I Like It When . . . [Hardcover]

Mary Murphy (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 1 and up

“I like it when you hold my hand. I like it when you let me help. I like it when you tickle me. I like it when you dance with me.” Straightforward text and bold illustrations highlight the joys of a little penguin’s day. This sturdy-page book celebrates a child’s special relationships. “While penguins may evoke an icy climate, the loving and playful relationship between this penguin parent and child makes for an exceptionally warm little book.”-Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1. A most reassuring toddler book, great for one-on-one sharing and story times. A penguin youngster recounts a few of his favorite things to do with a caring adult: "I like it when we play peekaboo....I like it when you hug me tight." The two of them read stories, tickle, hold hands, splash about in the bath, and other typical rituals and events in the daily life of a preschooler. Crisp, clear illustrations accented with red, yellow, blue, and green accompany the bold black-and-white animals on double-page spreads. The simple, satisfying text can also be used as a beginning reader. A winner.?Jacqueline Elsner, Athens Regional Library, GA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 1^-4. In simple, loving words, a small penguin tells her mother about the favorite things they do together. The activities are elemental ("I like it when you hold my hand. I like it when you let me help"). Bright, clear pictures on differently colored pages show the parent and child physically close and enjoying themselves while they play, dance, read, splash, hug, tickle, and kiss good night. Part of the Red Wagon Preschool series, this is a book to read and act out. Toddlers will learn words and colors, and they will see that books are about them. Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (February 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152000399
• ISBN-13: 978-0152000394
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #409,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous bedtime book!, August 14, 2000

By 

Nancy Pierce (Stow, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Like It When . . . (Hardcover)

My 2-year-old son picked this book out himself at the bookstore and it is now his absolute favorite book. Mine, too! For starters, it has wonderful, bright colors. Each two-page spread has only 1 line, i.e. "I like it when you hold my hand." Every message is positive and affirming. My son now has an activity for every page. One page is, "I like it when we hug real tight." He either hugs me, hugs a toy, or hugs himself and says, "Ahhhh." The last page of the story is, "You're wonderful." What a wonderful way to put him to bed. I am going to give this book at every baby shower.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for connecting with your child, January 30, 2004

By 

C. Wallis Davenport "joyous2" (New York State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I Like It When . . . (Hardcover)

My 22 month old daughter just loves this book. Each page has a small sentence that begins, "I like it when..." and ends with something a child would like, for example, "you let me help", "we splash about", etc.

The pictures with their primary colors and penguin illustrations always elicit a smile, and the words with their simple messages convey heartfelt feelings to mother and father and child. We enjoy acting out the pages, especially when it comes to giving hugs and kisses. During mealtimes, when we try new things, I remind my daughter of that page in the book, and she gets very excited.

I truly feel that this book is more than a book to teach reading...it is a book to teach connectedness between parents and children. And that is far more important at this age, maybe at any age.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, February 18, 2005

By 

K. Wentworth - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Like It When . . . (Hardcover)

I, too am buying a 2nd copy today because our first is falling apart from so much use. My 22 month son loves this book and insists that it be read to him before every nap and bedtime. After reading whatever book we have chosen this one HAS to be read last or he will cry in his crib until you take him out and read this book. As I read the pages we will do what the pages say like hold his hand, dance, pretend to splash, hug and kiss. My son does not talk, only says a couple of words, but the other day I saw him sitting in the rocking chair with this book and "reading" it in his own way. He joined his hands, he tickled himself, danced, spashed, hugged as he turned the pages. It was amazing. This is a great book and I highly recommend it.