly]

Emma Dodd is so saccharine but I love it anyway.

[Kristen]

Heartwarming, tear-jerking, adorably comforting. A great gift to someone on their birthday, young or old.

[Tegan]

Very sweet. Guaranteed to tug at a new parent’s heartstrings.

[Penny]

what a sweet book! Lovely illustrations! Kudos Emma!!

[winda]

When you were born we all laughed, we all cried, our dreams came true. When you were born our eyes saw the world anew

entah, aku bisa menjadi seorang Ibu yang baik atau tidak pada saatnya nanti. Yang jelas aku tahu: akan mencintai dan menyayangimu, bahkan rasa itu tumbuh dari sebelum kamu terlahir.

[Barbara]

As all parents must surely know, everything changes with the birth of a baby. With rhyming text and various animals and their offspring, this book celebrates the unique bonds shared by family members. I like how the natural world is depicted and how the book ends with a reminder that everything seems fresh and new with this birth. While I understand that the author/illustrator was creating a pattern with the book's pages and images, it is disappointing that all of these families have what looks to be one mother, one father, and one child. I did love the spots of silver sprinkled through some of the pages, and I know youngsters would enjoy listening to the melodic text.

[Jason]

I was totally on board, even getting to really appreciate the use of shiny silver (which I more often than not consider a cheap gimmick--see The Rainbow Fish)--it's subtle and lovely here. But the second to last spread shows an owl's body morphing into a human's head. I'm not sure it was supposed to be like that, or if it's an error, but it's terribly confusing and distracting and it took me right out of the book.

[Samantha]

Rhyming text describes the environmental and atmospheric changes on the day of a baby's birth. Different animals in different climates are featured, with the last image being that of a human family.

I was hoping for a racially diverse family in the final spread, but the story reads well and the digital illustrations, especially the use of the reflective silver streaks was well done.

PreK-2.

[Cara]

This sweet text is sentimental, but not overly so, and can be enjoyed by children as well as parents. Dodd’s digital illustrations are endearing, and the slight metallic touches bring a nice textural element to the drawings. Children ages 2-5 will enjoy sharing this book with a family member who loves them.

[Meredith]

A series of animals recall the day on which their children were born.

This picture book series conveys parental love and devotion, using short simple text. It provides reassurance to children that they are deeply loved by their primary caregivers.

The text is simple and soothing, and the illustrations, accented with silver foil, are gentle with vivid landscapes.

[Zayneea]

Adorable Picture Book full of really cute illustrations which has silver embedded into the pages. See images of parents and baby of various animals (Elephants, Bears, Seals, Owls and Humans) alongside a lovely poem.

[Rhonda K]

Emma Dodd's picture books are beautiful! The stories are sweet and the artwork always has a lovely shimmery quality to it, literally. My son enjoys playing with the page to view what aspect contains the shimmer. Wonderful story for a short nighttime read to pair with something slightly longer.

[Ray]

Cute little book about meeting lots of new born animals, and then meeting the new born baby human. Your child can meet all these baby animals through the book. It's great for your child to hear about how excited everyone was when he/she was born and that he/she is the world to you.

[Katie]

Different animal families celebrate

[Pinky]

Animal parents and their cute babies.

[Erin]

Cute, simple story about loving the baby.

Good for toddler storytimes.