A narrator fills in a new baby on all that happened before their birth in this charming and wryly humorous title. We first see prospective parents (including a man-woman couple, a single mom, and a two-man couple) planning for children, engaged in various activities even before that, and struggling through early days of parenthood. The book then goes on to show grandparents and even more distant ancestors way back in history as they, too, prepared for the adventure that is parenthood. Many people worked hard “so that YOU can be here now,” the book tells readers.
Of course, it continues, people in general are pretty new, too. Before them, there were forests, oceans, and stars, all illustrated across the pages, complete with dinosaurs and other creatures. So much had to happen—“And now, here you are.”
Being new is okay, the book reassures, as the narrator promises to help them adjust. There’s a lot to look forward to, and “I’m so glad you’re here.”
I love that this gentle story doesn’t specify the narrator, allowing it to be read by any number of people to a young child. The illustrations are soft and warm, but there are humorous moments, such as when a child on a changing table sprays the parent changing them. (An artfully raised leg covers up specifics.) The humor keeps the sweetness from cloying, making this a recommended title for new arrivals, and potentially a long-term favorite.
