When You Gave Me You

by Clay Rice

Overview

On this birthday, remember who’s giving to who, 
because the best gift of all, is when you gave me YOU.

Award-winning poet and artist Clay Rice brings his signature papercut style to this tender birthday affirmation of positive praise for a special child. Amidst the presents and candles, this gorgeous picture book reminds the child that they are the greatest gift! 

It’s your playful spirit and creative spark. 
And your sweet soul and loving heart.
You shine like the sun in all that you do, 
you gave me a gift when you gave me you.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641705639
Publisher:	Familius
Publication date:	11/23/2021
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	AD600L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Clay Rice is an award-winning, nationally renowned silhouette artist whose work has been featured in Country Living, The Washington Times, The Atlanta Constitution, Cookie Magazine, and the CBS series Army Wives. Clay’s landscape scenes and children’s illustrations are sought after by collectors worldwide, and his work is on permanent display at the South Carolina State Museum.

Interviews

Charleston, South Carolina

Editorial Reviews

08/16/2021

Papercut silhouette art by author-illustrator Rice serves as a haunting background to this poignant rhyming poem. Bold black silhouettes outline a short-haired child celebrating their birthday party at a picnic table with family and friends. Relayed from the second-person perspective, the narration is seemingly delivered by the child’s guardian, who expresses appreciation for the child’s many positive qualities: “It’s your playful spirit/ and creative spark,” one page reads, showing the child building a model of a theropod. “And your sweet soul/ and loving heart,” the facing page completes, showing the child stroking a dog’s ears. Throughout, the refrain “You gave me a gift/ when you gave me you” serves to emphasize the narrator’s deep gratefulness for their child, though perhaps also unintentionally underscoring an uncomfortable sense of ownership. Each page’s silhouetted art stands out against textured, gradient backgrounds with watercolor-like appeal in this solemn, greeting card–like readaloud. Ages 3–5. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Throughout, the refrain 'You gave me a gift/ when you gave me you' serves to emphasize the narrator’s deep gratefulness for their child . . . Each page’s silhouetted art stands out against textured, gradient backgrounds with watercolor-like appeal."
-Publishers Weekly

"Clay Rice is an inventive author and poet who fills each page with color and creativity. The images of the characters are silhouetted against painted backgrounds to form an effective contrast of colors. The absence of facial expressions allows readers’ imagination to fill in the blank spaces. This book will change the way children view birthdays; instead of feeling excited about opening presents, children will realize that it is an anniversary of the day they were brought into the world. This is the perfect story to read to children ages three to five on birthdays or as a daily reminder that their presence matters more than presents." - Rita Long, Manhattan Book Review





 

"When You Gave Me You is a sweet and heartfelt expression of love from a parent to their child. The story takes place on the child’s birthday and the parents explain the true meaning of this special day. Each aspect of the child’s personality is described with affection and gratitude. The child’s energetic spirit, sense of humor, and nurturing spirit combine to form the most perfect gift imaginable. These words remind the reader that with each passing year, it is important to reflect on how your existence has affected others.

Clay Rice is an inventive author and poet who fills each page with color and creativity. The images of the characters are silhouetted against painted backgrounds to form an effective contrast of colors. The absence of facial expressions allows readers’ imagination to fill in the blank spaces. This book will change the way children view birthdays; instead of feeling excited about opening presents, children will realize that it is an anniversary of the day they were brought into the world. This is the perfect story to read to children ages three to five on birthdays or as a daily reminder that their presence matters more than presents." - Rita Long, Manhattan Book Review

From the Publisher