Snuggle Puppy 
by Sandra Boynton. This author is a preschool parents dream, short and easy to read melodic books with illustrations to die for. The story is simply a little love song about all the ways the dog loves the puppy, simple and touching. As an educator something I love is that the dogs don’t have an obvious race , they don’t even have an obvious gender which is perfect. Regardless of who loves who in your family your child can see you in the dog and themselves in the puppy! I think that is the perfect valentine! My son didn’t warm up to this book right away, but now not only does he love it he is very very specific that only I can read it to him . It’s become a big favorite in our house.
Mama, Do You Love Me?
by Barbara M. Joosse is a well loved book. I have read it many times but never reviewed it. There are a lot of books about children testing their mom’s unconditional love but this one stands out for me. In it the little girl seems to go out of her way to aggravate her mom and really test her love. The mother is fantastic because she isn’t gushy or sickeningly sweet, she says she would get angry , worried, sad depending on what her daughter tests her with. However after each honest answer she follows it up with how she will always love her. Kids need to know even if they make us sad or angry it doesn’t change the depth of our love for them.
Did I Tell You I Love You Today?
by Deloris Jordan is a very practical yet heartwarming look at all the ways parents show love to their children everyday, from feeding them healthy food to praying after they go to bed. My son loved all the big boy things in the book like, the school bus, basketball and the playground. I teared up reading the book, but I cry at American Idol so that may not be indicative of anything!
I Love You Stinky Face
by Lisa McCourt is a wonderful mushy book that will still appeal to kids that aren’t so into mush. A little boy in his PJs asks his mom if she will still love him even if he was a series of terrible monsters. It reminds me of “The Runaway Bunny” but less saccharine and creepy. Sorry if I have just called your favorite book creepy but I’ve never been a fan of “The Runaway Bunny”. Back to this book and why I like it, I love that the little boy in the book keeps trying to find ways to make him unlovable and the mom keeps finding ways to love unconditionally. There is a deeper meaning here and moms will see past the fun illustrations to the real heart of this book, which is no matter what we love our children. When I found this in a thrift store and read it quickly, I couldn’t look at my son in his stroller throwing puffs on the floor without tearing up.
Love You Forever
by Robert Munsch is perhaps
the classic tear jerking picture book. I read this for years and years to children and had no problem getting choked up, it never bothered me, then I gave birth and I can’t read it without sobbing. The premise is simple, a mom sings this simple song to her son as he grows ” I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as you’re living , my baby you’ll be.” until she can’t sing it anymore and it’s his turn. For days after I read this I tear up as I lay my son in his crib. * Edited to add that many readers have commented that they do not like this book at all! What do you think? Leave a comment and tell us!
The I LOVE YOU Book
Kids need to know that love is unconditional and this book drives that point home is a simple , bright and funny way. I cried through reading most of it , but my son laughed and loved it. I specifically loved that the author includes that a child is loved even when they are sad, not sleeping and more. The cover of the book has a cut out heart shape and would be a great add on to a shape activity about hearts.
Love You Forever
My son loves I love your stinky face. I bought him this book when he was 2 (now he’s 4), he always giggles at this book. Nice selection of books!
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How could anybody NOT like Love you Forever?????? I can’t understand! It is a wonderful story about a mother’s love and at the end how her example of love carries onto the next generation. Love it! Sometimes I tear up when I read it to my kids!
i dont LOVE Love you Forever, but i dont dislike it either, and my son doesn’t really love it either, but it still makes me cry every time i read it.
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I don’t like Love you Forever. I think is creepy that the mom climbs through the window to rock her adult son. Just weird! Without that part I think it would be so much better.
.-= Cindy J´s last blog ..What We’re Reading =-.
We love Snuggle Puppy at our house. He got it for his first birthday and didn’t like it at all, but now he really likes it. I have to sing the whole book every time.
.-= Kim´s last blog ..Say WHAT? =-.
I’m going to have to check out the stinky face book. That definitely sounds like something my boys would go for! I am not a fan of Love You Forever. I too think it’s creepy that she climbs through his window to rock him as an adult. I like the premise, but find that a bit much…
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awe I love you stinky face and love you forever are lasting favorites in our home… I’ll have to go check the others out. always looking for another one to add to the must reads each night!!!
.-= L2L´s last blog ..Birthday around the corner =-.
Great suggestions. I am not a big fan of I Love You Forever for toddlers – my daughter was seriously confused when action shifted into adulthood. But we love-love-love everything by Todd Parr.
.-= Natalie´s last blog ..The Art Box – Week of Jan 10, 2009 =-.
I think Love you forever is creepy too.
Snuggle Puppy — The first time I read this book to my son he kept trying to close the book. He didn’t want me to read it agian. I stuck it in the buck box. A few nights later, he chose it as one of his bedtime books. He let me get through it, and then threw it off the bed (not normal for bedtime books).
He seems to be warming up to it. And even presents his cheek for the kiss now! But it definitely isn’t a favorite Boynton. I’ve learned to let him choose it.
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I adore Mama, Do You Love Me? Papa, Do You Love Me is also fantastic.
I’m among those creeped out by Love You Forever. I strongly dislike it. Robert Munsch shines in many of his endeavours, but in my opinion, this is not of them.
.-= Kim´s last blog ..See Ya Later, Alligators! =-.
I saved this post to remind myself to get the I Love You Book from the library. My son didn’t like Todd Parr’s books when we tried them at first, but I’d like to give it another shot. He also didn’t like Snugglepuppy. Two days ago I was at a swap with other moms, and one of them had an extra brand new copy of Snugglepuppy. I snatched it up and was happy to read it to him again. Still a no-go. He actually said, “No like that one. Give to other people.” Maybe he will warm up to it like your son… or maybe it is my singing voice.
.-= Lynn´s last blog ..Heart to Heart: Back to Back Valentine’s Day Crafts and Some Companion Books =-.
I just read the comments and had to laugh out loud — my son threw Snugglepuppy too! And he NEVER throws books or rough handles them in any way, so I thought that was a funny coincidence.
.-= Lynn´s last blog ..Heart to Heart: Back to Back Valentine’s Day Crafts and Some Companion Books =-.
Great Site! I was wondering if I would be able pages and use a couple of items for a term paper.
Just found your blog and i just love it, had to say it real quick!
I Love You Forever has been one of my favorite books. I remember having my Mom read it to me and watching her cry every time, and now it’s one of my daughters favorites and I cry every time. We also have our own version of the song and we sing it together every day, she loves to ask me to sing it with her. I rock her and she rocks her baby doll… a precious memory from such a sweet book!
Love you forever is a wonderful story and I too find it very strange that anyone could dislike it! It’s more to symbolize that a mother’s love is never failing and even when her child is grown she still loves him as if he were her baby, I don’t think its supposed to be taken so literally! My mom used to read me this book, I’ve read it to my kids since day one, I have the ever popular phrase painted on our playroom wall, and recently for my mother’s birthday we had a bracelet engraved to say “As long as we’re living our Mommy you’ll be” so a very big hit in our house!! And I love You Stinky Face is my 4 yr olds and 2 yr olds favorite book!!!
[...] I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt [...]
my son is recently divorced. he loves to read to his son who is 3 every night before bed when he has him. it is very hard to find books about children or animals, etc and their dad. most books are about how much Mommy loves him, does for him, etc.
my son usually substitues “daddy” for Mommy in the stories but now his son is noticing the pictures and saying that’s not daddy that’s mommy. any suggestions?
Yes – here are a few for you : http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/06/books-about-fathers.html