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On the Day You Were Born
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In simple words and radiant collages, Debra Frasier celebrates the natural miracles of the earth and extends an exuberant welcome to each member of our human family. Accompanied by a detailed glossary explaining such natural phenomena as gravity, tides, and migration, this is an unforgettable book. “A book filled with reverence for the natural order of the world and the
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Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
March 15th 1991
by HMH Books for Young Readers
(first published 1991)
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I bought this book when I completed my first trimester; what a beautiful story! (Makes a baby gift.) My son now reads it to me and I cry.
Mom read this book to me on the day I was born. She was a real big sap about it, but she seemed so earnest that I humored her and listened very politely. Nice story about a bunch of animals and natural phenomena getting ready for my arrival. Perhaps not scientifically sound. Will investigate later. -M
I have been reading this book to my kids on their birthdays since they were very small. They're grown now, and still insist on hearing it, currently via Skype. The novelty now may have something to do with predicting when I will start to cry, as I cannot get through it without doing so!
One of the best ways to experience this book must be: narrated by Patrick Stewart on Reading Rainbow.
Summary: Inspired by Debra Frasier's enormously popular On the Day You Were Born, this charming photo journal invites families to celebrate the arrival of their loved one into the natural world. A star-spangled blue sky, crossed by a swath of sunshine yellow with gold birds, introduces the reader to "the very first day you arrived." Baby's picture and name go right in the middle of all the cheery yellow. Turn the page: "You were born on the round planet Earth. Was it day, or was it night?" is
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This was great! It's almost like two books, with the simpler narrative taking up most of it, and about 4-5 pages at the end with lots of text that would appeal to older kids interested in the natural world. I especially liked the scientific explanation of human beings' different skin colour in the last section. It has a nice, hippie, pagan kind of vibe, with a lot of awe of the natural world and of birth. The message that the world is made for you is just so lovely.
The earthy yet bright colours ...more
The earthy yet bright colours ...more
I was given this book as a gift after my baby was born and I have since read it a number of times aloud and just to myself. This is a beautiful book, and I have to admit that I cried while reading it the first time. It situates a new baby in the context of the global ecosystem as well as human society, as all animals, nature, and people welcome this new life with open arms. A great book for affirming why one might choose to bring a new life to this spinning planet.
This book can be used in so many different ways in the classroom. You can read to do a science lesson about Earth, discussing things like tides, forests, north pole, south pole, etc. The format of the writing is very poetic, great to teach children imaging and inferring for reading comprehension. You can also use this book to teach children about comparing with other books such as "On the Day I Was Born" by Debbi Chocolate
I bought this for my son to read to him when he is a little older. I was in the bookstore about to check out and this caught my eye. I read it right then and there, and I must admit, I cried a little. What a wonderful children's book. A book that details the impact of child-birth, and how nature and our Universe play a big role in that. Charming and poetic, it will surely make any child feel connected to the universe, as they should.
A beautiful and colorful book about all the ways the Earth celebrated your birth. It would be a wonderful play or active reading activity. It is also a wonderful gift for a newborn baby’s library. It will be a favorite for sure.
I believe this book was nice because it is easy for children to have a understanding about the earth. The book does a good job at explaining what is happening and makes child interested because it talks about the way the earth was preparing for the child. The animals were talking and telling all the different animals. I think children would enjoy it a lot.I gave this book 4 starts because some students may not be involved in the story.
Oct 19, 2009
Britt Kitko
added it
Summary:Inspired by Debra Frasier's enormously popular On the Day You Were Born, this charming photo journal invites families to celebrate the arrival of their loved one into the natural world. A star-spangled blue sky, crossed by a swath of sunshine yellow with gold birds, introduces the reader to "the very first day you arrived." Baby's picture and name go right in the middle of all the cheery yellow. Turn the page: "You were born on the round planet Earth. Was it day, or was it night?" is
...more
Summary: Inspired by Debra Frasier's enormously popular On the Day You Were Born, this charming photo journal invites families to celebrate the arrival of their loved one into the natural world. A star-spangled blue sky, crossed by a swath of sunshine yellow with gold birds, introduces the reader to "the very first day you arrived." Baby's picture and name go right in the middle of all the cheery yellow. Turn the page: "You were born on the round planet Earth. Was it day, or was it night?" is
...more
This was such a beautiful book. This told a story for children of how babies are born, its in a meaningful manner without being to specific for babies that every wonder where and how babies are born. There is no main character the story is expressed with using mother nature, the atmosphere and the earths involvement of how babies are created.
As the story is being told there are beautiful pictures being to express the meaning for example the earth "The earth spins and gravitates you so your ...more
As the story is being told there are beautiful pictures being to express the meaning for example the earth "The earth spins and gravitates you so your ...more
Summary:
Inspired by Debra Frasier's enormously popular On the Day You Were Born, this charming photo journal invites families to celebrate the arrival of their loved one into the natural world. A star-spangled blue sky, crossed by a swath of sunshine yellow with gold birds, introduces the reader to "the very first day you arrived." Baby's picture and name go right in the middle of all the cheery yellow. Turn the page: "You were born on the round planet Earth. Was it day, or was it night?" is ...more
Inspired by Debra Frasier's enormously popular On the Day You Were Born, this charming photo journal invites families to celebrate the arrival of their loved one into the natural world. A star-spangled blue sky, crossed by a swath of sunshine yellow with gold birds, introduces the reader to "the very first day you arrived." Baby's picture and name go right in the middle of all the cheery yellow. Turn the page: "You were born on the round planet Earth. Was it day, or was it night?" is ...more
Summary: Offering a curious amalgam of the mystical and the scientific, Frasier's first picture book is a paean to nature and to birth. The poetic text explains how the sun, moon, ocean tides, rain, trees, air, animals and people of the world work together to create a welcoming setting for a baby's arrival. Young readers will find Frasier's rhythmic passages soothing, if not always entirely comprehensible: "On the day you were born the Moon pulled on the ocean below, and, wave by wave, a rising
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Received this book as a baby gift from an environmental scientist. A decade later, I'm still reading it with my "baby." With simple paper cut illustrations and lyrical text, this book reassures a child they are loved by their parents and community, and an essential part of the natural world that they have been born into. The end matter delves deeper into the science behind each illustration, and is great for older children. The main text of the book is a wonderful read aloud for your newborn or
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On the Day you Were Born tells a sweet story of all the things that happened when ‘you’ were born. It starts by spreading the word of the new arrival through the animals. Then it tells how the earth, sun and moon got ready for the arrival of a new life. It then tells of how the earth defied gravity when ‘you’ came into the world. In the end the book tells of all the things the earth does when it welcomes ‘you’ into the world. At the end of the book there is a section that goes into great detail
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This book is a very special book. It explains what happened before you were born. It talks about how excited the earth, animals, fish, and flying birds are about you being born into the earth. It talks about how you came into your family and how much they love you.
This book touches the hearts of those who read it. It is very well done. The pictures are great, they almost look like Native American drawings, very simple, yet elegant. This books tries to leave the interpretation of the text up to ...more
This book touches the hearts of those who read it. It is very well done. The pictures are great, they almost look like Native American drawings, very simple, yet elegant. This books tries to leave the interpretation of the text up to ...more
We got this book as a gift at our shower for Baby of Wench. I read it while pregnant and I cannot even tell you how many hormones leaked down my face. We read it at bedtime sometimes and I still get choked up.
What I like:
*Not explicitly religious, although it definitely has a Pagan feel to it. I'm a witch, so this is a plus.
*Includes kid-friendly scientific explanations and background to each page of the book.
*People of all different colors feature, and there's more than token dark-skinned ...more
What I like:
*Not explicitly religious, although it definitely has a Pagan feel to it. I'm a witch, so this is a plus.
*Includes kid-friendly scientific explanations and background to each page of the book.
*People of all different colors feature, and there's more than token dark-skinned ...more
Frasier, Debra. On the Day You Were Born. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company. 1991. Parents’ Choice Award. Target Audience: Ages 4-10. Reading Level: 5.1. The images are enthralling, featuring nature scenes depicted in primitive art forms using vivid colors. I notice circles on nearly every page, reminiscent of “the circle of life.” It’s hard to single out one or two illustrations for special mention; they are all so beautiful. The text reads like free verse. A Notes section at the back of
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This book is one of my longstanding favorites that has held residence on my bookshelf for over ten years. I have read this book aloud more than any other because I recognize the importance of helping children to maintain their connection to all living things on earth. Fraisier's message is universal. Timeless. She helps inspire many open-ended discussions; such as defining what gravity is, introducing photosynthesis, learning about endangered species, migration patterns, planetary movements and
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This is a beautiful book, especially one to give to expecting parents to read to their baby when he-she is born. It's a beautiful way to tell your child they are loved and appreciated. The whole world from the trees making oxygen for them to breath to the loving and familiar voices at the time of the baby's birth was getting ready for the baby to be born. The artistic way the pictures were done makes the story that much more enjoyable. As an adult reading it outloud brings back all those
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On the Day You Were Born, written by Debra Frasier, was awarded the Parents Choice award. Frasier's first picture book is a paean to nature and to birth. The poetic text explains how the sun, moon, ocean tides, rain, trees, air, animals and people of the world work together to create a welcoming setting for a baby's arrival. Young readers will find Frasier's rhythmic passages soothing, if not always entirely comprehensible. Frasier's paper collages feature a mostly muted palette of earth tones
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Mirror images of the miracle of birth/the miracles of nature explored in age appropriate, interesting ways. I have a feeling that this book will age well. The story is simple enough for a three- year old to enjoy reading it. Ours is entertained by the descriptions of nature/animals and simple graphic illustrations. When she's a little older, she'll me moved by the meaning and emotional components of the story (I hope). Note: this is not a religious book, as many birth celebration books are; it's
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Beautiful book celebrating the mystery of the natural world and the sacred moment of birth ("On the day you were born/ the round planet Earth/ turned toward your morning sky,/ whirling past darkness,/ spinning the night into light.") Although I think some of the specific poetic descriptions go over the heads of young children, the vivid and powerful images convey a sense of wonder regardless of whether you understand what the tides are or what migration is. (There's a nice informational page in
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Jan 23, 2013
Whole And
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Parents
Shelves:
childrens-books,
nature
An incredibly warm and welcoming message to read to your little ones for years. Frasier has made it easy to make connections to nature with beautiful images and verses, weaving into the tapestry of joy and love when receiving a little soul.
Children will feel the love of all those anticipating their birth and parents will reconnect with the pure bliss of holding their new baby every time they read this book.
Through Fraisers telling of 'On The Day You Were Born' the door to our hearts opens wide ...more
Children will feel the love of all those anticipating their birth and parents will reconnect with the pure bliss of holding their new baby every time they read this book.
Through Fraisers telling of 'On The Day You Were Born' the door to our hearts opens wide ...more
Description: This book describes things that happen in nature such as tides, migration, and moon patterns. The book tells of these things in a poetic form explaining that they happened on the day you were born.
Curriculum Connection: Earth patterns, migration, poetry
Intended Audience: pre-k-2
Personal Reaction: I didn't like this book. The poetry dragged on and wasn't exciting enough for me. I couldn't dive into the story and connect with it.
Visual Appeal: I did like the visual appeal of the book ...more
Curriculum Connection: Earth patterns, migration, poetry
Intended Audience: pre-k-2
Personal Reaction: I didn't like this book. The poetry dragged on and wasn't exciting enough for me. I couldn't dive into the story and connect with it.
Visual Appeal: I did like the visual appeal of the book ...more
I added this book to my to read list and forgot why by the time I read it. Apparently I saw that it was featured in an episode of Reading Rainbow. I love that I can access Reading Rainbow when I get laryngitis or need to pack up my entire library before construction.
But about the book. I think it's one of those books that adults like more than the kids. It would make a great gift for a new parent or special birthday. I think a teacher might use it as a writing prompt. I haven't tried reading it ...more
But about the book. I think it's one of those books that adults like more than the kids. It would make a great gift for a new parent or special birthday. I think a teacher might use it as a writing prompt. I haven't tried reading it ...more
The simple, lyric language of this introduction of different aspects of nature from migration to parts of the universe provides a great learning device for students. The book also includes a detailed glossary perfect for teaching text structure and research. The pictures are a series of collages which could easily be translated to a fun art project where students simply create their own collages, create new collages to fill in any gaps the students discover, or to create a story and collage
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Debra Frasier is the author and illustrator of many award-winning picture books including On the Day You Were Born and Miss Alaineus, A Vocabulary Disaster. In addition to her well-known talks on creative process, Debra’s innovative "Book Events" build a community’s creativity through projects that start with a story. Visit debrafrasier.com to see how a parade of words can make you laugh, how the
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