I WANT TO SAY I LOVE YOU

In a tender tale that captures the essence of childhood, a mother describes the myriad reasons she adores her offspring. The perceptive verses detail the enchanting vagaries of young children: sleep-tousled hairdos, decidedly offbeat fashion notions, questionable love offerings—dead insects, for example—skinned knees, and more. Beuhner’s keen observations reveal a universal truth: it’s those lovable quirks and foibles that so endear children to their parents. The phrase “I love you” is the emphatic statement that echoes throughout the poem, whether it’s prefaced with the very honest sentiments of “I love you because of . . . ” or “in spite of . . . ” Aware that the path of parenthood is not always smoothly traversed, Buehner succinctly sums up the contraposition inherent in the parent/child relationship. “I am big, and you’re still small, / We don’t see things the same at all.” Yet she swiftly bridges the generation gap with the reassurance, “But that’s okay.” Rogers’s unique artwork clearly expresses the emotions within. Collages created out of assorted pieces of paper layered together and then painted and drawn upon add depth and vitality to the illustrations. The rich tones of the full-color pictures provide an ideal backdrop for the deeply moving poem. A perfect way to show little ones they are cherished. (Picture book. 3-6)