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When You Were Born
With poetic language and magnificent, deeply moving paintings, this beautiful book preserves the sense of awe inspired when a baby is born.
When you were born
you came quietly,
and with eyes deep as an ocean
you looked at me . . .
A new baby is born — and as family, friends, and neighbors gather to share the joy, they emerge changed. Their world is redefined as they take a moment to remember the past, imagine the future, and marvel at the tiny miracle before them. In poetry as soothing as a lullaby, Dianna Hutts Aston evokes the sense of reverence that surrounds a newborn like enfolding arms. And in radiant, Chagall-like paintings, unlike any he's published before, Coretta Scott King Awardwinning artist E. B. Lewis captures a feeling of wonder that will resonate with anyone who has gazed into the eyes of a newborn child.
When you were born
you came quietly,
and with eyes deep as an ocean
you looked at me . . .
A new baby is born — and as family, friends, and neighbors gather to share the joy, they emerge changed. Their world is redefined as they take a moment to remember the past, imagine the future, and marvel at the tiny miracle before them. In poetry as soothing as a lullaby, Dianna Hutts Aston evokes the sense of reverence that surrounds a newborn like enfolding arms. And in radiant, Chagall-like paintings, unlike any he's published before, Coretta Scott King Awardwinning artist E. B. Lewis captures a feeling of wonder that will resonate with anyone who has gazed into the eyes of a newborn child.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 19, 2004
About the author
Dianna Hutts Aston
18 books127 followersDianna Hutts Aston was born in Houston, Texas, attended the University of Houston, and worked as a journalist for several years. LOONY LITTLE is her first picture book with Candlewick Press. She says, "It was one of the hottest summer days on record. My mind, of its own accord, kept wandering northward, to a wilderness of snow and ice, the Arctic. While listening to the news one evening, I heard Peter Jennings say, ‘The polar icecap is melting - or is it?’ In my mind, I heard, ‘The sky is falling!’ The whole concept for LOONY LITTLE literally fell from the sky and into my mind." Dianna Hutts Aston lives in central Texas with her husband and two children.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 25, 2025
"When you were born / you came quietly, / and with eyes deep as an ocean / you looked at me, / and I looked at you, / and I thought to myself, / I know you!" So begins the poetic narrative of this picture book tribute to a new baby from author Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrator E.B. Lewis. The text follows the baby as various family and community members—daddy, grandparents, uncle, dog, neighborhood women and children—greet and welcome the newcomer in their own way. The narrative broadens, considering the world as a whole and then refocusing on the baby, and on the blessings sought from the angels for this new being...
Published in 2004, When You Were Born was the author's second picture book, following upon her 2003 Loony Little , and fits squarely into the category of books welcoming new babies to her world and celebrating their arrival. I found the text emotionally resonant, and appreciated all of the ways that various people in the baby's life reacted to him. I also greatly enjoyed the accompanying artwork from Lewis, created (according to the rear dust-jacket blurb) using watercolor and marker on existing paintings. I'm not sure if that means other people's paintings, or Lewis' own, but the result was striking. I feel like many such books would feature artwork that was more pastel, perhaps gentler, but here the colors are vivid, and the composition more expressionist. In any case, the result was a lovely book, one I would recommend to new parents to share with their own newborn or younger children.
Published in 2004, When You Were Born was the author's second picture book, following upon her 2003 Loony Little , and fits squarely into the category of books welcoming new babies to her world and celebrating their arrival. I found the text emotionally resonant, and appreciated all of the ways that various people in the baby's life reacted to him. I also greatly enjoyed the accompanying artwork from Lewis, created (according to the rear dust-jacket blurb) using watercolor and marker on existing paintings. I'm not sure if that means other people's paintings, or Lewis' own, but the result was striking. I feel like many such books would feature artwork that was more pastel, perhaps gentler, but here the colors are vivid, and the composition more expressionist. In any case, the result was a lovely book, one I would recommend to new parents to share with their own newborn or younger children.
July 22, 2018
Meant to be a present for a new baby. It has several explicit religious references, but is mostly about family and friends welcoming the baby and planting a tree. Talks about mommy and daddy and uncle, grandmother and grandfather (just 1 of each), a dog named Bear, and neighbors and neighbor children.
June 14, 2017
This book reminds me of the all the people who were so happy when I was born!
December 12, 2017
This book is from the parents perspective talking about their child and the love they had for that child when they were born. The art is incredible.
February 11, 2026
This is a dreamy, love-filled book of memories and awe of when a baby was born. Loose, bright illustrations.
January 31, 2013
With poetic language and magnificent, deeply moving paintings, this beautiful book preserves the sense of awe inspired when a baby is born.
When you were born you came quietly, and with eyes deep as an ocean you looked at me . . . A new baby is born and as family, friends, and neighbors gather to share the joy, they emerge changed. Their world is redefined as they take a moment to remember the past, imagine the future, and marvel at the tiny miracle before them.
In poetry as soothing as a lullaby, Dianna Hutts Aston evokes the sense of reverence that surrounds a newborn like enfolding arms. And in radiant, Chagall-like paintings, unlike any he's published before, Coretta Scott King Awardwinning artist E. B. Lewis captures a feeling of wonder that will resonate with anyone who has gazed into the eyes of a newborn child.
Subjects
Infants -- Juvenile fiction
Mother and child -- Juvenile fiction
Infants -- Fiction.
Mother and child -- Fiction
When you were born you came quietly, and with eyes deep as an ocean you looked at me . . . A new baby is born and as family, friends, and neighbors gather to share the joy, they emerge changed. Their world is redefined as they take a moment to remember the past, imagine the future, and marvel at the tiny miracle before them.
In poetry as soothing as a lullaby, Dianna Hutts Aston evokes the sense of reverence that surrounds a newborn like enfolding arms. And in radiant, Chagall-like paintings, unlike any he's published before, Coretta Scott King Awardwinning artist E. B. Lewis captures a feeling of wonder that will resonate with anyone who has gazed into the eyes of a newborn child.
Subjects
Infants -- Juvenile fiction
Mother and child -- Juvenile fiction
Infants -- Fiction.
Mother and child -- Fiction
August 27, 2014
Simply wonderful. I love this book because it tells children how special they really are. As a child development major this book would be great to recommend to parents so that they can read it to their children and remind them how much they are loved. This book does a great job of showing love from all different people and places. (Picture)
September 24, 2012
This short picture book, illustrates what happens when a baby gets introduced into the world. It describes how family and friends come from all over to come see the new baby. This is a good children's book and can be read to toddlers or young readers can read the book for themselves.
December 2, 2012
This book is a poetic children's book that discusses the coming of a new baby. The people are celebrating the baby's coming, by having high expectations about this new child. I would have this book in my family bin inside my classroom.
June 18, 2009
Touching story about a baby's entrance into the world. Great artwork!
Want to Read
December 4, 2009from the author of "An Egg is Quiet"
March 7, 2010
i LOVE THIS BOOK. wallace has most of it memorized and it is just fantastic!
March 3, 2013
This is a special book to me - I love it so much the writing and illustrations are A++ - I used it for a devotion and they loved it.
October 15, 2015
Very sweet book filled with tons of emotions!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews