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Angel in the Waters
In its mother’s womb, a tiny baby grows, explores the waters, and talks with the angel who is there.
These gentle illustrations and wise words tell the story of that baby and the angel in the waters . . . a story that will delight all young children, because the journey from conception to birth is their story, too.
These gentle illustrations and wise words tell the story of that baby and the angel in the waters . . . a story that will delight all young children, because the journey from conception to birth is their story, too.
48 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2004
About the author
Regina Doman
27 books518 followersRegina Doman is a Catholic wife, mother, author and editor. Currently she runs her own company, Chesterton Press, which publishes and distributes quality Catholic fiction. When she worked as the editor of Sophia Institute Press' fiction line, she launched the popular John Paul 2 High series for teens, and Rachel's Contrition became a #1 Best Seller in Amazon's Women's Fiction category, and winner of the 2011 Catholic Arts and Letters Award for best adult fiction. As an author, she has written the Fairy Tale Novels, a series of books for teens and adults that places fairy tales in modern settings with Christian themes interwoven. The fifth book in that series, Alex O'Donnell and the 40 CyberThieves, won the 2011 Catholic Arts and Letters Award for best young adult fiction. In 2013, she published her longest and most challenging fairy tale novel yet, Rapunzel Let Down. Her only picture book Angel in the Waters has sold over 120,000 copies. In 2010 she was presented with the "In Defense of Sanity" award from the American Chesterton Society. Regina and her husband Andrew live in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley on a farmstead with their children. To the question, “How do you manage to get it all done?” Regina responds, “What makes you think I get it all done?”
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
February 18, 2009
Full disclosure: I wrote this book. I am so glad so many children and adults now love this story, which I wrote when I was expecting my oldest child. For a long time, no one wanted to publish it, and my sister and I would just read it ourselves when we were expecting and laugh and cry. I am so glad it found a home at last and is out there in the world for others to enjoy. BTW the entire book is online at www.angelinthewaters.com if you want to read it yourself before you buy it.
Peace and good!
Peace and good!
February 17, 2009
I didn't know the same author also wrote this. LOVE this book!
August 16, 2021
Beautiful story with an amazing message ❤
March 7, 2019
The title of this book is what caught my attention and I was kind of disappointed the link provided by the author for a test of the book itself wasn't working. Fortunately I have been able to get my hands on the book while having the library order it for any future readers.
The book starts off on the page just before we get into the true story where it shows a man and a woman standing with each other. From there the story seems to copy the tone of the Christian biblical tale as it starts off and then the fetus takes over explaining its conditions while in the womb. For a while the reader is only given the impressions that it receives and slowly watches the developing of the baby itself.
At times there are points on the page where in the bottom corner the reader can also watch the changes that the parents are going through or small episodes. As a result this book is not only for children to learn more about how babies are formed inside the womb but one in which parents can also relate to their own experiences.
The angel isn't given as a winged spiritual being that protects the baby but as a tender and soft source that helps to explain the ever-changing conditions or to answer profound questions even though the fetus may not quite understand the answer right away. These are questions that we sometimes still have ourselves.
The writing is simple to understand and lyrical in its presentation while it was comforting to read it. Furthermore it is a reminder to the reader that there is more to life, challenging changes are all around us but we can and will grow into most of them and that we are never alone even when we think we are.
The illustrations are beautifully done and very realistic to the reader while they will be a hit to children who are also following the story. As a result adults can simply point out the differences to children who are curious.
All in all I enjoyed the book and can see why it may be a great present to give to expecting mothers whether it is their first or not or even siblings awaiting a new arrival.
The book starts off on the page just before we get into the true story where it shows a man and a woman standing with each other. From there the story seems to copy the tone of the Christian biblical tale as it starts off and then the fetus takes over explaining its conditions while in the womb. For a while the reader is only given the impressions that it receives and slowly watches the developing of the baby itself.
At times there are points on the page where in the bottom corner the reader can also watch the changes that the parents are going through or small episodes. As a result this book is not only for children to learn more about how babies are formed inside the womb but one in which parents can also relate to their own experiences.
The angel isn't given as a winged spiritual being that protects the baby but as a tender and soft source that helps to explain the ever-changing conditions or to answer profound questions even though the fetus may not quite understand the answer right away. These are questions that we sometimes still have ourselves.
The writing is simple to understand and lyrical in its presentation while it was comforting to read it. Furthermore it is a reminder to the reader that there is more to life, challenging changes are all around us but we can and will grow into most of them and that we are never alone even when we think we are.
The illustrations are beautifully done and very realistic to the reader while they will be a hit to children who are also following the story. As a result adults can simply point out the differences to children who are curious.
All in all I enjoyed the book and can see why it may be a great present to give to expecting mothers whether it is their first or not or even siblings awaiting a new arrival.
January 3, 2023
This is an amazing story. Regina Doman did a tremendous job describing what life and experiences might be like in the womb. It is the story of a child growing in his mother's womb. It is dark and he is swimming, and conversing with his guardian angel. As the space becomes more confined he becomes scared. It is a story about the beginning of life, about angels watching over us and about the bond between mother and child. It is really a wonderful book to share with your children. You can preview the book online.
November 22, 2020
A very beautiful book.
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May 1, 2010
I think this book was supposed to be sweet and tender, but I thought it was awkward. Maybe I'll feel different when I'm the one pregnant, but I kinda doubt it...
April 15, 2011
This is a beautiful picture book, keep a tissue handy.
January 27, 2026
A beautiful book about a baby growing in the womb with his guardian angel talking to him. This book wasn't published in time for me to read it to all of my children, and I wish I had read it more often to the ones who were young enough. I hope to read it to my grandchildren one day. Reading it to myself now, it is a reminder that I was that baby in the womb many years ago, and my guardian angel was with me then just as he is now. It is also a reminder of carrying my own children within me and of the time when our house was full of children and their guardian angels. It is a sweet book with beautiful illustrations. I put it out to display when my rosary group decides to pray with pro life meditations.
May 22, 2023
This might be the most spiritual book I've read all year. I LOVED it!!! I love the idea of our angel following us through all of the worlds we live in and the reminder that our angel is there with us even when we don't notice.
May 21, 2025
A beautiful and well-written book about a baby growing inside a mother’s womb, exploring the waters and befriends an angel who is present. A nice clean book for little kids to get a sense of how a baby grows inside its mother’s womb.
May 6, 2021
I LOVE THIS BOOK! just got it and it is sooo sweet! it is a wonderful book for little kids who are about to have another sibling.
October 12, 2021
We love this book in our house! My kiddos and I have read it many times.
May 22, 2023
This book honestly made me think differently of dying, and my kids love the sweet baby and his angel.
childrens-books-read
January 12, 2025A short children's book on the experience of a baby in the womb. Brought me to tears.
October 29, 2025
A tender tale of your guardian angel's quiet presence from womb to tomb.
December 30, 2018
Lovely book!
February 12, 2013
I used this book to announce my last 2 pregnancies to our boys.
Beautiful illustrations by Ben Hatke accompany Doman’s lyrical text about a baby in utero and his guardian angel. Echoes of the creation story and John’s Gospel delight the ear. “In the beginning, I was,” the story starts. And later, “Sometimes it was dark, and sometimes it was less dark.” (See the parallel with Genesis 1?)
The story details a conversation between the baby and the angel that continues into infancy. The baby complains that the world outside the womb is too big and cold. His angel replies, “It is very big, but you will grow big. It will feel better and warmer when you are bigger. But there is another, bigger world outside this one. Someday I will take you there.” This nearly repeats the words he spoke before the child’s birth. The message: the child in the womb is on a journey to another world, like the rest of us.
If your children read this often enough, they may not need any other instruction to see the beauty of an unborn baby.
Beautiful illustrations by Ben Hatke accompany Doman’s lyrical text about a baby in utero and his guardian angel. Echoes of the creation story and John’s Gospel delight the ear. “In the beginning, I was,” the story starts. And later, “Sometimes it was dark, and sometimes it was less dark.” (See the parallel with Genesis 1?)
The story details a conversation between the baby and the angel that continues into infancy. The baby complains that the world outside the womb is too big and cold. His angel replies, “It is very big, but you will grow big. It will feel better and warmer when you are bigger. But there is another, bigger world outside this one. Someday I will take you there.” This nearly repeats the words he spoke before the child’s birth. The message: the child in the womb is on a journey to another world, like the rest of us.
If your children read this often enough, they may not need any other instruction to see the beauty of an unborn baby.
December 21, 2011
Regina Doman, Angel in the Waters (Sophia Institute Press, 2004)
I'm slow on the uptake sometimes (and all too used to “angel” bring used in a generic sense), so when we picked this up at the ultrasound place (amazing what you can buy at an ultrasound place these days!), I wasn't fully aware of the book's overtly religious bent. If that's a problem for you, stop right here, this may not be the book for you. Despite my distaste for that angle of it, I thought it did a really good job at broaching a number of potentially discomfiting/embarrassing topics kids have a tendency to ask about long before parents are ready to address them (death, “where do I come from?”, etc. If only the author had found a way to explain taxes to children...). Would love to see something like this from a non-religious perspective, but until we get something like that on this level of both storytelling and illustration, Angel in the Waters will do fine. ***
I'm slow on the uptake sometimes (and all too used to “angel” bring used in a generic sense), so when we picked this up at the ultrasound place (amazing what you can buy at an ultrasound place these days!), I wasn't fully aware of the book's overtly religious bent. If that's a problem for you, stop right here, this may not be the book for you. Despite my distaste for that angle of it, I thought it did a really good job at broaching a number of potentially discomfiting/embarrassing topics kids have a tendency to ask about long before parents are ready to address them (death, “where do I come from?”, etc. If only the author had found a way to explain taxes to children...). Would love to see something like this from a non-religious perspective, but until we get something like that on this level of both storytelling and illustration, Angel in the Waters will do fine. ***
May 28, 2013
A very sweet introduction to the idea of what it is like in 'mommy's tummy' and what happens before we are born. I like the Angel idea, especially as it doesn't go beyond plain spirituality into any particular religion.
The illustrations are charming, especially the ones after birth where the infant is puzzled and displeased by this new place, even though the images there are not terribly true-to-life (not wrinkled and red enough!)
(I would note that it seeems it would be especially helpful in the case of discussing an at-risk pregnancy with children in a spirtual household-- the idea that the Angel was with the fetus no matter would be gentle to both parent and child.)
While I'm sure the author is pro-life, I would say that this book is only about as overtly pro-life as Before You Were Born by Howard Schwartz, a book in the Jewish tradition. Go read it online if you like before getting it, but it's a beautiful book.
The illustrations are charming, especially the ones after birth where the infant is puzzled and displeased by this new place, even though the images there are not terribly true-to-life (not wrinkled and red enough!)
(I would note that it seeems it would be especially helpful in the case of discussing an at-risk pregnancy with children in a spirtual household-- the idea that the Angel was with the fetus no matter would be gentle to both parent and child.)
While I'm sure the author is pro-life, I would say that this book is only about as overtly pro-life as Before You Were Born by Howard Schwartz, a book in the Jewish tradition. Go read it online if you like before getting it, but it's a beautiful book.
October 11, 2015
This book focuses on the Catholic belief of being pro-life and that life begins at the moment of conception. This story tells about a “fetus” and the interaction between that “fetus” and an angel up until birth. The illustrations and text show the stages of development of a child in the womb and show how life starts before birth. This story is engaging to children and promotes asking questions. It is a great read for children with expecting mothers. Because it focuses on two characters, there is no variety in culture or perspectives. It has the problem of what the baby can do when it becomes too big to stay in the womb. A quote focusing on this problem stated, “Then everything moved. Things pushed me. The waters began to leave. I tried to hold on to them, but they left. I was sad, but there was no room to swim anyway”. I think this would be good to discuss the importance of life with children and to answer questions about where, how, and when life begins.
April 5, 2011
This is the story of a [unborn] baby who lives in a place called "Mother". It swims in the waters, it sees itself grow...and it talks to its angel. The angel tells it about the outside world, even though baby doesn't want to go. Finally, though, the baby must go. It is sad, though, for its angel is not there. Then the angel comes back to it and says it will always be with baby, and someday, after a long time, it will go to the next world [Heaven].
Oh, what a precious book. It makes me miss my angel. <3 The illustrations are enchanting, and I LOVE the pro-life theme. This is definitely a pro-life book.
I read it online at http://www.angelinthewaters.com/
Oh, what a precious book. It makes me miss my angel. <3 The illustrations are enchanting, and I LOVE the pro-life theme. This is definitely a pro-life book.
I read it online at http://www.angelinthewaters.com/
October 3, 2013
Beautifully written, with beautiful illustrations. To begin with, I found the spiritual message a little off-putting, but it wasn't too far into the book that I was hooked. Regina Doman is a Catholic writer and her picture book, Angel in the Water, is the story of a baby from conception to shortly after birth. It is full of positive messages about love, protection, reflection, and the need not to be afraid. It would a lovely book to share with older siblings when Mum is expecting.
May 30, 2011
This book was given to me by my midwife when I was pregnant with my first child. It is a wonderful book about being a baby from conception through birth. The book is written for young children, but was a great read during pregnancy also.
September 22, 2011
A lovely pro-life book in which a developing baby in the womb explores his environment along with his angel companion. Makes a wonderful gift for any mom-to-be or young child but even adults can enjoy this book.
July 30, 2008
Oh, what a sweet book.
January 1, 2009
Really sweet interpretation of what babies go through in the womb in a spiritual way. You can read it at this webpage: http://www.angelinthewater.com/
July 22, 2009
Excellent little book to give to a child, or to read to one. Introduces them to the concept of a world around and outside of this one, and suggests without mentioning Him, the presence of God.
August 6, 2010
This is one of the most lovely children's books i have ever read. It was a quick favorite with my younger siblings.
March 12, 2011
This is a precious book, dear to my heart. A sweet thing for any mother or mother to be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews