From School Library Journal
PreS—In the vein of Sam McBratney's
Guess How Much I Love You (Candlewick, 1995) or even Margaret Wise Brown's
The Runaway Bunny (HarperCollins, 1942), this book allows parents to express how deeply they care for their children. Written in a series of rhyming verses, it features a mother raccoon who tells her son how much she loves him throughout a day spent mostly at the beach, such as "If I could,/I'd paint the flowers/to brighten all/your waking hours." While the narrative is addressed to the child, the rhyming scheme seems forced and the sentiments seem more geared to adults than to youngsters. The illustrations, too, celebrate the things that parents love most about their children, such as their natural curiosity about the world. Denise's illustrations show the mother raccoon and her toddler son going through their active day in terrific detail. Their love for one another is apparent in the details—the hand holding, the sweet smiles. Unfortunately, the warm illustrations are not enough to keep preschoolers involved in this story.—
Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
A raccoon mother croons a gentle ode to her cherished child in this heartfelt offering from Milord. The title becomes the refrain by which a mother lovingly delineates how she would order the world for her child's contentment. Midway through, a subtle alteration in the verses serves to emphasize the mother's boundless enchantment with her offspring: "You are the song. / You are the light - / a treat and a treasure / a joy and delight." Denise's acrylic-and-charcoal illustrations are an ideal combination of soft edges and sumptuous hues. Utilizing both full-page spreads and smaller vignettes, the affecting paintings illuminate the devotion between mother and child. The simple verses make up for any brevity with the depth of emotion they express. This cozy, comforting tale is a perfect fit for toddlers, who yearn to know they are the center of their loved one's universe. (Picture Book. 2-6) (Kirkus Reviews)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
