Only You [Hardcover]

Robin Cruise (Author), Margaret Chodos-Irvine (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Every adult who loves a child knows how deep and rich that love can be. Little ones are lovable on the outside, with their tiny ears, eyes, and toes. And they're lovable for who they are on the inside, as they sing, play, and shout. Robin Cruise and Caldecott Honor winner Margaret Chodos-Irvine portray a diverse trio of parents and children in this lyrical celebration of a love that makes each child feel like the one and only.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreS—A warm celebration of parental love. The sparse, rhyming text is evocative and affirming, and appropriate for toddlers or even babies: "I love/your knees,/your toes,/your feet./I love your skin—/so soft,/so sweet." The text hints at the passing of a day, while the illustrations depict timeless activities that every child can relate to. The art complements the text beautifully. Chodos-Irvine uses a combination of printmaking techniques to produce a soothing mix of patterns and textures. Pairings of moms, dads, and children of various ethnic groups are depicted. Many of the pictures show a youngster asserting independence in typical toddler fashion (for instance, brushing teeth), while the parent waits lovingly to assist if needed. Only You will make calming bedtime reading, and the words may end up memorized and recited aloud to soothe a cranky child. A stellar effort.—Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

There's no shortage of lyrical books that recount the way parents feel about their children. This one has the advantage of illustrations by Chodos-Irvine. In simple, rhyming text, the narrator (in some pictures, a mom; in others, a dad) notes everything lovable about the child: a nose, a kiss, a small hand to hold. Like the narrator, the focus of this adoration also changes. The illustrations occasionally show a boy of color, sometimes a brown-haired girl. Once again, Chodos-Irvine uses various printmaking techniques to add visual interest to the oversize pages, and her shapes are large, simple, and effective. At times, the pictures are rendered in pure, saturated colors; at other times, the design work takes center stage--a soft snowflake design on pajamas or delicate tracings on leaves or bushes. Although this may mean more to the adult reading than to the child listening, both will feel the closeness the book engenders. REVWR
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1 edition (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152166041
• ISBN-13: 978-0152166045
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #697,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Bedtime Book, May 27, 2011

By 

E. Walsh (Norfolk, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Only You (Hardcover)

My 20 month old daughter and I love it. We originally checked this book out of our library at Valentine's Day (3.5 months ago), but after reading it one time we immediately ordered our own copy. It's now a nightly ritual to read this book last. It is so adorably sweet and we both love it dearly. There are parts where the little ones can grab hold of your hand or give you a kiss. I treasure this book and have purchased several copies for friends. It is a wonderful book!

5.0 out of 5 stars so sweet, July 4, 2007

By 

Kathryn S. Leonard (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Only You (Hardcover)

My son (2 years) absolutely loves this book. It is so simple and so sweet; we usually cap off our bedtime reading with it. The previous reviewer was right- this book is impossible to read without love in your voice, and my son absolutely responds. Our nightime ritual is not complete without it.

4.0 out of 5 stars A touching children's book, June 7, 2007

By 

Jaylyn (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Only You (Hardcover)

The easy, loving text and the bold yet sweet style of the
illustrations makes this book a pleasure to read. My baby is
20 months old and sits quite still when looking at the pages and listening
closely to the story, because you cannot tell it without love in your voice.

This story, especially the first page, the art, the eyes on the people, the way the enviorment is drawn has whispers of Eric Carle. It will remind you of his children's books. However, not really a copy, perhaps an inspiration?

The boy throwing the leaves into the air makes my older daughter talk
about Autumn. The vibrant colors and sweet interaction between parent and child is very loving.

This is one of those books when you just want to hug your child as you're reading to them.