“Someday” is the name of a book my mom gave to me when I was first pregnant. The simple, yet poignant story is written by Alison McGhee, an award winning author, and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, who also illustrated Megan McDonald’s “Judy Moody” series. The book is only forty pages, full of illustrations, with only a handwritten line or two on each page, but it speaks volumes to my heart.
As a mother and a daughter, I found this book to be incredibly beautiful. From the very first line I could tell it was going to make me tear up before I turned the last page. The book is visually beautiful as well; I love the wispy ink and watercolor illustrations. It begins, “One day I counted your fingers and kissed each one.” The illustration shows a mother holding a newborn in her lap, gazing at the baby with adoration while she sits in her hospital bed. As an expectant mother, I read this line for the first time with anticipation and excitement. Now, I read it with such intense understanding and emotion. How could the author capture so much in a single sentence about what it’s like in those first few moments?
The story continues to touch on the most precious moments of childhood and the milestones that mark the beginning of adulthood. The author reflects on her daughter’s childhood and contemplates her bright future. I found myself remembering these moments with my mom and dreaming of the ones to come with my son. “Someday” treasures the past, embraces the present and dreams of the future with such tenderness, melting your heart in the process. Just as I suspected, there were tears in my eyes as I read the final page.
“Someday” is the perfect gift for any expectant mother, mother or grandmother. I highly recommend it!
