On the Day You Were Born: Book and Musical CD Reviews

• The Quintessential Baby Gift

  
  By A18M68DE1Y6W51 on 2002-04-07
  I wish I had known about this book long before now, because it would have been the only gift I would have given to any new parent. It certainly will be so from now on.

  In the most beautiful and spiritual wording imaginable, this book tells a child in no uncertain terms that his or her birth was a celebration--a cosmic event that changed the world for the better. Although it has some New Age aspects to it, it transcends any religion or dogma, and is, quite simply, completely beautiful.

  I want to buy it now, for my two teenaged children to cherish and keep. I want them to know that even though I often want to wring their respective teenaged necks, this is what they mean to me--every single word in this glorious book. I have never felt so moved over a baby gift as I am over this one. It is truly a gift of the heart, not only for me, but for anyone who is, or who has just become, a parent.

  Sometimes we forget just how much of a celebration the arrival of a new child can be. "On the Day You Were Born" is meant to remind us, and our children, now and forever. What a wonderful keepsake!!
  
  

• A Birthday Tradition

  
  By A2NSVH8X4HE0PH on 2000-06-17
  In my family, we have used this book to start a yearly b-day tradition. I read this book to each of my children the night of her birthday with the whole family in attendence. I have yet to get through a reading without crying. Am tearing up thinking about it now LOL A lovely, touching book and a wonderful way to communicate to your children how deeply they are loved.
  
  

• Imaginative But....Well, Here's Why This Book Disappointed Us...

  
  By A28WJUJF6D2ULA on 2005-10-05
  I know many people truly love this book and I respect that. Give me a moment to tell what I wish had been different about it. What inspired me to read On The Day You Were Born was I was watching the DVD of the excellent production of Dr. Seuss' My Many Colored Days and saw a similar DVD of this advertised, so I went to the library and got the book for us--me and my cousin's pre-school aged son whom I was babysitting--to read. I had high hopes because the idea sounded so neat, but neither Tyler nor I were able to take it seriously for more than a moment. He said, "None of that happened!" And he was right. Whereas Debra Frasier could have made an interesting and true scientific story that fostered in a young mind the vast intricate panoply of life and the universe in its ongoing rhythms, she delivered something fluffy. She could have written about how on the day you were born the earth spun on it axis giving us daytime and nighttime, and the snows came farther down Mt Fuji, and salmon swam upstream on their return journey home, the grasses grew, comets raced around the solar system, and etc and it would have been an interesting account of a day's life on planet earth and in space. Ms. Frasier instead gave us an impossible fantasy about the whole planet being super-happy about the arrival of one more baby. Her claims that on the day you were born the fish and birds all got excited and told one another to look for you and the stars did dances and African animals marched in happy parades and other assorted impossible things, well, it missed the mark of fun fantasy and hit somewhere around "silly". I don't see this as a classic. The pictures were not that bright or interesting and the things the author claimed happened never did. While it's "all right" this book is not the great thing so many like to say it is.
  
  

• This book filled me with awe and reverence ...

  
  By on 1999-09-03
  This book filled me with awe and reverence... for the mircale of birth, yes...but, much more: for all the incredible creation around us, and the incredible creations we ALL are...I've just read this book...and will be reading it often in the future, I'm sure...It's a lovely book for welcoming newborns and for children to help them see their place in the world...BUT...my first copy will be a gift to a friend who will be 69 this week-end! It is a perfect expression of gladness and thanksgiving for the life of anyone you love and care about! I'm sure many relatives and friends will be getting copies from me soon!
  
  

• Radiant and moving

  
  By on 2001-07-14
  "On the day you were born a forest of tall trees collected the Sun's light in their leaves, where, in silent mystery, they made oxygen for you to breathe..." Radiant and moving, it doesn't get much better than this explaining what went on in the Universe the day your child was born. A book that I highly recommend. A child will feel and know that they are a significant part of Universe. A beautiful book to give as a gift.Although this book is recommended for the 4-8 group, a child of 12 months will be fascinated and held captive with this book and grow along with the book.This is a beautiful book celebrating the joy and wonder when a child is born. It describes how everyone, from animals to people to Earth itself, celebrated when 'you'were born. A child can't help but feel loved and very special when this book is read to them. And the parent, who is reading the book, can't help but realize how wonderful bring a new baby into the world really is. This is an ideal gift for a family when a child is born.
  
  
• This book will make parents cry and toddlers read.
  By on 1997-12-11
  Any parent who has read this book will tell you that it can move you to tears. What makes this an outstanding book is that it uses science in a magical way. It is an inclusive book -- regardless of one's values and the place of religion in one's family life, this book fits in neatly. Since it does not make relationship associations, it can be read to children whether they are your birth child, adopted, foster child, grandchild, godchild or friend. The tone of the text provides positive affirmation of a person's individuality. It is written for babies, but can apply to everyone regardless of age. It does not condescend, either by tone or language. The use of paper illustrations with their clean, bold lines and colors captures and holds my 18-month-old daughter's attention every time we read it, making it easy for her to point out various shapes and objects. It is easy to read this one many times without becoming tedious. I applaud Debra Frasier for her effective celebration of life. If you are a book giver, and looking for a gift for a new baby, or even a toddler, this is an excellent choice. Or even if you are a grandparent, or just have small children visit you, what an excellent addition to your own library this book will be.
  
  
• A beautiful, lyrical and touching welcome to wee ones!
  By A386LA4R0OPKE7 on 2000-12-12
  This book was given to me by my mother, on the day my daughter was born. I can't read it without feeling that tender lump rise in my throat, and even included a reading of it in my daughter's Blessing ceremony. This book reinforces how wonderful, special and treasured that children are. From the lovely illustrations to the story of the entire Mother Earth's presence and assistance in "giving birth", this is a must-have for any loving parent/child pair.
  
  
• So moving it makes me cry
  By on 1999-11-13
  I have a hard time reading this book to my one year old - because my eyes well up with tears every time. It is the most moving children's book I have ever read. A wonderful gift to new parents.
  
  
• Very strange!
  By on 2001-08-20
  This book was not at all what I expected. The pictures are unattractive and the text is downright freaky. I returned it immediately.
  
  
• The Miracle of your Child's Birth will Stir Your World
  By A2L2W7PKTVC3CW on 2006-09-01
  I know that some reviewers feel that this book is exaggerated, unrealistic and that it gives a false perception to children that they are more special than they actually are, but you know what? I don't care. I read the good and bad reviews before ordering it and decided to go ahead anyway. I'm glad I did! The coming of my child may not have stirred anyone else's world but it sure stirred my husband's and mine. When I looked into his beautiful little eyes mine couldn't stop running, and when his little face touched my cheek my heart skipped a beat.
  
  So this book may not speak about how my child's coming stirred your World or this World, but I'm sure as most parents will agree the beautiful description about the welcoming of a child into the World describes each parent's feelings about their own child's birth as each child is unique and special and even more special to a parent that has hopped and prayed for a happy, healthy and beautiful baby. I don't think there are enough stars to give this book so I will have to settle for the five.
  
  Parents if your child's birth was so special to you that you felt the entire Universe stirred out of joy, then in your own little World it did. Every child's conception and birth are two of the greatest miracles in life. To feel that the whole world around you stirred to welcome your precious child and also letting your child know that this is how you felt about his/ her coming I feel, is the most beautiful gift you can give your child to thank them for enriching your life.
  
  All I can add is that this book has found the most beautiful way to describe how I felt when I carried my son inside me for 40 weeks and when I looked into that beautiful tiny face when I first saw him.
  
  "While you waited in darkness,
  tiny knees curled to chin,
  the Earth and her creatures
  with the Sun and the Moon
  all moved in their places,
  each ready to greet you
  the very first moment
  of the very first day you arrived."
  
  But most importantly my now 34 month old loves it and he likes the pictures too. He points to the animals and says what they are, and then at the sun, the moon, the rain, all beautiful miracles of God (or Nature if you prefer) and he points at the drawing of the baby and says Adrian, because as he knows in our eyes that represents him.
  
  If you are a parent buy this book for your kids, if you aren't yet buy it as a gift, any new parent receiving this book I'm sure, will be grateful.
  
  Thank you Debra Frasier
  
  
  
• Self-esteem as self-aggrandizement
  By A2BCFN8IW56RIW on 2004-08-05
  Grounded in the self-aggrandizement school of self-esteem, On the Day You Were Born is a Desiderata for the 90's. In author Debra Frasier's universe, the Copernican revolution never happened--she tells us that on the day you were born, the sun lights "your sky," the moon's pull washes the beach "clean for your footprints" and the news of "your birth" migrates from animal to animal. This sort of egocentric subjectivity would not be so offensive if we were at least willing to reciprocate. But what to get a newborn slug? Illustrated in the style of Matisse cutouts.
  
  
• Wow!
  By A4JRB7U96EY6M on 2004-02-20
  This is actually my favorite book in our children's private collection. At first I was not too thrilled with the pictures but over time they have grown on me...now they seem just perfect for the story. I noticed some reviews down the book because they feel it is too advanced for the age range suggeted; I personally disagree. In my opinion it is never too early to impart knowledge to our children. I particularly like that it involves the child in the story line so that they ASK what these things mean. I am surprised to see some (very few, yet some none the less) feel so differently about the book but I wanted to post in defense of the book because I feel it really is a true treasure. (Not that it really needed it at 4 1/2 stars...I just think it is 5 star worthy!) I also noticed one reader refer to the text as freakish. Wow! I am still trying to figure out how the text could be seen in that light!

  The intire book is full of text such as:

  On the day you were born the moon pulled on the ocean below, and, wave by wave, a rising tide washed the beaches clean for your footprints...
  ...while far out at sea clouds swelled with water drops, sailed to shore on a wind, and rained you a welcome across the Earth's green lands.

  I have never seen science explained in such a way for a small child and I think it was HIGH TIME!

  I just LOVE this book, and quite frankly, so do my 2 kids age 2 and 4!
  
  

• Not for Toddlers or Babies
  By A2OTL1SB9P6U14 on 2000-03-01
  My 2 year old has never been interested in this book, and he loves to be read to. If I pick it up, he usually pushes it aside and grabs another one. I think the problem is that the pictures are abstract and not really representative of the words. Toddlers and babies like to be able to recognize objects on a page. This book doesn't feature animals they know (dog, cat, lion, fish) but instead shows exotic animals even I'm not familiar with (arctic tern). Also, the people in the book don't have faces, which are interesting to babies and toddlers. If you want a touching story that your baby or toddler will also appreciate, I would recommend "Love You Forever" instead.
  
  
• Touching and nostalgic
  By on 1999-05-14
  I bought this beautiful book during one of my first trips out of the house with my newborn daughter. I first read it in the store-- given that my daughter's birth was SO fresh in my mind, and the fact that she was strapped to my chest gazing up at me, caused tears of nostalgic joy to spring to my eyes. All new mothers and babies should read this book together; I envision reading this with my daughter many, many times in the years to come. Each time I pick it up I am instantly transported to that magical moment in which she entered my world . .
  
  
• On the Day You Were Bored
  By on 2003-08-12
  I couldn't wait to get thru this book so I
  could put it away. It was a huge yawn. It
  contains the myth that a newborn is the center
  of the Universe. Within the myth there is a
  focus on, what else, the newborn.

  Other cultures have much more elegant and
  meaningful myths. There is no doubt that the
  birth of a child is very special. However,
  this cruddy narcissictic tale does little
  to illuminate this fact. Notice how non-
  related the characters are to one another.
  It reminded me of those Vtech electornic
  toys that light up a figure randomly.

  Yuck-o. Does the Collective really want
  to give this 4-1/2 Stars?

  Check out "Owl Moon"; it is so much deeper
  and satisfying a tale!
  
  

• Great Gift
  By A1S32HU2JQ5MFG on 2006-05-17
  I have given this book to many new parents, and with all due respect to the reviewer below, not one has observed that it wasn't realistic. This book is poetry, not geography, not climatology, not anthropology. POETRY... And what's wrong with the idea of a super-happy planet rejoicing at the birth of every new baby? That's how it should be. I applaud the author for dreaming big. This gift will be well received. Don't hesitate.
  
  
• Not as interesting as expected
  By A1C2JN0XM4FR04 on 2001-12-11
  I was a bit disappointed with this book. The poetry is not really appropriate to read to young children- they just wouldn't understand it. And the imagery was a bit abstract. I think this book is really better suited for a coffee table adult read, rather than something to share with your children.
  
  
• Wonderful!
  By A21NVBFIEQWDSG on 2005-10-15
  Debra Frasier's classic On the Day You Were Born is a magnificent way to welcome a new child into a family. And it's not just for children who are born into a family, but is a great book for all those beloved adopted children.
  
  On the Day you Were Born is a book of nature's celebration of the new arrival. The author's touching narration is a moving and loving declaration of the importance and value of the new arrival.
  
  "On the eve of your birth, word of your coming passed from animal to animal...and the marvelous news migrated worldwide." And the grand ending is that a family is born. How great is that?
  
  Armchair Interviews says: This is a must-have book for every family. It can be read during happy times and when things are not going so good in the little person's life. We suggest it as a gift for all new arrivals, through birth or adoption.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Forget "Goodnight Moon"!
  By A3KGCEJCR2LYR6 on 2004-10-06
  This is one of the most beautiful books you could ever read tp any child of any age. I have been reading it to my daughter since I could hold her upright in my arms...the text is rhythmic and beautiful. It truly captures the transcendent nature of a infant's entry into the world. It is hard to read with dry eyes.
  
  I join with other reviewers in saying that this is my favorite gift to give to new parents.
  
  
• Great book for Birthday tradition
  By on 2004-06-28
  I received this book for the birth of my first son almost 5 years ago. It was put on the shelf until his first birthday...when I read it to him at bedtime for the first time. I was moved to tears. He was captivated by the pictures as well. We have read it to him at bedime on every birthday and it has become an important family tradition. We started the tradition with our younger son as well. I look forward to it every year. My son loved it so much by the time he was 3 years old that he started requesting it all the time. And tonight, my youngest second birthday, he sat and stared at the beautiful pages without one squirm (which is unheard of around here). It is a wonderful gift!
  
  
• Magical
  By A1TMM7D4913QVI on 2004-12-24
  
  This book was gifted to me upon the birth of my second child, and I have twice gifted it to friends upon the birth of their children since that time. Although I didn't read all the reviews, I feel that the last -- Susan from Philidelphia, PA -- said it best when she wrote that this story "truly captures the transcendent nature of a infant's entry into the world." It does exactly that.
  
  How anyone could suggest that it is egocentric (?) is beyond me, given that it is told by an omnipotent narrator who seeks to articulate through images and words the beauty of life's interconnectness, and the otherwise inarticulate sense of intimacy and joy adults feel when an infant enters their world.
  
  In respect to the criticism about the book's "images" ...
  No doubt the author and illustrator were deliberate in this for it is a story that is meant to apply to every single child in the world, regardless of their gender, race, culture, religion, and/or place of birth. All of which is to suggest that a picture of a caucasian girl or african-american boy or asian set of twins, etc., would have detracted entirely from its point, given that it meant to be read as if it is telling the story of your child's birth to him/her. Thus by not including "pictures" -- photo like renditions -- of children but instead illustrating the text with abstract images, the story is therefore inclusive to all readers -- ie., children.
  
  Finally, not long ago, I heard someone say that "when you have a baby, it's like heaven opens up for a bit."
  
  If you believe's that to be true, than this is the book for you if only because it says just that in a few more words, with images, and in a context/form that you can share with your children time and time again.
  
  
• Book is AMAZING, CD is so-so
  By A3GC7WN5BE8FQK on 2007-05-15
  I bought this for my son before he was born, and I read it to him all the time - and never with a dry eye! I always buy it as a baby gift for anyone I know who's having a baby of their own. However, unless you find this set for a good price, I might just get the book. My husband calls the CD "hippie music" and he's right - the music is a little, um, groovy and repetitive. Though if you have a sappy friend, get it - books like this and the Giving Tree always make me cry, and if I can have the CD finish the story for me when I get choked up, so much the better.
  
  
• Meaningful for adopted kids too
  By A2CVFAC6PTK45X on 2002-02-11
  We got this photo journal based on Debra Frasier's On the day you were born to use to tell our adopted baby the story of her birth and adoption. We've included pictures of her birth parents and us (who were all there at her birth) and so it makes a great way to introduce her to her story. The last page "We're so glad you've come!" is especially moving to me - I cry happy tears every time I read it to her, knowing how happy we are to have her in our lives.

  So few traditional baby books work for adopted babies so this was a happy surprise.
  
  

• Give this book to new mothers and grandmothers
  By on 2003-09-07
  The mother or grandmother of every new baby in my life gets a copy of this beautiful, life affirming book. I hope it inspires a lifetime of reading for the children who hear this story read aloud by a loved one.
  
  
• One of life's greatest moments.
  By APKCN0QVPB9Q6 on 1999-05-06
  This loving memory of the beginning of life is an instant heirloom. I read the book to Elizabeth, my first grandchild, when she was fifteen hours old. Tiny, with little hands clinched and eyes screwed shut, she and I laughed and cried thru the outstanding prose. We loved the pictures, so fanciful, clever and clear. Now we read the book together, and she asks me, "Were you really there Pappie?" and I proudly reply "You bet, Elizabeth, It was the greatest moment of my life!" If your looking for a memory, buy this book and read it to a kid. The rewards are immediate.
  
  
• A truly enchanting book !
  By on 1999-10-28
  This book was introduced to me recently, in an education class. My teacher, who is also a teacher of young children, showed the book with it's incredible pictures, and played the audio tape. Both were wonderful. I plan on purchasing both the book , and the audio tape, to use in my future classroom!
  
  
• Spiritual, Moving, and Reverent
  By A181Q392HS9D62 on 1999-11-30
  As Pagans, my husband and I have a hard time finding age-appropriate books for our son that reflect our faith without being dogmatic or corny. When we ran across 'On the Day You Were Born," we knew we had a winner!

  It expresses the marvel of life that we want to emphasise, the connection of all things under the Divine and the belief that we are all a part of something immense and wondrous. But the real triumph is that it does these things in a way so subtle, beautiful and fundamental that it will be of value to people of ANY faith. It invites quiet and deep appreciation for the awesome power that is all around us, no matter what name we give it.
  
  

• The Best Book to Read to a Baby
  By A19STMAQZXW9JR on 2000-11-09
  Debra Frasier visited my high school creative writing class in 1994 and read this to us. I think the whole class was moved to tears. I bought it before my son was born in August and read it to him almost every night. He loves the smoothness and poetry of the words; it keeps him mesmerized. The contrasting, bright illustrations also keep his attention at 3 months. I have plenty of other books to read to him, but this one is my favorite, and I think the words give a sense of security and belonging even to babies who cannot understand them yet.
  
  
• Makes an excelent gift!!
  By on 2001-03-25
  I was given this book as a gift for my first child and it has been a favorite in our family ever since. The pictures are bright and interesting to babies and bigger children, the book tells a wonderful story about the of birth and each new day. My oldest child also loves the facts at the back of the book about the sun, moon phases, gravity ect. If you are looking for a gift for any age or for an new mom this book will be treasured forever!
  
  
• Such a Treat
  By A2732D2I50JK59 on 2001-11-17
  I received this as a gift, and I love to read it to my 3 month old daughter. She loves the illustrations, and I love the story. The back of the book has a great index that explains the sun, movement of the tide, etc... I would recommend this book to anyone. I am touched everytime I read it.
  
  

• On the Night You Were Born
• Goodnight Moon
• Guess How Much I Love You
• The Twelve Gifts of Birth
• Out of the Ocean