Publisher's Weekly Review
Striking a resonant chord that is at once intimate and universal, McGhee (Someday) gently explores evergreen picture book turf as a couple welcomes their first child. While softly focused, crayonlike art, created digitally by Alizadeh (Quiet!), portrays the parents--together and individually--with their newborn, the third-person narrative broadens the scope of the story beyond them: "Somewhere in the world/ the world so far/ the world so wide/ someone is the/ youngest person alive. Picture them/ just opening their eyes." After a lyrical imagining of what an infant might first see, hear, smell, and touch, the voice and tense of the text shift as the parents, addressing their child personally, look back on some firsts and envision "some far-off day" when "the newest person in the world/ will open their eyes to see/ a grown-up you smiling back at them." Incorporating imagery from the natural world, Alizadeh's breezy illustrations are pleasingly attuned to the author's spontaneous verse as both reveal the marvel--and regeneration--of human life. Ages 4--7. (Feb.)
Kirkus Review
A couple imagines the wonder-filled first moments of their newborn."Somewhere in the world, / the world so far, / the world so wide," sits an orange house surrounded by verdant fields and wispy wildflowers. And in that house, "someone is the / youngest person alive." What will they see first? Hear? Smell? Through direct address, McGhee explores these firsts. Perhaps it'll be a "blanket and bunny, / toes and tummy" that they'll touch first, or perhaps it'll be "the arms of / someone warm." One day when the child is grown, they might have a little one of their own who at one moment too will have been "the youngest person alive." And as a parent, they'll show their child "a life / that's bright and true" and a "world [that] will feel / full of love." With layers of texturesswaths of squiggles and linesand a colorful palette, Alizadeh's smudgily outlined illustrations bring a soft but bright energy to the author's tender text. Scenes alternate between spreads of the family out in the expansive world with interior shots of cozy parent-child moments at home. Occasional close-ups set against minimal backgrounds highlight the love in a parent's eyes as they connect with their child. The father is white and mother ambiguously tanner.Pleasant and sentimental ponderings for new parents and children. (Picture book. 2-5, adult) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Bright and cheerful digital illustrations feature a mother, father, and their newborn baby boy. Somewhere in the world / the world so far / the world so wide / someone is the / youngest person alive begins the charming observance of what a newborn first sees, hears, smells, and touches. The baby's adoring parents, a fair-skinned, fair-haired father and a tan-skinned, brown-haired mother make sure the baby's first experiences are pleasant, memorable, and replete with love. The lyrical text is beautifully paced and filled with gentle rhymes, devotion, and the celebration of life. Richly colored, free-flowing, and engaging pictures show the new parents exposing their child to simple experiences that will enrich his life: viewing a sunrise, listening to birdsong, smelling flowers, and feeling the arms of someone warm. The parents express the hope that someday their child will experience the same adoration for a small, sweet someone and will continue sharing the legacy of love. This is a sensory experience in the tradition of Robert Munsch's Love You Forever (1986). While it will certainly touch new parents, Pulitzer honoree McGhee's text and Alizadeh's tender pictures will delight readers of all ages.--Maryann Owen Copyright 2019 Booklist
