| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that this is written more for mothers or grandmothers than young children. Kids won't understand the sentimental nature of the story just yet, but probably will enjoy a caregiver's heartfelt reading.
A mother thinks back on when her child was a baby, but then, as she watches her child sleep, she dreams about the future and how her child is continuing to grow and change. The child soon will become independent, have adventures, and then one day even have a child of her own to raise. And then finally, she too will become a silver-haired woman sitting in the sun and reflecting back on her life and her mother who is now dreaming of her.
The poetic lines of this gentle book are simple yet refreshing. Expressed in handwritten text, graceful yet without flourish, they present the beautifully sentimental dreams of a mother who is watching her child sleep. SOMEDAY is an expression of love that is meant to be shared, though it's written more to the motherly sentiment than to the child. Slightly reminiscent of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree, it presents the same gentle truth about the circular nature of birth, life, and aging.
If you are familiar with the Judy Moody books, you will recognize the muted pen/ink and watercolor illustrations with which Peter Reynolds enlivens the text. Also soft and gentle, they add to the heartfelt flow of the words as they sprawl across the uncluttered page.
Families can talk about how babies grow up and become independent children, then adults. What kinds of things can you do when you are 5 or 6 that you could not do when you were younger? When will you be able to ride your bike by yourself, walk in the woods, climb a tree or run so fast your "heart feels on fire"? Can you imagine a time when you might leave home and have a house and family of your own? What do you think that will be like? This might also be a great time for a parent or grandparent to share stories of their growing up with the young child.
| Author: | Alison McGhee |
| Illustrator: | Peter H. Reynolds |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | Atheneum |
| Publication date: | February 27, 2007 |
| Number of pages: | 40 |
| Hardcover price: | $14.99 |
| Read aloud: | 3 |
| Read alone: | 7 |
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