Book #2 - On the Night You Were Born

Title: On the Night You Were Born
Author: Nancy Tillman
Illustrator: Nancy Tillman
Publisher: Darling Press
Date of Publication: 2005
Genre: Fiction
Readability Lexile: Unavailable 

"On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered, "Life will never be the same".

Summary: 

This short story is about how every child is unique and special and how the whole world knows it. On the Night You Were Born begins with the birth of a child. The moon, the wind, the rain, animals, trees, and insects all take part in spreading the word of the child's birth and how special the baby is. The last part of the story tells the reader that if they every doubt how special they are they just need to look for the beauty in nature because the beauty is there as a sign of how special and how loved they are. 

Characteristics of High Quality Children's Literature:

I think this is a very good, sweet story. Though there isn't much of a plot or character development, the story makes up for it with an excellent theme. This story uses rhyming words, personification, and fun, kind of silly ideas to express the theme. I think this story would make a very nice read aloud. 

I think this book would be a good story to share with children because it promotes confidence and a sense of identity. This book can be used to teach about differences and how they are important and not bad. The theme of this book is all about self-worth and how every person is unique and special. This book would help promote the idea of self-worth without leading to selfishness. 

Setting:

The setting is an important part of this story because the author uses different settings to show that the word of the baby's birth is traveling all over the world. The story begins in the baby's home with the moon looking in the window. The wind and rain carry the news through the farmland, over the ocean, through a forest, to the arctic, and so on. 

Theme:

The theme of this story, in my opinion is the most meaningful literary element used. The moral of this story is that every child, in all the world, is special and unique and should be treated as such. I think sometimes teachers group all of their students into one category and look past the things that make them special. This story reminds us that we all have gifts and talents and we should be not be treated as a number or just a face in the crowd.

Illustrations:

The illustrations add so much to this story. This is the kind of book that if one read it out loud to children without showing the pictures, they would understand the story just fine but the illustrations help add humor, setting, and a sense of time. In the pictures one can see how the word of the baby's birth is traveling all over the world and is reaching so many people. animals, and other aspects of nature. I have never seen illustrations like the ones in this book before. They are mixed-media illustrations. In one picture you can see the use of paint, fabric, photographs, text, pencil drawings, and print making. The author/illustrator of this story even offers reprints of illustrations from her books for purchase on her website to be used in children's rooms, classrooms, and libraries. 

Interest Level: 

I think this story would be most appropriate for K-3 students, as well as pre-K. The story is sweet, meaningful and relevant to all students, and there is humor and an obvious connection between the text and the reader which makes this story engaging. Like I said before, this would make an excellent read aloud for students who are not quite at the point where they could read this independently. 

Mini-Lesson Ideas: 

This story could be used in the classroom at any time because the theme is so universal. I could see this story being read at the beginning of the kindergarten school year in order for the teacher to show the he/she wants to learn about each student individually and who they are instead of who the class is as a whole. 

This story could be used as an introduction to a type of show-and-tell activity where students can bring in items that represent who they are and what they like. It could also be used as an introduction the an "I am special" activity where the class talks about similarities and differences among them and how those differences make them special and unique.