Todd Parr

Oh, I noticed that I had neglected to review this and then I thought, shit, my family's gonna fall apart any day now, might as well wait and do it then and exploit all the sadness/regret/recrimination/overpowering sense of failure that will well to the surface. Anyway, my family's almost fallen apart like six times since then and we just can't seem to get there, or contrariwise to get out of the fall-apart zone, and so I might as well just get to it, especially because this book is coming to show more serve as a kind of prayer for me; it's full of different kinds of families (big and small, two mums and two dads, two parents and one, living together and living apart, fish and dogs, eating the same things and different things), but all brought together by certain very important things: hugs, spending special days together, feeling sad when they lose someone they love, helping each other be strong. Acceptance of difference and placing a premium on not hurting each other, which I took to be a core value for most everyone but which turns out to look very fragile indeed in the face of the dogged monster of expectation, the kneejerk black-and-white demand that we be a certain kind of family, a traditional family even though at the same time that's not what we either of us wants, and hence a frustrated and miserable family. A prayer, I said: that when our family inevitably falls apart, we'll find a way to spring up from the ashes and go on being a family, no matter how different things look. Emmett loves this book and all the different funny fa-MA-lees that are in it, and seeing that makes me hopeful, for a certain value of hope. show less

Oh, you good Todd Parr. Even more than The Family Book you hearten me with this one. My son is dealing with a lot, starting to get his first intimation of the way grown-up him is gonna interpret his parents' complicated thing (his mum's moving across town), and you are reminding him there's nothing to be scared of when his parents fight because they love each other (or when he buys underwear because he can wear it on his head. I don't know what kids are scared of underwear but that's very cute).

a review of the BOARDBOOK

THE I LOVE YOU BOOK has been very popular with adults and the little kids they share it with. It was first published waaaay back in 2009, and now, FINALLY, it's been done as a boardbook.

Since there are tons of reviews that will tell you about the theme, let me focus on what the boardbook is like.

It's the standard boardbook size. The front has a heart, and the inside of the heart is soft and squishy to the touch.

The inside artwork it totally Todd Parr. All done in show more extremely bright cheerful colors. The pages are slick, and importantly, they are thick and sturdy. (I don't know about you, but my boy was rough on boardbooks. I would think this would would hold up fine.)

The only downside I found was that there are two pages with dark purple backgrounds and this makes it a little difficult for my eyes to make out the text.

Altogether an adorable boardbook version of Todd Parr's I LOVE YOU BOOK. I just love the theme of unconditional love. Because that's how we are. We love our darlings whether they have stinkie poopie pants, or are struggling with their algebra. show less

Colorful illustrations, animals of all kind, it starts with a traditional image of strong (A lion roaring at a mouse) and then follows with many other examples of being strong- being happy for someone, moving, trying new things. This is a great book to talk about real life situations and encourage the young reader to be proud of their strengths.