All the Ways to Love a Child

A Parent Lists All the Ways They Love Their Child

HC: 9780823453665

What if you had cheetah spots? Or flew like an eagle? Follow a parent and child from a fun-filled trip to the zoo through a mess filled day and all the way to bedtime. No matter how wild a child is, a parent’s love never wavers.

"The use of repetition and rhyme makes for a soothing read-aloud. Wilson-Max’s digital illustrations have a watercolorlike feeling, evoking the intimacy of a painting

. . . A tender, quiet affirmation of Black joy."

—Kirkus Reviews

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Take a Peek Inside

A Letter from Adrea Theodore

Dear Reader,

As a parent and a pediatrician, I know that children sometimes need reassurance. Going into the world wide-eyed, full of wonder and curiosity, they see and learn a lot of things. Some of those first experiences can be surprising, and even scary. Having someone near that is loving and reassuring is critically important. In my own family, for example, I noticed my child’s increased need for reassurance when she started to leave home for short periods of time to attend preschool. Interacting with other children in a new environment brought with it a whole new set of experiences and feelings. Over the years, numerous children’s books have been written to address this, where the unconditional love of a parent or guardian takes center stage because that support is essential to a child’s healthy development. Books that say I love you “more,” “to the moon and back,” “forever,” and “no matter what” dot the landscape, and I Would Love You Still is now among them. It answers the child’s unspoken question emphatically, with a repetitive and resounding, “Yes! I would love you still.”

The inclusion of animals in the narrative of the book was an easy decision. Aside from my own love of animals and curiosity about them, visiting the zoo was a favorite activity when my child was young. There are several other reasons that I included them:

First, exploring the animal world is an entry into the realm of science. Animals showcase diversity in the natural world; learning what they eat, how they appear, and what makes them all special is an open invitation to wonder. Focusing on animal habitats starts a conversation about care of the earth and those environments in which the animals live.
Second, the choice of animals in this story was deliberate. Many of the animals featured in the book are on the endangered, vulnerable, or threatened species list; including them may help raise awareness about those situations.
Third, animal behaviors are often used as metaphors for the kinds of behaviors we see in our children. One child may buzz (like a bee) from activity to activity, full of youthful energy. Another child may desire to stay in their shell (like a little hermit crab) and need a nudge of encouragement every so often. There may be a child who overcomes obstacles literally—climbing up and over walls or fences (like a gecko)—or figuratively, succeeding despite a disability or a problem placed in their way. Perhaps there is a little “eagle” in your midst, one who is meant to soar with big dreams, dreams that are so big that they might carry them away from you for a time. Our kisses show our support for them, and they know that we will be there waiting when they circle back around to see us again.

Finally, the playful refrain, “that doesn’t matter at all to me” is meant to convey at least two things. To the child, it says that the parent knows what really matters. The parent knows that finding the child matters more than the trail or tracks left behind. To the parent, it’s a reminder to focus on what really matters. We pediatricians are fond of saying “pick your battles,” especially when dealing with the expected behaviors of toddlers and young children when they make a mess or are a picky eater (like a red panda). The same is also true for children as they get older, for example, and change behavior to blend in with the crowd (like a chameleon). In the grand scheme of things, these behaviors do not matter as much as the love we have for our children. We will love them anyway. Yes, we will love them still.

Time to cuddle up and read!

Adrea Theodore

Another Picture Book Perfect for Mother's Day

HC: 9780823454419

In millions of Arab and Muslim homes around the world, families use the phrase “Insha’Allah” when talking about the future.

So, what does “Insha’Allah” really mean? In this warmly illustrated picture book, Ranya and her mom tackle the meaning of the powerful phrase and ponder the best way to talk about their hopes and dreams—and maybe, sometimes, the things they want to put off. (Like cleaning up toys!)

"A sweet introduction to an expression often used in Muslim and Arabic-speaking communities. . . Lively, funny, and child-friendly."—Kirkus Reviews