I LOVE YOU...ALWAYS

A mother explains to her child that she will always love him, no matter what.

When Max asks his mother at bedtime if she will love him his whole life, her response is just the gentle reassurance he needs and reflects the almost universal feelings of parents the world over. “I loved you from the day I met you / and even before then.” The simple line artwork in retro colors extends the text: “I love you when you can see it” appears with a depiction of mom handing over a huge cotton candy at a fair. Opposite, the boy, clearly sorry, stands with his back to his obviously angry mother while she cleans up a broken vase, the text reading, “and even when you don’t.” Another spread differs only in the pictures. “I love you when you’re against me / and when you’re against me,” reads the text. On verso, the duo cuddles on the couch, while on recto, the two are at odds over a bag of candy. No matter how he looks or what he does, whether he succeeds or hasn’t yet, when they are together or apart, “I love you everyday. // And I’ll love you forever.” The little family is portrayed as colorless in the illustrations, though the boy and his father (seen in a few pictures) are blond, the mom has black hair, and all have pink cheeks.

This import from France delivers a message kids never tire of hearing.