I Will Love You Forever

January 1, 2017
Parental love has never been expressed so sweetly and believably. In this sunny, bright world there is no ambivalence, much less postpartum depression--only positive possibilities. Church offers a model of good parenting, expressing the universal hopes all parents have for their children, that they "see the joy that life can bring." Her focus is always on the child. The narrator mother is shown only at the very beginning, cuddling her newborn and lifting a sock-clad toddler above her head. On two other pages readers see the mother's hands reaching out to guide and encourage as the baby begins to crawl, stand, and run. The first-person narration might be confusing if the book is shared by a caregiver other than a mother. Toddlers will join in on the reassuring refrain "I will love you forever." The pants-clad child is shown with tightly curled reddish-brown hair and light brown skin. The mother has a slightly lighter skin tone and straight hair. A faithful brown dog and well-loved teddy bear accompany the child on almost every page. Cuddle up with this cheery board book to assure your babies that they too are loved. (Board book. 1-3)

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January 1, 2017

Toddler-PreS-Those seeking a book expressing a caregiver's unconditional love should look no further. The story shows the small child from infancy ("When I saw you for the very first time I was filled with joy that you were mine.") all the way to toddlerhood, and a caregiver reminds the child that she will be loved forever. Crisp illustrations featuring thick black lines on a muted background make it easy to focus on the child on each page. A worthy addition to collections, but the thinner pages might present a problem with circulation.

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