WFMW - An Endearing Children's Book

Since I didn't realize that this week's WFMW was a cooking, you're getting something that will nourish your mind as well as all the great links to nourish your body.

I know Boomama just did a giveaway for this sweet little book, but I wanted to put my two cents in as well.



A few weeks ago, I was sent a copy of I Love You More by Laura Duksta. To my complete delight and surprise, I fell in love with this charming flip book - a book that tells the story of love from a parent's point of view and then from the child's viewpoint.

My first thoughts about the book as I was reading it was that this sweet book is a cross between the classic Guess How Much I Love You and What Mommies Do Best/What Daddies Do Best. (In Guess How Much I Love You, the two rabbits try to best each other in love and in What Mommies Do Best/What Daddies Do Best, each page details how a the mothers love their children and then you flip the book to see how the fathers show the same kind of love.) Duksta was able to render a tender, fun story using these two combined techniques, but still she made it an original all her own.

I liked the flow of words and feeling of unconditional full love that I Love You More reflects to the readers. Both sides show the unlimited depths of each to the other, but they are reflected in the terminology that is appropriate for the viewpoints. I mean, to be told by a child that I am loved more than a lollipop is big love indeed, especially considering the love of candy that we've seen around this house after Halloween!

No children's picture book can make it on it's own. The illustrations play a huge factor in the making or breaking of a story. Fortunately for I Love You More, it had Karen Keesler on its side. Keesler created beautiful renderings that accurately portray the thoughts of the characters and she does it with color and lines and a soft style. And I have to say that I love the creativity that plays out on the "back" or flip side of the book. It had me chuckling when I turned the book over to start the child's version of love.

So if you're looking for a unique treasure to share with your child this year, I highly recommend I Love You More as a Christmas, a birthday or a "Just Because" gift.  (Although I put "child", I don't want you to read toddler to 7 year old.  This book would be a wonderful way to show your love to a son or daughter of any age.)

And as an added bonus, I asked if I could give a book away and they gave me THREE!  Woo hoo!

So leave a comment for me on this post, and I'll do a that handy-dandy random drawing thingie for three on Saturday, December 8th.  Please make sure that you leave a way for me to contact you in case you are one of the lucky ducks who will get a book.  You may be able to cross one Christmas gift off your list!

Head on over to Shannon's for some other fantastic ideas.