You Belong Here

*warning: I'm sort of sappy. But if you want the short version: Just buy it. It's sweet.*

So, I'm 22 years old. I don't have any kids. But I saw this book in a small shop in El Dorado Hills last Summer and I was completely taken by this book. I wanted to buy it right then and there, but my family started to leave the store and I felt a little rushed, so I took a photo of the cover and put the book back on the shelf.
Now, finally reaching the new year, I have a job again (because earlier I was focusing more on college). And I decided to finally buy the book... It arrived today. And I don't know why, but it makes me so darn happy that I have this. It's such a sweet book. Back in 2014, I had really bad depression and anxiety, I always felt like I didn't belong where I was. And I don't mean to get sappy, but this book touched me right away in that store. Even if it's "just a book," it was a very simple and sweet reminder that I belong where I am.
If I ever have kids, I'll read it to them. When I become a teacher, I'll read it to them.

(sorry if this review is a TMI, but if the people who worked on this book read this I just wanted to let them know that their creation is really amazing)

Warning: personal perspective offered here, you may disagree. I really like most of this book, but I really dislike something about it that I've seen in other kids' books enough to merit the 2 star rating. This is one of those books that seem to be written to resonate with parents' emotions and not childrens'. If you like "Love You Forever" then this will probably not bother you, and you will enjoy the beautiful art and sweet prose. But if you're like me, and prefer to avoid text that appeals to parents but can provoke guilt in a child, then avoid this book. Here is a typical example: "And you belong where you love to be, and after each day is through, you will always belong right next to me and I'll belong next to you." Really? While I can see why this is an appealing image for a parent who wants nothing more than to stop time and snuggle with their child, I prefer books that offer love and sweetness and instill confidence from a child's perspective; a child's job, after all, is to differentiate themselves as individuals in all kinds of ways. And yes, they need to feel loved and confident that their parents will be there for them, but when this love is portrayed in the context of how much a parent needs from the child (like belonging by their side), I feel it sends a complicated message. Anyway, that's my perspective.

Beautifully written and I love the illustrations (which is originally why I purchased this book for my 2 year old). After a hard week being his mom, when I got this in the mail I read it to my son and cried. It's my new favorite of his books.

This book is beautiful. The illustrations are phenomenal. I love the way the publisher has bound it, with a bit of cloth wrapped around the spine. The gist of the message is sweet and endearing.

BUT

The poetry makes me cringe often enough that it ruins the book for me. I will not try to give you my critique. I'll just leave the words below. You might agree with all the other glowing reviews. But, if you can't get past the writing, you'll be spared from having to wait for the book to ship before you find out.

you belong here

The stars belong in the deep night sky
and the moon belongs there too,
and the winds belong in each place they blow by
and I belong here with you.

The whales and the fishes belong in the sea
and the waves belong by the shore,
and the dune's where the grasses belong to be
because grasses are what dunes are for.

And the trees belong in the wild wood
and the deer belong in their shade,
and the birds belong so safe and good
and warm in the nests that they've made.

And you belong where you love to be
after each day is through,
you will always belong right next to me
and I'll belong next to you.

The frogs and the lilies belong in the lake,
where the water is silver and clear,
and the turtles belong in the homes that they make
in the sand where the water is near.

And the otters belong by the banks of the stream
and the cattails belong there too,
and the carp belong where the water runs green
and the shadows all run blue.

And you belong right here, where you're home,
and where I hold you close.
Of all the wonders I've ever known,
you're the one I love the most.

The hares belong in the desert air
where the rocks are red and gold,
and those rocks belong with the comets out there,
which flash bright when the night turns cold.

The foxes belong in the high canyon hills
and the sage there belongs in the sun,
and the lizards belong in the light, sitting still,
until they are ready to run.

The crickets belong in the old stone wall
and the bees belong in the clover,
just as winter belongs in its place after fall
before the new year starts over.

And you are a dream that the world once dreamt
and now you are part of its song.
That's why you are here, in the place where you're meant,
for this is right where you belong.

The pines belong on the mountainsides,
tucked under their blankets of snow,
and the bears belong in the caves where they hide
whenever the storms start to blow.

Some creatures were made for the land, or the air,
and others were made for the sea;
each creature is perfectly home right there
in the place it belongs to be.

And no matter what places you travel to,
what wonders you choose to see,
I will always be right here with you,
and you'll always belong with me.

This entire book reads like a warm hug-- it's a mother and child painting by Mary Cassat. It's a song of love to a newly adopted child. But it's also screaming to be read aloud at someone's wedding. If I were still dating my husband, I'd buy him this book. And we'd get all sappy together about it. Yes, we could still do that, but we're not as sappy anymore. So I'll just pretend.

I write a lot of poetry and rhymed picture books and I also read a lot of bad rhyming. The rhyme in this one is spot on. It feels completely timeless, from the quiet beauty of the illustrations that play so perfectly with the text, to the neat and tiny cursive writing to the old-fashioned black fabric-bound cover. Trust me, if you've got a new love and you don't know how to tell them how you feel, you can read them this book.

Happened upon this book, by chance, in my local bookstore and have since bought a copy for each and every I love. I found myself entirely captivated, moved to tears, while purusing its pages. Buy this book. Buy multiple copies. It's truly magical

This book is so lovely in every way. It’s a poem about creatures on the earth who have their special places that they belong, and how it relates to your baby belonging right at home with you, and though they may travel and see the world, they’ll always belong in your heart. My 4 year old son cried when we had to return it to the library because he loved it so much, so I bought a copy. The poem is written in such a way that my son actually took it as being just for him. The words are so touching, and I tear up a little when reading the book to my boys. Even my 7.5 year old son loved the story and I could tell it warmed his heart with the smile he had on his face. I just bought another copy to gift to my friend who just became a mother. It’s really a beautiful book with soft, lovely illustrations. I will continue to purchase it in the future for friends who have babies. I highly recommend this book.

The book itself is beautifully illustrated and written. However, this review is for the condition that I received the book in. I ordered this book as a gift for my daughters first birthday and I planned on writing an inscription and for this to be an heirloom for her. The book arrived dented on both corners and an indent also in the middle of the book which also affected the pages as well so I ordered a replacement and that one was worse than the first one! It had all the same dents as well as the cover’s corner was scratched and the book didn’t lay shut properly. So disappointed as I could’ve saved some money and ordered used and probably received a book in the same or better condition. Now, I’m unable to order a replacement and will have to wait to be reimbursed via amazon gift card and will just go look for the book at my local Barnes and Noble.

The pictures are breathtaking and the story is sweet. A parent/child relationship is truly the most emotional and special bond. This book and it's remarkable illustrations captures that spirit/sentiment beautifully. I only wish some of the pages were not in cursive so that my child can eventually read this easily on her own. She loves the story though.

I was gifted this book when I had my own daughters; now I give it to all my expecting friends. I cry every time I read it to my girls. It’s simple and beautiful. Simple statements that ring so true. Words are meaningful. The illustrations are also lovely. This is a book every mom should have. It’s a sweet read and very aesthetically pleasing on any book shelf.