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BECAUSE I ALREADY LOVED YOU

Name: BECAUSE I ALREADY LOVED YOU
Author: Andrée-Anne Cyr
ISBN: 9781773069739

by Andrée-Anne Cyr ; illustrated by Bérengère Delaporte ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 2023

Quiet and sincere.

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A family supports one another as they grieve the loss of a stillborn baby.

A young only child eagerly awaits the arrival of a new baby. Each family member helps the little one mentally and emotionally prepare, from decorating the nursery with Daddy to picking out books with Auntie and toys with Grandma. But on the day Mommy and Daddy are supposed to bring the baby home, everything changes. The baby is stillborn, and everyone is devastated. The child is sad, too, “because I already loved you!” Little by little, the family grieves and begins the process of healing, but they never forget the baby. Translated from French and written from an unnamed youngster’s perspective, the succinct text clearly and honestly conveys both emotions and information in a child-friendly way. Family members assure the narrator that while death is forever, stillbirth is rare, and “it’s no one’s fault, especially not mine.” The childlike illustrations convey emotions with crayonlike lines and textures. White space directs the eye, encouraging readers to linger. There are few books on the topic of pregnancy loss and even fewer about grieving for a stillborn baby, making this tale an important entry point for deeper discussion. The work closes with a list of U.S. and Canadian organizations that offer support for those dealing with stillbirth. Characters are light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Quiet and sincere. (Picture book. 2-6)

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023

ISBN: 9781773069739

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Groundwood

Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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PEANUT BUTTER & CUPCAKE

by Terry Border ; illustrated by Terry Border ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 29, 2014

Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...

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The familiar theme of the challenges facing a new kid in town is given an original treatment by photographer Border in this book of photos of three-dimensional objects in a simple modeled landscape.

Peanut Butter is represented by a slice of white bread spread with the popular condiment. The other characters in the story—a hamburger with a pair of hot dogs in tow, a bowl of alphabet soup, a meatball jumping a rope of spaghetti, a carton of French fries and a pink cupcake—are represented by skillfully crafted models of these foods, anthropomorphized using simple wire construction. Rejected by each character in turn in his search for playmates, Peanut Butter discovers in the end that Jelly is his true match (not Cupcake, as the title suggests), perhaps because she is the only one who looks like him, being a slice of white bread spread with jelly. The friendly foods end up happily playing soccer together. Some parents may have trouble with the unabashedly happy depiction of carbs and American junk food (no carrots or celery sticks in this landscape), and others may find themselves troubled by the implication that friendship across difference is impossible.

Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: July 29, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-399-16773-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Philomel

Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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SCAREDY SNACKS!
by Terry Border ; illustrated by Terry Border

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SNACK ATTACK!
by Terry Border ; illustrated by Terry Border

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BIG BROTHER PEANUT BUTTER
by Terry Border ; illustrated by Terry Border

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HOW TO CATCH A MAMASAURUS

From the How To Catch… series

by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2024

A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.

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Another creature is on the loose.

The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.