How Do I Love You

Super cute book, mirrored after Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem "How Do I Love Thee."It has a "dedication" page in the front, so if you're giving this as a gift to be treasured there is a nice little spot to fill in the page. It would be an awesome gift from a grandparent or aunt or uncle at a baby shower or birthday/christmas.As far as contents, it's simple. "How do I love you? Let me count the ways. I love you on your very best, and very worst of days. I love to see you laughing, and dancing in the rain. And even when you lose your shoes, I love you just the same. I love to hear you singing. I love to see you smile. I love the way you take each day in your own unhurried style. I'm happy when you're happy, and I'm sorry when you're sad. And even though it may not show, I love you when you're bad. How do I love you? Well, now, let me see. I love the way you act so brave when you fall and hurt your knee. I love to watch you sleeping, tucked away in pleasant dreams. I love to hear you whisper all you giant plans and schemes. I love the way you wear your pants with the front part in the back, and the way you walk around sometimes with your head inside a sack. I love to see you deep in thought. I love to watch you play. And though I'm sure you'll never know, I love you more each day. How do I love you? It's impossible to say. For if I had a million days, and time enough for all the praise, I couldn't tell you all the ways...I love you"The sentences are short, great for a child with a short attention span. And the pictures are simple without too much going on. I love it and so does my 1 year old daughter.

Every child deserves to hear how much a parent loves him or her. While many parents have no trouble expressing their love, others feel awkward doing so. P.K. Hallinan has written "How Do I Love You?" for those parents and for anyone who loves a child.Unlike other Hallinan books, this one does not slant toward faith or Christianity. It is simply an expression of love and of the simple things one loves about a special child. The scenes depicted include those of everyday happenings - laughing, dancing in the rain, and playing. More importantly, the poem reminds a child they are loved on their very best and very worst of days, when they are sad and when they are bad, and that it is impossible to express how much that child is loved.The illustrations highlight a blond boy, so I am not sure that parents of girls would find this book as useful as parents of boys will. In fact, I am surprised that Candy Cane Press did not publish two editions - one for girls and one for boys. Nevertheless, I recommend this book as another treasure for your little one's library.

There are parts of this I like, but parts I don't like. Being a board book, this is designed for the very young child. As such, it is important to remember that young children will not always understand that something illustrated on a page is something NOT to copy. There are facing pages where the one on the left says "I love you on your very best . . ." and shows a child bringing his parent breakfast in bed, while the page on the right then says, ". . . and very worst days." and shows a child coloring on the wall, with his head turned, noticing he has been discovered. I have a grandson who loves to copy behavior. That's good, as that's how you grow in good behavior if you are copying good behavior. I can imagine that every time we come to this page, there will have to be a big explanation of, "No, you are NOT supposed to do this. I will love you if you do, but DON'T" He has, as of yet, never seen a child coloring on a wall. Why introduce him to that thought in the first place? There are several other examples of this in the book, things I don't particularly want to introduce to a toddler. Granted, I have read "Do this, don't do this" books for children a bit older who can enter into discussions with you on the matters, but toddlers can't reason to this point. I have enough objections to this book that I just can't recommend it. I know others will say I am being too picky, but read this once to your toddler, have them copy the behavior where they see a kid writing on a wall - if for no other reason than to see your reaction - and then tell me you love this book. There are so many other outstanding books out there.

My wife’s and our deceased sons favorite book. We let their copy get away from us.Kids have bad days this book lets them know they are still loved by Mom and Dad!!

Wonderful little book! A kind author!Both my 6yr old boy and 2yr old girl love it! P.K. Hallinan lives in my area in southern Oregon and regularly comes to the retirement home I work in to sing for our residents. He was very happy to autograph a few books for me!

I read this to my 18 month old son everyday. I think I love it just a little more than him lol. It expresses a mothers love in the sweetest way possible. I bought another one recently for another baby on his 1st birthday and I will continue to purchase this book for gifts. So highly recommend it!

I have read this book many many times. My kids remember it and they are now reading it themselves to their children!!!

My three children are now in their mid twenties. They loved this book when they were young. As we read it out loud before bed, they each saw themselves on a different page. The unconditional love message is very strong. As they graduated from high school I gave them a copy as a gift as well as quoting their favorite sections in the ad section of their graduation program. I cannot say enough about how uplifting the message is. It made great memories!

Our grandson's favourite book showing unconditional love!

As advertised - no issues