Review - The Wonder That Is You

The Wonder That Is You
by Glenys Nellist
illustrated by Aurelie Blanz
Date: 2019
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

A heartwarming book that beautifully captures the universal love and joy parents feel as they celebrate the arrival of their new child. A perfect gift for baby showers, baptisms, adoptions, birthdays, or any time you want to tell your little one how much they are loved.

Every parent dreams of embracing their new child. When that dream comes true, it’s as if all of creation rejoices with them. In the tradition of Nancy Tillman’s On The Night You Were Born and Emily Winfield Martin’s The Wonderful Things You Will Be comes The Wonder That Is You by critically-acclaimed author Glenys Nellist.

Something special happens when a child is in your arms as you read them this book. Something you and your little one will never, ever forget.

It felt as if the world stood still
The day my dream came true,
And all creation paused to see
The wonder that is you.

The Wonder That Is You is:
Not only a perfect gift for new babies, but also a precious story to read aloud with big brothers and sisters in anticipation of the new arrival. A heartwarming way to tell your children or grandchildren of any age how special they are and how much that are loved. A soothing bedtime book that will have your little ones falling fast asleep in your loving arms.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is another one of those books. You know, the ones that are marketed as children's picture books, but are really for adults. The ones that would give a child a massive ego if they read them and took them to heart. The oceans shout out the baby's name? The whole world hushes to let the baby sleep? The entire universe celebrates and talks about the kid's birth? Um... yeah. Sure. (And the suggestion to read this to older siblings in anticipation of the baby's arrival? There's a recipe for jealousy. "Sorry, kid. This new baby is going to be the centre of everyone's existence. Get used to it.")

It's too bad, because the rhyming text flows really nicely and the illustrations are colourful and very appealing to look at. I just really don't like the message, or the fact that this is marketed toward children. It's a picture book for mothers looking to gush about how precious their babies are. The sentiments in here aren't going to do much for kids. (If they're loved, they'll know it; they won't need a book like this to tell them.)

The book also gives off Christian vibes in its repeated use of the word "creation", as in "all of creation" is celebrating the birth of your baby. It's a weird contrast with one of the lines that makes mention of "the day your life began". Wait a minute. Doesn't life begin at conception? Isn't that why people are running around making laws to police what goes on in women's uteruses?

My rating is as high as it is because of the pictures and the quality of the rhyming text. Unfortunately, the rest of it falls flat for me.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.29 out of 5