I Love You More

As a little boy goes about his daily round, he sees gestures of caring and affection everywhere. From waking to his mother’s tender care, through his walk to school in the diverse community in which he lives, through his day at school, he is aware that love is all around. And in his own small way, young Des pays it forward. Accompanying his observations are playful phrases demonstrating expressions of love that encourage children to devise their own.

This enticing picture book is deceptively simple with the components of lively text and detailed whimsical illustrations being inseparable. The more one returns to it, the more depths and insights there are to enjoy. In an afterword titled, ‘Now It’s Your Turn’, author Emil Sher describes how the tradition of inventing expressions of love arose in his own family. He also explains that the secret of each phrase is in ensuring the second part of the comparison makes the first feel happy because it’s needed! This allows for children’s own creativity in fashioning their own contributions as well as enjoying those presented by the author.

The loving and mischievous word play in the text is expanded in the beautiful illustrations created by Barbara Reid using modelling clay in bold vibrant colors. The energetic pictures practically leap off the page, adding a thousand whimsical details of people of all ages going about their lives: neighbors on balconies, children sharing cupcakes, a man on walker, a baby in a push chair, a parent tying a child’s shoelace and Des covering his mum with a blanket as she dozes on the couch.

Every perusal of I Love You More reveals something new and is a positive message of sharing and love that should be in every young child’s library.