On the Night You Were Born

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On the night you were born, the whole world came alive with thanksgiving. The moon stayed up till morning. The geese flew home to celebrate. Polar bears danced. I dedicate this to you my darling baby, Arya. You are the spice our life was missing. Happy 1st Birthday!

not even once upon a time) has the world ever known a you, my friend, and it never will, not ever again… Ten years ago this month, Feiwel and Friends released Nancy Tillman's On The Night You Were Born, a publishing moment that marked three significant “firsts.” This originally self-published picture book celebrating a baby’s birth was Tillman’s debut title, the first children’s book sold by literary agent Cathy Hemming, and the inaugural title released under Macmillan’s Feiwel and Friends imprint. And the stars’ auspicious alignment continued: On the Night You Were Born is the top-selling title for author, agent, and imprint. On the 10th anniversary of its publication, this popular go-to baby gift has sold more than five million copies in its hardcover and board-book editions. While working on an Internet promotion, Tillman met author Peggy McColl, a friend and client of Hemming, who sent a copy of On the Night You Were Born to the agent. Knowing little about children’s books, Hemming admitted, “I didn’t know if the book was good or not – but what I did know was that it had sold very well as a self-published book in a short period of time. So I shared it with some people, and the first person immediately cried, and others had similar reactions.”

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Fortunately, Tillman’s greeting-card distributor, Bottman Designs, stepped in to help. “Tom Bottman distributed half of the books I sold the first year to gift stores around the country,” she said, “and Biblio Distribution came on board soon after to supply the book to large bookstores and independents.” Because there had never been anyone like you… ever in the world. So enchanted with you were the wind and the rain, that they whispered the sound of your wonderful name. Tillman weaves rich illustrations and comforting language to promote in children a deep sense of their own worth. Before the tale ends, children will be wiggling their toes and whispering their names in joyous celebration of their own unique wonder.

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."and the illustrations are breathtaking.My daughter loves it too, at first she was uncooperative about being read to, but as the routine grew so did her attitude towards it, and now when I pull the books out her face lights up and she forgets whatever she was doing, it's now daddy and daughter time. It has made our bedtime routine much easier to slip into, I usually give her one book to thumb through while I read her the other, and though she enjoys playing with the book given to her, she is clearly glued to the story being read, and more often than not, once I'm done reading to her, she either takes the book from my hand and gives it to mommy to read, or she takes the other book and gives it to one of us to read. Either way, her appreciation for reading time is clearly there, which is exactly what we seek to accomplish with storytime. The only downside to these wonderful books is trying to take them away from her after storytime is done, she knows that putting the books away means the end of storytime and she does not let that time end without a fight! As I started writing this post I figured the words would just flow. After all, this is one of the biggest days of our lives, our Little Mirchi turns one. An entire year of milestones, memories and moments that are deeply carved into our hearts. But you see, it’s hard to put into words the exact feeling. It’s a little bit of “woohoo, we made it!” a bit of “wow, where did the time go?” and a whole lot of “oh please stay small forever.” Then something wonderful happened. While searching for one of my favorite birthday quotes I discovered it was actually part of a book. I found the book and cried the first time I read it… it was as if someone was peaking into my heart and putting my feelings into words. So whenever you doubt just how special you are and you wonder who loves you, how much and how far, Listen for geese honking high in the sky. (They’re singing a song to remember you by.) Or notice the bears asleep at the zoo. (It’s because they’ve been dancing all night for you!) Or drift off to sleep to the sound of the wind. (Listen closely… it’s whispering your name again!) I could have done without the zoo bears; the “wild” polar bears were sufficient for bears’ participation, in my opinion. The (somewhat fantastical) natural world depicted in this book felt magical.