The Wonderful Things You Will Be

The Wonderful Things You Will Be is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Emily Winfield Martin. The rhyming text follows a parent's musings about their child's future potential and identity. The artwork features diverse children in whimsical scenarios and costumes, with a mix of everyday scenes and imaginative play. Martin's illustrations use a soft color palette and combine vintage-inspired elements with contemporary styling. The story moves between childhood moments and imagined futures, focusing on the bond between parent and child. The narrative maintains a gentle pace while exploring multiple possibilities for who a child might become. At its core, this book celebrates the open possibilities of childhood and unconditional parental love, emphasizing that children can chart their own unique paths in life.

Parents and teachers praise this book's message of unconditional love and celebration of children's unique qualities. Many readers highlight the inclusive illustrations showing children of different ethnicities and abilities. Readers liked: - Rhythmic, poetic text that works well for bedtime reading - Vintage-style artwork with muted colors - Message encouraging children to be themselves - Gender-neutral content suitable for all children Common criticisms: - Text feels disjointed or lacks clear narrative flow - Some find the message too vague or abstract for young children - Price point high for length of content Ratings: Amazon: 4.9/5 (37,000+ reviews) Goodreads: 4.4/5 (13,000+ ratings) Sample review: "The illustrations are beautiful but my toddler loses interest halfway through. The message resonates more with parents than children." - Goodreads reviewer "Perfect baby shower gift. Makes me cry every time I read it to my daughter." - Amazon reviewer

I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal This book shares hopes and wishes from parent to child through simple statements paired with metaphors from nature and life.

Tomorrow I'll Be Brave by Jessica Hische A parent's voice encourages a child to embrace life's experiences while accepting imperfection and growth.

The Crown on Your Head by Nancy Tillman Through poetic verse, a message of inherent worth connects each child to their unique place in the world.

You Belong Here by M.H. Clark Natural imagery and parent-child bonds intertwine to express belonging and unconditional love.

Dream Animals by Emily Winfield Martin With the same artist's signature style, this companion book connects children to imagination through nighttime journeys.

🌟 The author, Emily Winfield Martin, began her career selling her artwork on Etsy before becoming a bestselling children's book creator 🌟 The book's illustrations feature children of different ethnicities and backgrounds, making it one of the more inclusive modern picture books 🌟 The book has spent over 300 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list since its release in 2015 🌟 Each illustration in the book was painted by hand using gouache, a type of opaque watercolor paint known for its rich, velvety finish 🌟 The book's message about celebrating children's potential was inspired by Martin's own childhood experiences and her mother's unconditional support of her creative pursuits