YOU'LL ALWAYS BE MY CHICKADEE

A parent and a child explore the world, with their love at the center of it.

“Fly right over here to me,” the parent proclaims; “You’ll always be my chickadee.” The loving parent embraces the little one, whose arms are spread wide as a chickadee soars in the sunny background. Lilting rhyme and bright images showcase moments of wonder, discovery, delight, curiosity, and, above all, love as the two move through their day. They spend time in the garden, explore a lush forest, cannonball into a chilly river, and luxuriate in a glorious, flower-filled meadow. On each spread, brief verse describes the world around them (“Fir and cedar, spruce and pine, / branches, roots that intertwine”) before focusing on the love they share, culminating in the phrase “You’ll always be my…” (“sugar beet,” “evergreen,” “forest friend,” etc.). The rhyme scheme is sweet and playful. Gonzales’ illustrations, a combination of digitally edited watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil, are soft and vibrant, at times appearing to glow from within. Though there’s no shortage of picture books devoted to the parent-child bond, this one more than holds its own. Seemingly meant for a warm lap, this title is perfect for a snuggly read-aloud; it’s a heartfelt reinforcement of the secure and loving relationship between child and caregiver. Both characters are brown-skinned.

A golden-hued love song, both for treasured children and for the outdoors.