I Love You All Year Through

December 1, 2018
Animal caregivers express their love for their little ones throughout the seasons in this addition to the "I love you" shelf. Markers of the seasons loom large in this salute to parent-child bonds--spring blossoms and rains, autumn leaves, the summer sun and haze. "I love you in the winter / when the frost is on the trees. // When ice lights up the night / and snowflakes drift upon the breeze." Stansbie's gentle rhymes continue in this pattern through spring, summer, and autumn before summing the year up: "In wind and rain and sun, / from dawn to dusk and all year through... // You are my darling precious one. / Forever I'll love you!" A different duo is shown on each spread, and the animals are familiar favorites: bear, fox, deer, rabbit, bird, otter, horse, lion, wolf, red squirrel, whale, and polar bear. Simple though gorgeously dappled backgrounds capture the basics of the animals' various habitats. Mason's use of light is masterful; many of the illustrations capture the animals at golden hour, and this contributes to the cozy mood evoked by the text. Though the animals' expressions tend toward anthropomorphism, most of their actions are natural.A cozy year-round delight. (Picture book. 3-6)

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April 1, 2019

Toddler-PreS-As the seasons grow and the colors change, a parent's love always stays the same. This wonderful story has a dreamlike feel as it highlights the changing cycle of nature in contrast to the ever-present love of a parent represented through beautifully illustrated animals. The images are a bold combination of digitally crafted pictures with soft watercolor elements that set a calm and comforting tone throughout. The palette cleverly corresponds with the seasonal change. The illustrations use light and shadows to provide depth and life to the two-dimensional characters and setting. Each page is dominated by a pairing of a grown and young animal in their natural habitat; the text is to the side in a large, easy-to-read font, allowing the visuals to be the focus. The text uses simple rhymes and vocabulary in short sentences to captivate readers. It actively encourages word recognition through a stylish font that draws attention to certain words by the use of varying text sizes. The soft tones, both textual and visual, make this story perfect for bedtime and cuddle sessions. VERDICT Children will feel warm and safe while reading this charming story with an adult who adores them.-Haley Amendt, Hinton Municipal Library, Alta.

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