Someday by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds (published 2007, Atheneum Books) is a mother-daughter book, and a book for a mother to treasure. My friend received it when she was pregnant with her daughter, and she thought of me when she found that I was also having a girl. The book begins with a new mother kissing her babies fingers (“One day I counted your fingers and kissed each one”), and then leads in to the dreams she has for her girl “someday.” The mother hopes that her daughter will have adventures and realize joy and feel real emotions throughout the difficulties of life.

The most memorable page for me was the page that read “Someday I will watch you brush your child’s hair.” Yes, it made me cry to read it. I love how in this book a mother’s love for her daughter is magnified into hopes for her happiness as one considers how life will progress. Add to Alison McGhee’s sweet words Peter Reynold’s soft pen, ink and watercolor illustrations and hand-lettered text, and the book is simply fantastic. I can’t wait to look at my treasured newborn daughter at some point in the coming weeks and hope for her future!

My family anticipates the arrival of my daughter at some point in the next three or four weeks!