Where You Came From [Hardcover]

Sara O'Leary (Author), Julie Morstad (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

In this adorable picture book, inquisitive little Henry wants to know where he came from. His parents come up with very imaginative answers to his question, telling him he was delivered in the mail, found in the sale bin at the supermarket, spotted in the window of a pet store, and more. Children love envisioning the imaginative answers, from being delivered by fairies or found in a basket that was floating down the river to being dropped from the sky by a spaceship. Julie Morstad’s beautiful illustrations accompany each hilarious scenario.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K—"Where did I come from?" Henry asks. His parents answer his question with a series of playful stories. Adults will grin at the many references to common birth mythologies, such as a cabbage-patch baby, a wooden child come to life, and a mail delivery with no return address marked "handle with care." Whimsical pen-and-ink drawings with watercolor accents and a lovely minimalist design complement simple, poetic text. Regrettably, the facts are never quite revealed. Instead of giving him a frank answer, Henry's father tells him, "Your mother and I both dreamt you. And then you came true." This, accompanied by a small illustration of Henry's parents sleeping in bed, is the only suggestion of truth in this otherwise charming book. While this final segment may be suggestive of the underlying biology, it fails as a conclusion no matter how you see it. Children unfamiliar with the concept of sex may take the father's answer at face value, more savvy children may wonder why it's never explained outright, and adults who read it may wonder at the implication that innocent curiosity about one's origins shouldn't be rewarded with an honest answer.—Madeline Walton-Hadlock, San Jose Public Library, CA
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simply Read Books (November 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1894965469
• ISBN-13: 978-1894965460
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #697,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well-done!, November 26, 2010

By 

A reader (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where You Came From (Hardcover)

I received this as a gift from my brother, and I fell in love with it. First, it honors our family's unspoken law that a child should be fed, along with fresh vegetables, a certain amount of harmless nonsense. Second, it honors (if only by omitting overt explanations to the contrary) families that may have been made in nontraditional ways. My sons both came to me through adoption, and I'm so pleased that this sweet story is just as resonant for us as for a family made through biology. It's well-done and beautifully illustrated, and printed with quality materials. All-around kudos.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, June 2, 2009

By 

J. Carlson "Triplet Mommy" (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Where You Came From (Hardcover)

Such a darling book! My kids (4.5 years) love it and request it over and over! A keeper!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect gift book, September 17, 2011

By 

Jessica K. Olds - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Where You Came From (Hardcover)

We LOVE this book in our house! It's silly and fun to read and easy for kids to pick up after a few readings. We've given this book for a few baby gifts because it's so beautiful. Great illustrations and cute story!