Module 1: I Loved You Before You Were Born by Anne Bowen

Summary: 
I Loved You Before You Were Born is a touching tale of a grandmother’s love for her unborn grandchild.  Anne Bowen takes readers on a journey of this grandmother’s love through the imagination of how the new baby looks both as a newborn and as the child grows.  The story concludes with the realization of the grandmother’s love as she holds her new grandchild in her cozy arms.  Greg Shed provides beautiful realistic pictures to enhance the gentle kindness of the story.

Citation:
Bowen, A. (2001). I loved you before you were born. New York, NY:
    
         Harper Collins.

My Impression:  
I was moved by the emotional heart strings that are pulled through the tremendous love of a grandmother and her grandchild.  As a mother of three, I can relate to the grandma in the story as she awaits the arrival of her grandchild.  I can feel her joy and hope that I might someday have the same joy in my life as my children have children of their own.

Professional Reviews:

School Library Journal

This gentle story celebrates the love of a grandmother for her new grandchild.  The opening refrain, “Even before you were born, “ is repeated throughout the text, coupled with “ I loved-,” “I wondered-,” “I imagined-.”  The sense of waiting and anticipation is almost tangible, and many of these hope-for-events come to fruition in the illustrations.  Shed’s full-page images are set opposite warm, pastel text pages.  The realistic yet soft-edged paintings convey the loving intimacy of family, and perfectly complement the joyful text, which is sweet without being saccharine.  A perfect gift for a grandchild and lovely for sharing one-on-one.”


Gibson, R. (2001, July 1). [Review of the book I loved you before you were
    
         born, by A. Bowen] School Library Journal 46(1). Retrieved from

         http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com

Booklist

“Ages 3-5. A grandmother talks to her newborn grandchild, recalling her thoughts while she waited for the baby's birth, imagining the baby's "soft sighs and sweet smells" and first smile. As she makes a flannel blanket, she wonders if her grandchild will carry it everywhere as the baby's father had carried his. She thinks about reading to the baby, singing lullabies, and celebrating birthdays. Finally, Baby arrives, and grandma's anticipation culminates in the final refrain, "I loved you even before you were born." This is a sweet one-on-one book for grandmothers and young grandchildren to share. The handsome art, thick paint on textured paper, radiates warmth and love in uncluttered, true-to-life reflections of a new baby welcomed into a loving home.”

Mandel, Ellen (2001, July 1). [Review of the book I loved you before 

         
         you were born, by A. Bowen] Booklist. Retrieved from
         
         http://www.booklistonline.com 

Uses within the library setting:

1. After reading the story to you class, schedule a day for grandparents to be invited for a brunch during library time.  Reread the story to each group and allow grandparents to share written notes of love that were prepared ahead of time.

2. After reading the story to your class, have children create a Grandma and/or Grandpa poem for Grandparent’s Day.  Provide creative paper, cut-outs and writing materials to promote creativity.

Book Cover: Retrieved from Mansfield Public Library: Mansfield, Texas:
       http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library