Book Nook: I Love You All the Time

 I recently had to review a beautiful new children's book, I Love You All the Time. It's such a strong message for kids - that they are loved no matter what happens. The bold illustrations feature a loving, beautiful family, and it's a book kids will love to hear, on both good days and days with struggles.

I love the author's own words about her book.

What inspired your story?
In my “Note to Caregivers” at the back of “I Love You All the Time,” I share this story.

When my oldest was three years old, she had one of those epic tantrums – you know, the kind where kids’ bones become jelly and they melt to the floor, kicking and screaming. I carried her over to our old rocking chair, and as we snuggled, I told her, “You know, I really love you when you are mad.” She stopped squirming and looked at me, startled.

I continued, “I also love you when you are happy, and I love you when you are sad, and I love you when you are scared. I love you all the time.” Her body began to settle, and a new ritual was born. Every night before bed, I remind my children -- no matter the ups and downs of the day – that I love them all the time.

Is there a message/theme in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Here’s what I want parents to know about the whole “All the Time” series. Just as Daniel Tiger is really a parenting show dressed up as kids’ programming (that’s my take, at least!), my books are aimed as much at caregivers as they are at young children.

As an education journalist, it’s my job to read all those new-release parenting books – but most parents just don’t have time for that! So I took a bunch of my research on resilience, emotional literacy, curiosity, and healthy development and turned them into four read-aloud books for the Pre-K set: “I Love You All the Time” and “You Have Feelings All The Time” (February 2022) “You Wonder All The Time” (July 2022) and “You Are Growing All the Time” (Fall 2022)

As parents read these to their young children, I hope it will offer them with some simple ways to support their children’s emotional and cognitive development.