Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In a simply worked picture book debut, Weekend Mom newsletter creator Farris transforms the minor chaos of daily caregiving--at home, school drop-off, and more--into single-plane vignettes accompanied by rhyming declarations of devotion. "Love you more than the dozens of blocks on the living room rug," reads one page as an adult attempts a yoga pose amid a sea of wooden shapes. A page turn later, the speaker declares, "Love you more than a bazillion treasures in your pockets--even..." the grimacing adult adds, "a bug!" Digital illustrations with loose, thin lines have a sketchbook feel that sometimes show adults' faces coalescing into frazzled looks; nevertheless, the art's fond quality, reminiscent of the "365 lunch box notes" detailed on one spread, serves as a reminder of how love can multiply amid the mess. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3--6. (Jan.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Caregivers reassure children that they are loved unconditionally. When her tot seeks comfort after a bad dream, a tired mother responds that she loves her little one "more than a million very early mornings." Subsequent pages explore different adult/child pairs as they deal with common experiences--some sweet, some irritating, some funny (and often several emotions at once). Made up of rhyming couplets, Farris' text is comprised entirely of the adult's refrain: "Love you more than…" The simplicity of the language and structure creates an emotionally evocative contrast to the complexity of raising children. Grown-ups will chuckle along with familiar frustrations like spilled blueberries, false-alarm potty trips, and laundry mishaps; wince at broken bones; melt over gently loving scenes of coloring and bathtime; and feel the pang of bittersweet moments like school drop-off. Children, however, likely won't experience these emotional layers in the same way. Some statements may not make much sense from their perspective, and sensitive youngsters may even feel they're being teased. Still, most little ones will simply enjoy the repeated reminder that their grown-ups love them. The illustrations depict a wide variety of caregiving relationships: parents who appear without a partner, dual parents, older adults (perhaps grandparents), teachers, and doctors. Characters vary in skin tone. A humorous book that adults won't mind reading more than a million times.(Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
